Erin Rae’s Lighten Up — available from the Mr. Hansen Records collection as the highly limited Vinyl Me, Please exclusive edition, pressed on 180-gram clear orange vinyl.
This individually numbered copy is No. 121 of only 300 foil-stamped copies produced worldwide.
Released in 2022, Lighten Up is the Nashville singer-songwriter’s second solo album and a beautifully realised progression from the intimate folk sound of her earlier work.
Recorded at Five Star Studios in Topanga Canyon, California, the album was produced and mixed by Jonathan Wilson, whose richly atmospheric production has also shaped recordings by artists such as Father John Misty.
Wilson surrounds Rae’s understated songwriting with warm analogue textures, softly psychedelic arrangements and the spacious, sunlit character associated with classic Laurel Canyon recordings.
Musically, the album moves gracefully between indie folk, cosmic country, Americana, baroque pop and gentle psychedelia.
Acoustic guitars and Rae’s clear, expressive voice remain at its centre, while pedal steel, Wurlitzer, piano, organ, Mellotron, strings and carefully restrained electric guitar give the songs remarkable depth.
The arrangements are detailed without becoming crowded, allowing each melody and lyric room to breathe.
The album also features contributions from Kevin Morby and Meg Duffy of Hand Habits, alongside a carefully assembled group of musicians.
Their performances add subtle colour rather than drawing attention away from Rae, whose voice remains the defining element throughout: calm and delicate on the surface, but carrying considerable emotional weight.
Lyrically, Lighten Up explores vulnerability, personal growth, relationships and the difficult process of accepting one’s own imperfections. Rather than presenting self-discovery as a sudden transformation, Rae writes about it as something gradual and uncertain. Songs such as “Enemy,” “Cosmic Sigh” and “Lighten Up & Try” consider the distance between self-doubt and self-acceptance, while “Modern Woman” offers an open and inclusive reflection on identity and womanhood.
“Can’t See Stars” pairs emotional uncertainty with one of the album’s most immediately memorable melodies, while “California Belongs to You” captures the dreamlike atmosphere of the record’s West Coast surroundings. “Gonna Be Strange,” “Drift Away” and “Undone” further demonstrate Rae’s ability to combine traditional singer-songwriter craft with arrangements that feel quietly adventurous and contemporary.
The title reflects the album’s central philosophy: opening oneself to love, change and experience without demanding perfection first. That sense of openness gives Lighten Up its distinctive emotional warmth. It is a reflective record, but never a heavy one—its introspection is balanced by melody, humour, curiosity and an unmistakable feeling of hope.
This Vinyl Me, Please pressing is especially attractive from a collector’s perspective.
The transparent orange vinyl complements the album’s warm, organic sound and visual identity, while the substantial 180-gram pressing provides a satisfying presentation.
It is housed in a gatefold sleeve featuring lyrics, photography and recording information. The front retains its original VMP Exclusive hype sticker, and the rear is individually foil-stamped “121/300.”
A beautifully presented and genuinely limited edition of one of Erin Rae’s most accomplished recordings—recommended for listeners drawn to Laurel Canyon songwriting, cosmic country, sophisticated indie folk and artists such as Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill, Jessica Pratt, Kevin Morby and Hand Habits.
Genre: Indie Folk, Cosmic Country, Psychedelic Folk, Baroque Pop, Americana
Artist: Erin Rae
Album: Lighten Up
Year: 2022
Label: Good Memory / Thirty Tigers
Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, 180g
Vinyl colour: Clear Orange
Edition: Vinyl Me, Please Exclusive
Limitation: 300 copies worldwide
Copy number: 121/300
Packaging: Gatefold sleeve with original VMP hype sticker
