“The blues is where most of this music started. If we let it fade, we’re cutting the roots out from under everything else. Music today has still got the same job, help people feel something, help them say something and help them deal with something.”

David Pippin & Eva Rose: Atlanta Blues

On their two new EP albums, Black Water Blues and Live From Perfect Note Atlanta, David Pippin and Eva Rose show the evolution from studio to live of five songs that showcase the spirit of modern acoustic blues. Rose's powerful and soulful vocals find the perfect foil in Pippin's determined and melodic guitar style. Black Water Blues has all the hallmarks of traditional acoustic blues, undercut with a groove that echoes classic rock and southern soul. Pippin's guitar floats and shimmers while. Rose's vocals are the engine that drives everything forward. But where Black Water Blues offers polish and restraint, the transition to Live From Perfect Note shows a dynamic attack that brings home the true blues and roots aura their music creates. "The live versions actually came first," Pippin says. "The recording was from the Atlanta Blues Challenge, they gave us those tracks well after the show."                              (Photo: David Pippin and Eva Rose)

“We didn't know there was going to be a recording, so we went and cut studio versions," adds Rose. "But that live performance was great, we were really feeding off the crowd. It was only the second time we'd performed them in front of an audience and it was magical, the energy was great. When we got the live tapes we'd already done the studio versions, so we thought it would be great to release both so you can feel everything." Black Water Blues and Live From Perfect Note are fraternal twins, complementing each other in a way that only comes from a lifetime of musical collaboration.

Interview by Michael Limnios                  Special Thanks: Larry Kay (Night Train PR)

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What does the blues mean to you?

David: Music’s how I’ve made sense of the world most of my life. It’s how people tell the truth without sugarcoating it. Blues, especially, doesn’t pretend. It just says what it is. I grew up in Jacksonville, on the river, and you learn quick that life isn’t always pretty, but it’s always got a story. That’s what the blues is to me. Simple, honest storytelling with a backbone.

Eva: Music helps me process the world and all the emotions that come with it. I come from a classical background, but my taste is wide, I love everything from folk and bluegrass to progressive metal. That variety shows me how universal music really is. The blues, though, hits in a different way. It’s about truth and emotion, what’s underneath it all. It’s stripped down, raw, and honest. And that’s where I like to write from too.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? What musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music/songs?

David: I’ve always leaned toward the guys who didn’t try too hard to impress, just played what they had in them. Albert King, Freddy King, Albert Collins, B.B. King. The kind of musicians who could break your heart or fire you up without saying much. I keep doing this because there’s always another story to tell, another student to teach, another stage to walk onto. Music’s never done, you just keep showing up.

Eva: I’d say my sound pulls from a lot of places. There’s definitely blues, folk, country, and a touch of soul in there. Artists like Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, and Nina Simone really shaped how I think about music, not just vocally, but emotionally. I write songs that come from the heart, and I keep doing it because it’s how I connect with people. If a song I write makes someone feel understood, like they’re not alone in what they’re going through, then I’ve done what I came to do.

”The blues is the root of so much. It laid the groundwork for the music we all love today. Keeping it alive is about honoring that history, but also about keeping those raw, real stories going. Music in general has such a powerful role. It helps people feel, it bridges gaps, and it gives us a space to sit with things we can’t always put into words. That’s why it matters so much.” (Photo: David Pippin and Eva Rose)

What moment changed your music life the most? What's been the highlight in your life and career so far?

David: Starting the academy, Pippin Music Academy, that was a game changer. Teaching everything from guitar to drums to piano, it’s been wild seeing all kinds of people fall in love with music. And putting out Blackwater Blues and Live From Perfect Note Atlanta, those records are purely Eva and myself. Acoustic guitar, stripped back, clean vocals, what you hear is what you get. That’s been a highlight for sure.

Eva: Playing the Springing the Blues Festival in Jax Beach with Dave was a huge moment for me, 20,000 people, and I could actually feel the connection with the crowd. That was a big “this is real” kind of moment. But honestly, I also really loved performing at the Ellijay Songwriters Festival. Being in the round with other artists, swapping songs and stories, it was a different kind of magic. More intimate. That kind of connection reminds me why I do this.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of music?

David: I miss when players left the mistakes in. When a little fret noise or a cracked vocal wasn’t something to “fix”, it was part of the sound. These days, everything’s polished to death. I just hope people come back around to music that feels human. My fear is that it all gets too clean, too fast, too forgettable.

Eva: I miss how music used to feel a little more soul-first. Like, it wasn’t trying so hard to fit into a mold. It was more about telling the truth than following a formula. There was room for vulnerability, and things weren’t always perfectly polished, which made them even more powerful. I hope music keeps making space for that kind of authenticity. Songs that make you feel something real. I guess my fear is that we lose the depth, and everything becomes more about clicks than connection.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?                                            (Photo: David Pippin and Eva Rose)

David: Honestly, I just keep doing the work. I play, I record, I teach. That’s how you stay in it. I’m not trying to be trendy, I just want the next generation to know where this music comes from and how to do it right. You play a guitar clean and true, that sound still hits hard. Doesn’t matter what year it is.

Eva: I try to keep things simple and consistent. Mainly by posting cover songs on social media, writing songs that feel relatable and staying active with live performances, even if it’s just for small, local audiences. It’s about showing up and connecting with people in real time. Whether someone stumbles across a video online or hears me live, I want the music to feel accessible and meaningful, no matter the size of the crowd. I think people want to feel something, and they want to see that the person behind the music is real. 

What does it mean to be a female artist in a Man’s World, as James Brown says? What is the status of women in music?

Eva: Honestly, being a woman in music can be tough sometimes. You’ve got to advocate for yourself and push through certain walls. But I’m a girl’s girl. I really believe in women lifting each other up, and I feel like that’s finally becoming more of the norm. There’s this incredible energy right now where women are cheering each other on instead of competing, and that kind of support makes a huge difference. It feels good to be part of a community that’s got your back.

Why do you think the Atlanta Blues Roots Scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

David: Because it’s real. Atlanta folks know the difference between flash and substance, and the scene’s got players who bring the real deal. People still want to hear live music that means something, songs that have some dirt and truth in them. That’s what the blues does, and that’s why the scene’s still kicking.

Why is it important to preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

David: The blues is where most of this music started. If we let it fade, we’re cutting the roots out from under everything else. Music today has still got the same job, help people feel something, help them say something and help them deal with something. That’s what I try to pass on every time I play or teach.

Eva: The blues is the root of so much. It laid the groundwork for the music we all love today. Keeping it alive is about honoring that history, but also about keeping those raw, real stories going. Music in general has such a powerful role. It helps people feel, it bridges gaps, and it gives us a space to sit with things we can’t always put into words. That’s why it matters so much.

David Pippin - Home      Eva Rose - Home

(David Pippin and Eva Rose / Photo by Jesse Kolb)