Just a gardener (who's got too much on my plate!)
Hello sunflowers, snapdragons, snails, and all other inhabitants of the garden!
I hope this newsletter finds you high (off life). 4/20 is a very important day to me (because it's the anniversary of me getting my second vaccine! woo hoo!!).
I'm excited to be writing you again!
Thank you to everyone who came out to my show at Rockwood Music Hall earlier this month!! It was incredible to return to my favorite stage with a full house. I am forever afraid of playing to mostly-empty rooms (shout out to my beautiful best friends Elliot and Sam who have been the sole audience members at too many gigs to count over the past seven years), but that seems to be the musician right of passage and maybe just maybe (*knock on wood*) I have turned a corner on that one.
Anyway all is to say- I can't wait to return!! If you missed it, you can find some clips on my Instagram, including of some brand new tunes that I premiered. Or you can catch me at my next live performance.....
The Gardener in the Gardens!!!
This is legitimately the most excited I've ever been to announce a gig ever- it feels fated, kismet, perfectly aligned to say that on May 22nd I am going to be performing AT THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN!!! Yes, folks, you heard it right- The Gardener is going to be played live at an actual garden. The very same garden where my friend Marilyn Lamanna took gorgeous photos of me for The Gardener EP release cycle back in 2019.
I'll be performing as part of their Spring Uncorked wine festival- the event runs from 12-4pm, and my set is 12-12:40pm! Tickets can be found here. I have been pinching myself ever since they reached out to me a few months ago, and cannot wait to perform out in the lawn surrounded by all those beautiful fronds (plant friends).
Other upcoming gigs:
You Matter: A Livestream Concert for Trans Kids and Their Families- May 14th at 2pm EST. Eventbrite link here
Free Music Friday Livestream with the American Folk Art Museum- June 10th at 6pm EST. Eventbrite link here
Make Music New York- June 21st (specific locations and times TBA!)
#girlboss???
Another pinch-me-I'm-dreaming fact of my life is that I now freelance full time as a musician!! My longtime goal has been to make my income solely off of my art, and after being able to quit my part time customer service job earlier this year I can finally say it's a reality!
I work mainly on the platform Fiverr offering a variety of services:
vocals for pop and edm tracks
covers of songs for weddings or other occassions
theme songs or jingles for podcasts/businesses/YouTube channels/etc
and my bestseller, writing custom songs for people to give as gifts to their loved ones!!
Mother's Day will be here before you know it, and if that's a holiday that you need a gift for, why not consider commissioning a song? Or for anniversaries, birthdays, or just-cause's year round, check out my profile here to find examples of my past work, reviews from past clients, or to place an order!
Life Beyond the Internet
As of sending this, I will be on day 6 of my thirty day digital detox! I'm following Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism book for the second time (the first was in January of 2020, which left me feeling refreshed and like I had a new relationship with technology that I was excited to take with me into the new year... we all know how that ended unfortunately. Alas!)
I am happy to be doing it again, though, and recommend it for anyone who is afraid of their own screen time reports. Newport takes a really non-judgmental approach- the crux of it is really to rediscover what off-screen activities make you happy, and prioritize those over the endless scroll.
It's amazing how much more I get done and how much better I feel only a week in?? If having a music career didn't depend on having a social media presence, I'd really consider leaving full stop. I dream of the days when I can get to a level where someone else manages most of my social media, and I can pop on only when I feel like to post cryptic teasers and random snippets of life. But, for now, I take my break, and hopefully come back with a healthier perspective, using it sparingly and at arm's length until the day comes where I can hand over my log-in to my label (*manifesting*).
Here's some art I've been enjoying lately:
The Anthropocene Reviewed- John Green. Oh, the world is beautiful and full of wonder!!! I'm only a quarter of the way through these essays so far but have been crying at nearly every other one. Highly recommend.
What's Your Pleasure- Jessie Ware. While I wait (impatiently) for loml Harry Styles to drop 'Late Night Talking' after premiering it at Coachella, I've been revisiting Jessie Ware's stunner of an album with similar disco dancing vibes.
The Magic Fish- Trung Le Nyugen. Graphic novels were a great gateway back to finding my appetite for reading. Last weekend, I sat for an hour at a Barnes & Noble and devoured this one breathlessly in one sitting.
And a small correction from last newsletter:
Here is a working link to my QueerFM interview from last month!
Thank you as always for reading, and supporting, and existing. I'm glad you're here!!
Til May's flowers,
Em