About Erin

Erin Oakley is a Wisconsin-based singer, songwriter, and worship leader whose music and ministry have taken her across the country and around the world. Whether on a festival stage or in a more intimate setting like a house show or retreat, her heart remains the same: to create spaces where people feel seen, known, and loved.

With a voice that's distinctly her own, Erin's music blends elements of contemporary Christian, indie singer-songwriter, pop, and country. More than any one genre, however, her songs are known for their memorable melodies, lived lyrics, and the authenticity with which they're shared—making every show feel more like an honest conversation among friends than a concert.

Whether sharing music solo or with a full band, Erin feels equally at home in faith-based and mainstream settings.

For years, Erin quietly filled notebooks with songs and prayers that almost no one ever heard—not even her closest friends and family. That changed when, at 19 years old, she won a competition at Ripon College with her original song, Indecisive Tendencies, earning the opportunity to perform as the solo opening act for seven-time Grammy Award winner Al Jarreau. That moment marked the beginning of her public journey as an artist and eventually led to a special invitation to sing at Jarreau's Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony nearly a decade later, shortly before his passing.

Before moving to Nashville in 2013, Erin performed more than 50 shows each year with the Wisconsin Dells-based country band Swifkick and recorded harmonies and background vocals on projects in multiple genres. While living in Nashville, she worked in an office overlooking Music Row, led worship at a local church, and sang in the indie pop-rock band Rutherford, which included an original member of Lifehouse. During that season, she used her earned vacation days to travel throughout the country singing at conferences and appearing in songwriter showcases, including performances at the iconic Bluebird Café.

Since then, Erin has continued sharing music throughout the Midwest and beyond, appearing at festivals including Lifest, Brat Fest, OneFest, Faith Jam, and more. Along the way, she's had the privilege of sharing stages with artists including Al Jarreau, Peter Furler and Phil Joel of the original Newsboys, as well as Christian hip-hop artists Rip and Nicky Gracious.

While her music has taken her to a wide variety of stages, Erin's mission has never really changed. Whether leading worship on a Sunday morning, playing festivals in both faith-based and mainstream settings, or sharing songs in someone's living room, her desire is the same: to love God, love people, and faithfully share what He's done in her life.

Perhaps even more than being on stage, Erin loves connecting with people after shows, listening to their stories, praying with them when invited, and reminding them that they are deeply valued and loved.

In 2013, Erin recorded her debut album, Dreams & Melodies, which was later released in 2024. She is currently working on her next project, Stories & Songs—a collection shaped by the past decade of life, faith, and the lessons learned along the way.

Beyond music, Erin serves as Worship Director at Door Creek Church's Northside campus in Madison, Wisconsin, and as Casting Director and Associate Producer for the feature film To Everything After, in which she also appears in a small role and shares her original song, Out of Love.

Erin and her husband, Mike, live on a 22-acre farm just outside Madison, Wisconsin, with their two daughters and a handful of very well-loved cats.