In a radio world of shrill and shit, finding something of substance is like finding the needle in a Goliath-sized haystack. It seems it’s easier to win the lottery than to find something real to listen to; something with emotion, and substance, that tells a story of that place you’ve been to and couldn’t quite put your finger on, or forget. But that place you’ve been looking for the road map to for as long as you can remember.

For me, I was sitting in a hotel room in Portland, Maine, alone. By chance I heard the opening of “Flow”. I was lost. Wherever. Whenever. Somewhere. It didn’t matter. I had no idea who the hell Emma-Lee was, but in an instant I knew I’d found something. Or maybe she found me. Again, it didn’t matter.

The beauty of true art is that it hits you like a right cross square on the chin when you least expect it.

The most poetic of knockouts.

After the hourglass stopped swinging in front of my eyes I realized I had to find out as much about the person behind this voice as I could.

And it turns out that music is just a very large slice of pie in the eye of Emma-Lee. On top of writing some damn good songs, and being another independent artist on the very large Canadian scene, beyond the voice that could make a thousand lonely nights seem comfortable and ok, she’s an amazing photographer, capturing moments the same way as she captures feelings in her songs, and making them instantaneous and forever in the same vein.

The following is taken from an interview I conducted with Emma-Lee. Though short, it reveals enough of her to know wholeheartedly there’s so much more where it came from. Which you can. Emma-Lee has released two E.P.’s consisting of eight songs (including “Flow”) over the last two years. In 2006 she is gearing towards releasing her first full-length album. In the meantime she’s snapping some breathtaking shots, most notably of which are her self-portraits. Yeah, she’s beautiful beyond her voice. But it’s so much more than that.

To find out, read the interview. To find out more, visit the links that follow. And for all of you MySpacer’s out there, click on the lonely tea-party picture and add her as a friend. Put her in your Top 8. Spread the word however you can. Real talent is a thing to appreciate, and to celebrate. Especially when someone has the courage to create and share their talent on their own accord.

Emma-Lee is all that and a bag of chips. Hell, she’s so good she’s Cool Ranch Doritos.

Yeah, she’s the sort of brilliant you need to take notice of.

Now.

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If someone doesn’t know your name, or your music yet, why do you think they should? How would you describe it to them, to get them excited about it, and then hopefully to go out and buy it?

That’s always a tough question for me to answer, because I find I sound like many genres rolled into one “super” genre haha. I have a charming way of brain washing people into liking me, basically I tell them that if they don’t listen to my music their friends will think they are less cool. This generally works. Joking aside I could talk about myself until I’m blue in the face but the only way someone is going to buy my CD is if they hear it for themselves.

Scanning through other female artists in an attempt to sort of compare your music to, not so much to group you, but to hear possible influences, I kept coming away with a little bit of this, a little bit of that feeling; your music ranges across a lot of different genres. Who are some of the singers who’ve influenced your style, your approach, and who you think the listeners of would naturally in turn enjoy your stuff?

My favourite singer of all time is Ella Fitzgerald. She has the most amazing vocal style and back in her day the recordings were all live off the floor and she nailed everything. Her pitch is incredible and her tone is enviable. I definitely take cues from her in how to really use my voice. As far are current artists, Feist has been a huge inspiration vocally and stylistically. But overall the person who really inspired me to make a career not only as a singer but a songwriter would be Fiona Apple.

So far you’ve got two E.P.’s under your belt, with a forthcoming full album of material on the way. First off, how is it different approaching a full-length set of material as opposed to just a few songs? Is it more intimidating? Does it take more focus? And second, how is the process coming along so far? Do you have a timeframe you’re looking at for release?

Well I’ve never recorded a full length album, so I’m not really sure what I’m in for but I’m certainly looking forward to it. But I would guess the biggest difference is having the album flow like a story. With a demo or a short EP you’re generally just trying to showcase who you are and what you’re about very quickly and use those songs as a tool. With an album I think there’s more room to breathe, where as with your demo you want every song to be punch after punch because it’s basically a sales pitch to potential fans.

The idea of releasing a full length album, especially because it’s my first can be intimidating only because I want it to be the best possible work of art that really shows who I am. I don’t know if it takes more focus, but having a semi-clear vision will certainly guide me along the way.

At the moment I’m still in the process of writing and choosing the songs I would like to record. Once I’m ready the recording itself I’m hoping will not take longer than 2 months at most. I’d really like to just immerse myself in the recording process, hide out in the studio…coming out only to eat. I won’t sleep, I won’t even shower. Ok, maybe I’ll shower…only for the sake of the people I’m working with.

I’m feeling sometime around July would be more than likely, but I’m not rushing anything. I’m not letting this album see the light of day unless I’m 100% behind it.

Being someone who writes your own material, what is your writing process like? Do you tend to write lyrics first, and then the music? Vice versa? Together? Do you have something in mind when you sit down to write, or do songs just sort of come? Do you have a certain method, some spot you go to—either physically or emotionally—where inspiration comes a little easier? Are there any habits/rituals you have?

Some people look at songwriting as a job. They sit down with a guitar and a pad of paper and force something to come out. Through my own experience, anytime I’ve ever done that I’ve written the worst songs of all time. Seriously. The best songs I’ve written come without warning, they come from some place within me and when I’ve finished writing them I can’t even recall how it happened. While I was going through a time of not being able to write anything a friend of mine told me a Neil Young quote:

“If you don’t have an idea and you don’t hear anything going over and over in your head, don’t sit down and try to write a song. You know, go and mow the lawn.”

With my songs I usually have an idea, a theme or subject I want to write about and that’s what will start the process. I always keep a book with me to write down lyrics when I think of them. Sometimes if I’m out and about and a melody comes to me I call my own cell phone and leave myself a message with the idea so I don’t forget it later. I don’t think I have any writing rituals, generally just sitting alone with my guitar playing until I stumble on some chord progressions I like…followed by singing a melody with jibberish lyrics until I write the real lyrics.

Overall, I draw inspiration more from pain and frustration. I struggle to write happy, upbeat songs. Lots of musician friends of mine say they have the same problem. I guess when you’re really happy you’re just too busy enjoying it to write songs!

What is it like doing all of this independently, without the monetary backing from some established record company? What are some of the advantages? The disadvantages? What would you say of the whole process, from production, to promotion, to doing the things that nobody sees but are integral to the success of spreading your music? Is Do-It-Yourself really what you want, and if so is it a control issue as much as it is perhaps a pride thing, being able to say at the end of the day that you did all of it yourself?

There are definitely pros and cons to both. Easily the biggest downside of being independent is lack of finances. Everything else about it is great, for me at least. The freedom to express myself anyway I want and create without someone else’s approval is satisfying. I enjoy a lot of the business/marketing side to music too. I would say the DIY approach is somewhat of a pride issue. I feel good achieving things on my own, especially as a woman in a boys club industry. At the end of the day, I’m pressing on with my music career regardless of if someone helps me. If I was offered a record deal I would only take it if all the stars aligned. I don’t feel like I have to get on my knees and beg, especially with the current state of the industry. If it’s meant to happen it will, but being a self sustained independent artist has never been more possible than it is right now and I love that.

If someone is reading this, and they have talent, and they are determined that music is what they want to do with their life, what would you tell them from your own experience to look out for? Any advice? Any warnings?

Practice your art, be patient, be a ruthless self promoter and be yourself! People aren’t stupid, they know an act when they see it. The only way people will relate to you is if they can see that you’re genuine. Also, make sure to live outside of your music. Sometimes I find myself so wrapped up in wanting to make this career happen I forget about the important things in life that inspire me in the first place.

Your songs seem to deal a lot in terms of the ranging human emotions, from jubilation, to longing, from head over heals infatuation, to the questioning of how the persons in your songs got to the places they are, and all of it seems natural because, well, it is everyday stuff we all feel. Through this the listener is let in on the journey of the songs characters, and at the same time it allows them to tune into their own feelings. Is this something you are cognoscente of when you write? Do you try to write to things the everyday person can relate to, and lose themselves in just like your characters do in the songs?

I don’t purposely try to write things people will relate to, I think it just happens that way. Because I draw inspiration mainly from my own experiences and relationships, coming across “human” is only natural. Admitedly I’m a very sensitive person, I get affected by human behavior very strongly, so I’m drawn to write about it.

Music aside, you are also into photography, and other artistic outlets. What, if anything, do these other creative avenues give you that maybe music doesn’t, or can’t? How do you feel when you snap a really good shot, as opposed to when you finish a really good song?

That’s a great question! For me being an “artist” doesn’t stop at just the writing, recording and performing. How I look physically is undeniably a part of me. How I look affects both how I act and how I am perceived. I like to use photography as a window into who I am, how I’m feeling, my moods, etc. The self portraits I take are reality emoted through fantasy, I’m playing a character on the outside to reflect how I’m feeling inside. These characters are sometimes inspired from songs but mostly from feeling. It all ties together. That’s why having great album artwork is important, I like to be stimulated not only by sound but also by what I see while I listen. Is “KISS” the same band without make-up and costumes? Heck no! Remember when they unmasked? Not cool.

I think I have different levels of satisfaction at the result of a finished song or a finished photo. While photography is a newer passion, music has been with me since I was a wee one so I think I will always feel the greatest sense of accomplishment from writing a great song vs. taking a great photograph.

What are some cd’s/some music in your collection that even people who know you might not expect? Is there anything that might be ‘embarrassing’?

Oh my. I’ve got tons. The first cassette tape I ever purchased when I was 8 years old or something was Paula Abdul. I was into dancing a lot as a kid so I liked Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Madonna. All the pop queens. I’ve been through so many phases. After pop was folk, then rock, then hip hop, then electronica and now I listen to just about everything. If you looked at my music collection you’d think I was a very conflicted soul. I’d say the most obscure CD I ever owned was James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins solo debut. That was sold long ago to a used CD store haha. Currently I pride myself on my ever growing collection of local Toronto indie artists.

You have a sentence to give your motto or your outlook on life, what is it?

Life’s a journey, not a destination. (Thanks Aerosmith)

As a writer are there any influences you have outside of other musicians, such as novels, films, or art in general, that inspire you? Who are some of your favorite writers?

I don’t think I’m influenced by any novelists, but I’m a big movie buff. My favourite film makers are David Lynch and John Waters. I like being made to feel awkward and uncomfortable, so their work challenges me creatively.

If this interview were done a year from now what would you hope to have accomplished by then, and where do you think you’ll be creatively and professionally?

I hope I will have released my first full length album, have toured it as much as possible and would be communicating with you over the phone from a beach in Costa Rica. I predict I will be in the midst of making a full on disco album and working on a completely pretentious coffee table book of nude self portraits.

Find More On Emma-Lee Here:
Official Website
MySpace
Photography Website