Acclaimed guitarist Laura Chavez hosts a hometown album release show for her debut solo album, My Voice, at The Belly Up Tavern on May 12. Released by Germany’s Ruf Records, the album features ten instrumental tracks, kicked off by a terrific version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 classic, “Born on the Bayou.” My Voice is the culmination of an incredible career that’s seen Chavez record and tour the world with the likes of Nikki Hill, Candye Kane, Whitney Shay, Casey Hensley and many more, playing hundreds of gigs a year, and in the process winning the category of ‘Instrumentalist – Guitar’ at the prestigious 2023 / 44th Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee.
My Voice was recorded in Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Germany at the end of 2025, in between and after two separate European tours, at Studio St. Annen.
What inspired Chavez to release a solo album now? “For years, decades at this point, people have been asking me to record a solo album,” she said. “I have shied away from it because I don’t sing and when it comes to the guitar, I’ve never been a huge fan of just wailing guitar instrumental music. As I explained in the liner notes of the album, it took me years to come to terms with the right way to approach it, still accomplishing what I feel I am best at when it comes to the guitar, as a support instrument when backing up others (mainly vocalists) and as part of the song as the big picture. I didn’t want the album to be just a vehicle for endless, senseless guitar wailing. I think I was able to pull it off on here.”
The new album is split evenly between covers and originals. “A lot of thought went into the track listing,” Chavez noted. “I have a huge list of songs that were potentials for the covers. I wanted songs with strong melodies that would hold their own. I knew a couple of them would be recognizable instantly, like the Credence song, and I wanted to focus hard on groove and vary things rhythmically as well. I was only going to cover songs that originated with vocals but, to me Booker T and the MGs (“Chinese Checkers” / 1963) are synonymous with soul instrumental music and I don’t think this sort of niche in the genre would have existed without them or at least, as popularized. So, I wanted to do something to pay tribute to them, but I tried to turn it sideways and play those organ parts on the guitar as opposed to just copying.”
As for the album opener, “Born on the Bayou,” “Yes, I am a huge fan of Creedence, but I also did that song for my dad,” Chavez said. “He is a big fan and it was something he always played in the car. It was either going to be that or something off Who Are You by The Who… so maybe next time.” Meanwhile, “the five originals were also things I’ve been putting together for years. “Wanderer” is over ten years old. “Mamba Negra” I’ve been playing longer than that.”
What’s Chavez’s favorite things about My Voice? “I love the way the overall sound came together,” she said. “I feel like it all melds together sonically, nothing stands out or feels like it doesn’t belong and people have told me they love listening it from top to bottom, and have done it several times. I owe a lot of that to Michael, the engineer and to the wonderful group of musicians who played on it and brought it to life. This includes San Diego’s own Marty Dodson who came out to Germany to record most of the album with me.”
While My Voice is Chavez’s first release under her own name, she has done a lot of session work over the years. “Oh man, every session is a story in itself and I always leave having learned something or having tried something new,” she said. “I’ve done a few sessions in Austin that came about through Ruf Records. All the other musicians were old friends and had worked together in all sorts of capacities in Austin through the years. I was there because the record label wanted me there. At first, I was intimidated and nervous about how it would all go but they are some of my favorite albums I’ve played on. And, the best part was getting to record them with Derek O’Brien, one of my all-time Texas guitar heroes, on the other guitar, and working out our parts together.”
As much as Chavez likes recording, it’s clear that her heart is in performing, playing up to 250 concerts a year. “I love playing live in front of people,” she said. “I love that it’s just 100% in the moment and no two shows are alike. I’m shy and I’m introverted but I also love to get out to new places and new experiences. I don’t sit in one place very well these days, even at home. After the second day or so I’m ready to get moving again.”
How did it feel to win in the category of ‘Instrumentalist – Guitar’ at the Blues Music Awards? “It was obviously an amazing moment,” Chavez recalled. “When I was first nominated, I thought that was great, and enough. I was the first woman to ever be nominated in a category totally dominated by men and one where for once, I felt like all that mattered was how I played the guitar. I never expected to win. And when I did, I will never forget the reactions of my friends and peers in that room and also later, online and how it seemed they were truly happy I’d won.”
What is Chavez looking forward to the most on May 12? “I’m looking forward to playing this album and sharing it with San Diego,” she said. “This community has welcomed me and supported me since before I ever moved here. And moving to San Diego was the best decision I ever made in my life. I keep saying it, but I don’t know when I will ever do a show like this in town again, so I’m just excited to share the music from the album.”
