glad to be here (rockwood, tiny desk, and the fantasy genre)
hello hi spring sunshine,
Everyone in New York is beautiful again after shedding their big black winter coats, and I'm very happy to be here to witness it. I keep turning to the sky or the trees or the earth and saying "thank you so much for having me." Bursting with gratitude these days. Many delights abound.
Back at my favorite place to perform...
Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1!! Thursday March 30th at 7pm. Here are a list of reasons you should come (because I love lists).
I am truly at my prime rn!! All my music is good!! My voice is really good!! My set list is really good !! My comfort with between-song banter grows and grows!! I'm not usually confident about these things so if I say it you know it's true.
I am going to wear the prettiest dress I have ever owned in my life
There is no cover fee it is a free show you just have to buy one drink and that's it!!
Rockwood is the cutest little venue with the most immaculate, warm vibes. Options to sit or stand depending on what you need!
7pm is a prime time slot for structuring your day like so: work > dinner > my show > home at a reasonable hour
Nice central downtown location, easy to get there and get home
Come get your fix of yearning and existentialism and hope<3
I really hope to see you there!!!
My Tiny Desk Contest Entry for 2023 :)
Every year NPR's wonderful video series "Tiny Desk Concert" holds a contest for independent artists. This is my favorite entry I've ever recorded, and one of my favorite songs I've ever written. Every time I play it at a show, people tell me that it made them cry, which is the biggest compliment in the world. It is a hopeful song though!! It's a bittersweet happysad. So grab your tissues and give it a watch. Thank you for everyone who's been sharing it and commenting so far. Ily.
Watch "Wounded Dog" here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2FQ6HsjCi38&feature=shares
Little Joys
I finally finally got to see Hadestown on Broadway and it is pure magic on a stage. My favorite type of musical is one where from the top of the show the characters/actors say to the audience- "we're here to tell you a story". Feels intimate and ancient and sacred. What a joy to witness such capital S Storytelling. (Uh oh, I miss doing theater again!)
The new D&D actual play podcast Worlds Beyond Number brings together all of my favorite people in the ttrpg actual play space (Brennan Lee Mulligan, Lou Wilson, Erika Ishii, and Aabria Iyengar) and it is such a rich and lovely delight. I'm subscribed to their Patreon, where they released an 8 episode pre-campaign "Children's Adventure" where we meet the three heroes as children coming together for the first time at a witch's cottage one magical summer. An absolute treat!
Continuing my fantasy kick, I'm revisiting the Septimus Heap book series that I loved in childhood, and also reading The City We Became, about a magical contemporary New York. I really want to run a NYC urban fantasy mini D&D campaign for my pals someday and this is giving me plenty of inspiration.
It's been just over a year that I've been writing these!! Whether you've been subscribed since then or are new to the missives, my feelings are always the same: I'm glad you're here.
Solstice blessings,
Em