Erin Fox on Life After the Tour Bus, Burnout, and Finding Her Own Sound Again
Life on the road isn’t always glamorous, and Erin Fox is the first to admit it.
In a recent conversation, Fox opened up about her whirlwind touring schedule, the realities of orchestral touring across continents, and why she’s stepping away—at least for now—to refocus on her own music. After wrapping a massive tour on December 20th that began with rehearsals back in July, Fox is finally back on solid ground and shifting gears.
A Tour That Spanned the Globe
Fox’s most recent touring experience was anything but simple. After rehearsals in the UK during July, the tour officially launched in August and quickly became an international affair. She spent about a month performing throughout Europe before bouncing between two versions of the same orchestra—identical in structure, but operating on opposite sides of the world.
By October, the production evolved again, with a modified version of the show performed in select arenas. Fox handled much of the UK leg, but couldn’t complete it due to a scheduling overlap that required her to jump onto the American run, which had started simultaneously.
The show itself was no small undertaking: a two-hour performance with a 15-minute intermission, backed by a 14-piece orchestra (down from 15 after a third violin part was cut due to overlap with the viola). While Fox said there were no major disasters during her time on the road, others on the tour weren’t as lucky—missed hotel bookings and transportation mishaps were part of the behind-the-scenes chaos.
When Touring Takes Its Toll
Despite the scale and success of the tour, Fox has stepped away from the orchestra project indefinitely. The reason? Burnout.
Constant travel made it difficult for her to dedicate meaningful time to her own music, and eventually the exhaustion caught up. “I got a little burned out,” she admitted, explaining that she reached a point where continuing meant sacrificing the creative focus her personal work deserves.
To balance the polished image of touring life, Fox began documenting the less glamorous side of the road—most notably through a recurring bit where she rates venue showers. It’s a tongue-in-cheek reminder that the “rockstar life” often looks very different once the stage lights go down.
Refocusing on Original Music
Now, Fox is pouring her energy back into her own projects. She has a full album ready for release, with vinyl currently in production. The record took nearly two years to complete, slowed in part by her constant movement between cities and countries.
Her official album release show is set for June 4th at Johnny Brenda’s, marking a major milestone in this new chapter. In the meantime, she’s staying busy with a run of diverse shows, including:
- An anti-Valentine’s Day show at Warehouse 3 in Swarthmore
- A March 15th benefit show for Yuntos, supporting Philadelphia’s immigrant community, where Fox will play viola for metal band Lasta
- A show tonight at Steel City alongside The Wedding Funeral and The Lotus Ritual, with friend John Fay joining her on stage
Side Projects and Heavy Sounds
Fox is also involved in a heavier side project called Trauma Response, a band she shares with her sister and their longtime friend Cat. Described as “heavier angsty ride girl music,” the project is currently studio-focused. Touring isn’t in the cards—her sister isn’t a fan of life on the road—but new material is actively being written.
Meanwhile, their recurring event Brainfest is taking a gap year due to recent circumstances, though organizers will still offer an online donation option to keep the spirit of the event alive.
Late Nights, Analog Love, and Touring the World
Beyond the logistics of music, the conversation drifted into broader territory—creativity, technology, and culture. Fox, a self-proclaimed night owl, says she’s never written music before 9 p.m., often finding her best ideas in the early morning hours.
She also spoke about the resurgence of analog music, suggesting that listeners may eventually tire of purely digital experiences. According to Fox, analog carries a “special feeling and sound” that’s hard to replicate.
Traveling the world left a lasting impression too—especially the food. Fox praised Eastern European cuisine, particularly in Latvia and Lithuania, and raved about Estonian bakeries and bread. German food didn’t make the same impression, but Libyan cuisine surprised her in a good way.
The discussion also highlighted how small the music world can be—from tightly knit tech crews to longtime friendships. Fox and the host originally met while working at Sam Ash, and even referenced a mutual friend, Alex Sadic, who now runs one of Nashville’s only fully analog studios.
As Fox pointed out, much of today’s economy—even in music—is fueled by nostalgia, with ’80s and ’90s bands continuing to draw crowds. But for her, the focus now is firmly on the present.
After months of planes, stages, and late-night load-outs, Erin Fox is back where she wants to be: writing, creating, and finally giving her own music the attention it deserves.
