"I had no other option - I needed an outlet. So, I didn't stop writing for six months. I knew I had to get it down, even if it was crap.
"To get country, you have to be broken. Usually in love. Country music doesn't take away the reality of what you're going through - it's about alcohol, drug addiction, cheating on people. It's about being a rambler, being a hobo and not quite fitting in. I really relate to that."
After writing almost an album's worth of brooding country-folk melodies, Lamb teamed up with close friend and guitarist Bryn Heveldt, and the two recorded a couple of EPs. They were later joined by bassist Jason Johnson, trumpeter Chris Winter and drummer Nick Brown - and, following a gig at a small house concert, "everything exploded from there".
It wasn't long before Eb and Sparrow were getting regular gigs - playing everywhere from Bar Bodega and Mighty Mighty in Wellington, to the Petone Bluegrass Club to Wunderbar in Lyttelton, and eventually supporting Anika Moa and British "folktronica" singer Beth Orton.
The band is working on its album with Lyttelton Records, which Lamb says is currently in the mixing stage.
"It's entirely self-funded - we've raised all the money from playing gigs," says Lamb, an office worker and mother of one.
"We've all given up our normal lives to make this record and no one's getting paid. But, we're not going to be stopped because of money.
"Hopefully, the album will be in everyone's hot little hands by Easter next year."
Lamb says Eb and Sparrow's sound encompasses country, folk, old blues and indie elements - but their style is very much their own.
She says all the individual elements of the band - a combination of lap steel, nylon and electric guitars, the trumpet, drums played with a mallet, her deep voice and her finger-picking guitar style - combine to make something very unique.
"I'm still quite surprised by the sound we make - it's very special," says Lamb, who is often likened to "a Kiwi Gillian Welch".
"Older and young people like our music. Which is reassuring."
Lamb says one of the highlights of her country career has been supporting US folk legend Rodriguez at the Wellington TSB Arena in March - where Eb and Sparrow played to more than 4000 people.
"It was one of the most incredible nights of our lives," she says. "The crowd listened to every single song. You could have heard a pin drop. I was so humbled - it was one of the warmest crowds we'd ever played to.
"That night, I had two options - either freak out, or rise to the occasion.
"For a gig like that, you have to give it your all."
Lamb says she and her band-mates are looking forward to playing at King St live this evening as part of its Nashville Babylon gig.
"I love playing in the Wairarapa - the locals absolutely love music," she says.
Nashville Babylon begins at 8pm today, doors open at 7pm. Tickets are $20 on the door. More information on Eb and Sparrow can be found at www.ebandsparrow.co.nz
