When a Gen X singer-songwriter who launched her music career in her 40s wants album art that screams transformation, she calls one of pop art’s most audacious voices. That’s exactly what Austin’s Lurleen Ladd did, unveiling the cover for her fourth album Reclamation—a vibrant painting by New York-based artist Ashley Longshore that shows Ladd at the microphone, surrounded by floating vinyl records and butterflies.
The timing is no accident. With Reclamation dropping on all major streaming platforms October 10, 2026, Ladd is making a statement about women over 40 reclaiming their creative dreams. Longshore, a self-taught painter who built an internationally recognized career from her college dorm, was the natural choice to capture that spirit. Her collaborations include Gucci, Porsche and Maybelline, and she’s been described as an “avatar of pop feminism.”
“Since she herself struggled as an artist at first, especially as an independent female artist in a male-dominated industry, I felt compelled to have Ashley be a part of this album,” Ladd said. “I’m so grateful that she agreed to be part of this special project that has brought dozens of women 40+ together in one common vision: to reclaim the dreams that we first formed as teens and continue to fuel us today.”
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Longshore, a fellow Gen X-er and Southerner, felt the pull immediately. “When she shared her personal story and vision behind the Reclamation album, it was a no-brainer to want to be a part of it,” Longshore said. “Having grown up in the ‘80s, I love all the songs she covers on the album as well!”
That 1980s soundtrack is central to the project. Reclamation reimagines hits by Bruce Springsteen, Rick Springfield, INXS, Dire Straits, Pat Benatar and Robert Palmer—transforming familiar classics through the lens of a woman reclaiming her voice. The album was produced by Eddy Hobizal, an acclaimed pianist whose credits include work with Christopher Cross, Sara Hickman, Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Lloyd Maines and former Ray Charles music director Dr. James Polk.
Ladd’s own path mirrors the album’s theme. After a 20-year career in social work and healthcare, she launched her recording career in her 40s. That experience—navigating an industry that often overlooks women over 40—led her to found Wavemakers Women and Music, a global movement that challenges ageist perceptions and empowers experienced women musicians.
Longshore’s original painting will be on full display at the album’s release celebration: a world premiere performance on Saturday, October 10, from 7–10 p.m. at Assembly Hall in Austin, Texas. For more info and tickets: LurleenLadd.com
Why it matters: Reclamation isn’t just another covers album—it’s a cultural statement about creative longevity and the power of women over 40 to redefine their artistic narratives. By pairing an emerging late-career musician with an established pop-art icon who shares her generation and Southern roots, Ladd is proving that reclaiming your dreams isn’t a second act—it’s the main event.
Beatrice Kimmel
EMPKT Media Inc.
+1 917-848-0919
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