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Emay is a young acoustic mastermind with the determination of an astronaut and the grace of an angel. With a powerful voice and an intensely unique style of fingerpicking her 12-string guitar, she is an undertow that will grab you ankles and not let you go.brbrGoing to a wedding reception at the age of six, she walks past an enlivened room where a folk-rock band was getting down. She spent the evening sitting five feet from the band, transfixed on the magic she had never known before.brbr
Not long after, she was walking through a hotel and was transfixed by a lounge pianist. After hours of observing, the pianist had her sit at the piano and learn a song. This woman - Cindy Chung - became her first teacher.brbrAnd Emay was a natural, as well as being a fast learner. She played the piano for several years, and had a short-lived stint with the clarinet. She would constantly sing and dance as a child, but distinctly remembers the moment she learned she had a voice. "I was about thirteen, in the car with my mom," she recalls, "and I was singing some radio tune. My mom turns to me and says 'hey, you've got a voice in you after all'. I was a little suprised and said 'what, you didn't think so before?" and she just smiled big at me and said 'nope, not at all.' I was a bit offended, but I took it as a compliment in time". Then again, the first words emay spoke to her mom is "Mommy, don't sing", although she now says her mom does have a pretty nice voice.brbr
In high school, her fairy godmother suggested that she try the guitar. Emay was all ears, and borrowed her first guitar - an heirloom classical guitar. After playing classical, acoustic and electric, she bedded in with 12-string acoustic guitars. She had a few short-term teachers for guitar, but is mostly self-taught. Her first teacher - Ross Adams - taught her something invaluable to her style: fingerpicking. Thanks to determination, the now-defunct on-line guitar archive, and many musical friends along the way, she has become an electrifying player and performer.brbr
Over the years, Emay has proven her musical adaptability, adding electric fretted & fretless bass, darboukah (an egyptian hand-drum), and sound engineering to her repertoire. She has played in half a dozen bands, yet is very dedicated to her solo acoustic music.brbr
She is currently at work recording her first full-length album, "Incantations" with Doug Wilkin, Opposites Attract, and Riccardo Shulz. brbr
As she believes that boredom is the curse of a dull body and a bored mind, emay is also an avid bellydancer, fire poi-spinner, gardener, chef, photographer, poet and professional writer. She also loves math, driving and the thought of having a farm and 27 children.
Artist Mission
Emay's acoustic project is a soulful voyage through an active subconscious, the american psyche, ritualistic aspirations, and interpersonal adventures.
As a performer, Emay is enigmatic and energetic. She can grasp an audience of any size by the wrist and lead them into the sonic arrangements. Most people that see her cry, but she always gives her audience a comical release. brbr
She is also looking for a good label, a house, and a location for a breakfast sandwich shop. She plans to take her act on the road when her latest recording is done.
Music Influences
The Asylum Street Spankers, Leonard Cohen, Citizen Cope, Dead Can Dance, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Ted Hawkins, Imogene Heap, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Nina Simone, the Slip, Tool, Yonder Mountain String Band
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