It’s not unusual to hear someone sing the praises of Toyota, but Angela Easterling could literally do just that—and beautifully so, complete with acoustic guitar or perhaps mandolin. After all, she’s a professional musician and the proud owner of a 2007 Toyota Matrix, purchased two years ago when she moved back to her native South Carolina from Los Angeles.

“I saw a Matrix in the parking lot of my apartment building,” recalls the 29-year-old Easterling, a singer-songwriter of what she calls “Americana Country-Roots” music (www.angelaeasterling.com). “The back seats were down and there were a couple of surfboards in there and I thought, ‘Wow!’ So I did some research online. The Matrix was the car I wanted and needed; it’s really been ideal.”

The car had 200 miles on it when new, but the odometer now reads close to 50,000, a hint at how often Easterling is on the road, heading for that next performance. Her musical influences range from Emmylou Harris to Neil Young, but this daughter of a Baptist minister was also heavily influenced by the old-time gospel music she heard in church as a child.

“I practically live in my car,” confides Easterling, who actually makes her home in Greenville, South Carolina, near a farm that’s been in her family since the late 18th century. “I’ve driven it cross country twice, and up and down the East Coast several times. I can easily fit all of my instruments, CDs and sound equipment, plus my clothes and supplies for several weeks worth of touring and still have room. It doesn’t use nearly as much gas
as my old car, so it’s better for my pocketbook and the environment.”

Easterling also enjoys the peace of mind her Matrix provides. “Being female and being out on road, it’s important for me to have a reliable car,” she says. “People count on Toyota for being a workhorse, and that strong reputation had a lot to do with my decision to buy the Matrix.”

Whether Easterling’s experiences as a Toyota owner will inspire her to write a song (hint-hint) remains to be seen, but this much is certain: She’ll soon be recording the follow-up to her debut CD Earning Her Wings, named top Americana album for 2007 by Smart Choice Music. It’s scheduled for release next spring.—Brian Cook

Drop us a line!

Have a “Me & My Toyota” story to share? E-mail us at info@connectionsmagazine.net.