This edition of my Blog is on Vicky Emerson a Singer/songwriter from Minnesota. I have only discovered Vicky a few months ago, through another musicians Joyann Parker. If you have been following me for any length of time you know that I admire the singers that have a unique voice. Well Vicky falls into that category. Some people may say she sounds a little like Emmylou Harris or even at times like Shania Twain. Which I can see that, but for me I think Vicky has a voice that borders on Country and Americana. Which the latter is what Vicky refers to her music being. To me Vicky’s singing is very Melodic in the way of being easy to listen to and keeps the melody moving in the song. She has such a beautiful tone to her voice and an amazing control. At the same time, she can keep you focused on the story line. Which brings me to Vicky’s songwriting, Vicky has a way of writing songs that the average person can relate to. Real down to earth songs about feelings and life experiences that we all have felt or been through.
Vicky has six vocal albums, plus some piano albums. I will be talking about the six vocal albums. Which I have recently obtained from Vicky. I have listen to all of them many times, trying to pick a favorite album. This is not an easy task; I have narrowed it down to the 3 top ones. In no particular order. “Steady Heart”, “Long Ride” and “Vicky Emerson”. Now this is not to say that the other three albums are not good, they are. Everyone of them has really great songs on them, but the three I chose each have the most on them. Now “Steady Heart” has at least three songs that I really like “The Reckoning”, “Good Enough” and The Boat Song”. The album “Long Ride” has four really good songs on it. “Long Ride”, “Every Shade of Blue”, “Ferris Wheel” and “Next to Me”. The album just titled “Vicky Emerson” is just an all-around catchy album, unlike the other five… The three other titles are “Wake me up When The Wind Dies Down”, “Dust & Echoes” & “Reach.” After releasing three critically acclaimed albums, Emerson believed it was time for her to step into the role as the producer. Also, this group of deeply personal songs seemed an ideal fit for Emerson to shepherd from pre-production to duplication. “The title track, “Steady Heart,” is a love song which Vicky wrote for her husband. Vicky says Love is beautiful, crazy, messy, and complicated. It can be the greatest high and the most heart wrenching low. She launched a wildly successful Kickstarter for Steady Heart and the album was recorded, mixed, and mastered in the summer of 2018. So, let’s go back to the most recent album “Steady Heart.” She produced the album and wrote, or co-wrote, all the songs. She recorded the album in Minneapolis with a set of players that included Steve Bosmans on some well-placed and effective electric guitar. Other contributors included Zach Miller on percussion, Aaron Fabbrini on stand-up bass and Jake Armerding on violin and fiddle. Kari Arnett, Annie Fitzgerald and Sarah Morris all sang background vocals. The resulting sound is built around Emerson’s strong vocal presence and appealing arrangements. Vicky’s vocal and songwriting is proof of why I tend to favor Women in the music field. They just seem to have a more natural way of giving their music more feelings. The one cover here is Richard Leigh’s Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, best known by Crystal Gayle’s interpretation. This version is slowed down, giving the sentiment of the song a deeper feeling. Vicky Emerson has been heralded by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and No Depression for her gorgeous, dusky voice and songwriting. Firmly establishes her as an essential, strong female voice in Americana music. Vicky said once in an interview, “The lack of female leadership and representation really started to bother me. I believe in being part of the change I’d like to see within the fabric of our music community. The vision I had for this album was crystal clear in my mind. I decided it was time to trust myself and my musicianship.” Vicky Emerson was raised in rural Wisconsin, has lived in New York City and San Francisco before relocating back to her roots in Minneapolis with her husband to raise her children. She continues to tour the nation as a solo artist as well as with her Americana duo, The Home Fires, with good friend Sarah Morris. Emerson and Morris have also launched Front Porch Music Group, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm for singer/songwriters. Vicky has opened for Gregory Alan Isakov, Amanda Shires, Eliza Gilkyson, Brewer & Shipley, Malcomb Holcombe and Brent Cobb as a solo artist and Emmylou Harris and Ben Rector as The Home Fires. Steady Heart reached #52 on the Americana Music Association Album Chart and #4 on the European Chart while the single, "The Reckoning", rose to #34 Americana Singles Chart. In 2019, the video for "The Reckoning" was nominated for Video of the Year as well as Americana Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Steady Heart by the Midwest Country Music Association. So, before I get to the questions, I was able to ask Vicky Emerson. I would like to say that the first time I heard Vicky sing which was on one of her live streams. I could not believe what I was hearing and why I have not heard of Vicky before now. I feel that the reason that she has such a beautiful voice is due to the fact that she sings with her heart. I have not met Vicky in person yet, but from watching her live streams I can tell that she is a kind soul and appreciate what she has in Life. When a Singer or musician can relay that across into their music and performances that my friend is a real God given talent. I whole heartily believe Vicky Emerson has this. So, If you have not had the pleasure of listening to Vicky sing I highly recommend you do and hear is where you can: https://vickyemerson.com/home https://www.youtube.com/user/VickyEmerson76 Now here are some questions Vicky was kind enough to answer. 1. How long have you been playing music? I have played music since I could reach the piano keys. I loved music as a small child, and I am lucky to have been able to enjoy a career in music. 2.How many bands have you been in? 2 3.Where were you born? Elmwood, Wisconsin 4.Are you self-taught? I am classically trained on the piano and self-taught on the guitar. 5.Who are your biggest influences? Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams, JD McPherson, Dolly Parton, and Emmylou Harris. 6.What style of music do you consider yours? Americana 7.What was your first gig? How old were you? First gig was playing the Christmas service at the Lutheran church we attended. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. 8.What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? My best advice is work with people you trust and lift you up and always trust your gut. 9.Do you write your own songs? Yes. 10.What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? I have a lot of solo New Age piano in my collection because that is the genre initially where I started my career. So, that means there’s a lot of George Winston in my catalogue.
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AuthorHello, My name is Michael. I am into music, have been for over 48yrs. Big fan of all kinds of music, right now it has been the Blues for the last 10yrs. I do not play any instruments, But I very interested in the recording aspect of the industry. Have messed around with it a little and always learning new things about it. I have met many wonderful people because of Music.. Hope you enjoy my Blogs... In the last two years I have been producing House Concerts. I also in the past 2 years got to produce and engineer an album for a very good friend of mine from Sweden "Magpie". Archives
February 2024
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