2004–2011 Gibson relocated to
Portland, Oregon after graduating from college, and worked odd jobs prior to composing music. She released her debut album,
If You Come to Greet Me in 2006 on the Portland-based indie label
Hush Records. In 2008, she appeared on
NPR's inaugural installment of
Tiny Desk Concerts. The concept for the Tiny Desk Concerts was conceived following one of her concerts that NPR music journalists
Stephen Thompson and
Bob Boilen had attended, when they were unable to hear her performance over the noise of the crowd. Boilen then arranged for Gibson to perform at his desk at the NPR office, and it subsequently evolved into a recurring feature. She would later reappear again at the 200th concert. In 2008, Gibson released
Six White Horses - Blues & Traditionals Vol. I via Portland-based indie label
Hush Records. In 2009, she released a collaboration album with Ethan Rose, titled
Bridge Carols, which featured experimental vocals and was recorded in various outdoor locations.
2012–present Her third release,
La Grande (2012), was named after and inspired by the city of
La Grande, Oregon, Gibson has composed music and lyrics for multiple commercials, including a version of "Hey There Little Red Riding Hood" for
Volvo, as well as original music for
Microsoft and the Humane Society. In 2014 Gibson composed the song "Live Long in Oregon" for the Cover Oregon Campaign, the Oregon branch of the Affordable Health Care Act. The commercial was discussed on several national news outlets. After Oregon dropped its state run coverage, the commercial was parodied on the premiere episode of
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, featuring
Lisa Loeb in Gibson's role. In 2015, Gibson was principal composer and lyricist for Up the Fall, a musical production created for performers with developmental disabilities, for the Portland-based Non-Profit PHAME Academy. She has also collaborated with
Oregon Ballet Theatre and Portland Playhouse. On April 1, 2016, Gibson released her fourth album,
Empire Builder. ==Personal life==