Erika Olson’s new dark acoustic Americana and indie folk song, “Benefit of the Doubt,” serves as a responsive meditation on social unrest and inequality within the world. Written during the COVID lockdowns of 2020, Olson used this song to address the global issues of injustice that many people of color face. In the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests, Olson’s “Benefit of the Doubt” expresses her longing for justice and equality for all individuals.
The song is soft and somber, with a minor chord progression that draws musical similarities to Johnny Cash. The songwriter bares her soul in this narrative ballad, weaving a story that is true to life and filled with vivid imagery. The children and other individuals she refers to in the song are nameless for ethical reasons, but they’re a representation of all those who have been affected by systemic issues in our society.
All proceeds from the song’s sale will go to The Black Opry, an organization devoted to equal representation of black artists in country, Americana, blues, folk, and roots music. The organization aims to create a safe space for musicians of color to practice every genre, eliminate the disparities often found in music, and challenge the whitewashed narrative of American music.
In these times of unrest, Erika Olson’s “Benefit of the Doubt” serves as a powerful message of hope, unity, and change. By creating conversations and promoting the voices of creators that have been silenced for too long, this song is a creative call-to-action. If you believe in justice, equality, and social change, download “Benefit of the Doubt,” share it with friends, and let the music speak for itself.
WHAT THE ARTIST SAYS ABOUT THE SONG:
“I began writing this song in June 2020, a summer of lockdowns and protests,” shares Erika. “The Black Lives Matter movement shook the world and I felt its tremors in my bones. I wrote this song to make sense of what I was coming to understand on a visceral level as an imperfect human being longing to see justice and equality for all people. This is a story song, I’ve changed the names of the children involved and not all of it is true to fact, but my part is true to life. I bare my soul in these lyrics in the hopes that this song can be a means for healing and conversation.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
hi! My name is Erika. I’m a singer-songwriter, recovering attorney, and mother to three amazing humans. I get lost in deep conversations and fabric stores. I try to make sense of my very human experience through song and self discovery. Food and snuggles are my love language. I think we have a long way to go as a species, but I am annoyingly optimistic that we will get there. I hope these songs bring you as much comfort in hearing them as they brought me in writing them. xoxo erika
