“I do things the old-fashioned way,” says Linda Eder when it comes to her music. Her last four albums, including her 2018 release, If You See Me, have not been available for digital download, so fans can only hear it on CD or live at her concerts. But the recording artist and Broadway veteran makes sure to show fans some love, taking recommendations for songs on her album. Get a chance to hear those songs and some of her all-time favorite Broadway standards, plus the original title track of her latest album, which was a musical collaboration with her son, when Eder returns to Wolf Trap this month. // Jan. 25; The Barns at Wolf Trap: 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org; $50-$55
Why did you want to take suggestions from your fans for songs on If You See Me?
It’s just a way to keep them engaged; and then also to give me ideas. It’s nice to get ideas because you’ll see something that you really wouldn’t have thought of and also just to know that you’re doing songs that people really want to hear. A little over half the songs were from the list. The number one requested song was “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard.
What was it like collaborating with your son, Jake, on “If You See Me”?
A few years ago he was around the house playing the piano with a melody he’d written, which was that song. He never finished it because I think he didn’t hear it for himself, but I loved it. And I said to him, ‘well, can I have it?,’ and he said sure. So I took it and I made the chorus the verse, the verse the chorus and then I can up with the music for the bridge and I wrote the lyrics. He didn’t hear it until it was completely recorded and I surprised him with it. He was actually in the backseat of my truck when I was playing it. I looked in the mirror and I saw the smile he was trying to hide, because it was pretty cool.
What do you like about performing at The Barns?
It’s just the warmth, the intimacy. I’m a farm girl. I like the name, I like the wood. It’s very homey. It just kind of fits me, who I am. I’m Annie Oakley. I’ve got horses, I’ve got a tractor, I have every power tool, I like to be outside—I’m that kind of a person. I feel like it fits my personality.
After a 30-plus year career, what do you still enjoy about performing?
It’s part of my being, and it makes me happy; it’s like an endorphin run. I know when I’ve gone for a period of time when I haven’t done a show I can really feel it. It’s like something that I’m so used to doing that I miss if it I go too long.
