epsongs

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Songwriting / EP Update

At long last, I'm starting to break free from my writer's block! Here's a status update on 5 songs I've been writing: 1. "Lost Soul": (May 2015) lyrics & chord progressions have been finalized, need to make a rough recording and then begin work producing 2. "Dance, Babe": (March 2015) lyrics have been finalized, need to give the chords some flavor 3. "Masquerade": (May 2015) chords have been finalized, need to craft better lyrics 4. "Walking": (July 2015) chord progressions have been finalized, need to tweak a few lyrics for flow, then recording/producing 5. "Oxytocin": (December 2015) BRAND NEW song I've been working on, need to finish writing lyrics and chord progressions for verses but then I'm (already!) ready to record/produce! Two other things: no, this is not an EP track listing, though it's likely that at least one if not more of these songs will be on my EP. Also, yes, I am working on other songs besides these (including a collab with a talented friend of mine), so any of those could be on the EP too. I'll decide on the number of tracks later in the process once I get a better feel for the sound I want to create and the story I want to tell with the group of songs I select. Hoping to release in 2016, but I'll take however long I need to get it sounding right. Lastly, to all of my friends who've supported my music and have been wanting recordings (iPhone), that's definitely being put on the front burner and will hopefully be accomplished during the month of winter break I have left. 2015 has been a crazy, difficult year, but especially as of lately I'm super excited for what's going to happen with my music in 2016! Can't wait to take y'all along for the ride! -Emily

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I was playing around with this song late last night and using major 7th chords (instead of the regular major/minor chords). It’s a rough recording, but I’m personally loving the vibe from those different chords. (The guitar is on the quieter side since it was late.)

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I wanted to post this since the soul behind this, whether it can be heard or not, is what I’m after in my own music--honesty and vulnerability in their most raw forms. It’s not technically perfect. It’s messy, but it’s real.

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New stuff coming soon!

I’ve written one entire song and half of another one in a span of 24 hours. This never happens to me. Stay tuned!

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....if that grace could be extended to my playing also, that’d be great too! ;p

So yeah, I’m sick but I haven’t done much writing in a while because of academic pressure so I’m jumping back in despite barely being able to sing. ;p Not posting lyrics since this is still very up in the air. Inspiration from a bunch of different places & muses. I like where it’s going, it just needs work.

(And no, the cough was not purposely placed there. To quote my good friend Bob Ross, it was a “happy accident”.)

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Health issues --> extended hiatus

Hey, so depending on how the next few weeks go, I might not even be back into music in May. My physical health is starting to decline (rapidly, from my point of view) and my mental health isn't so great either, so I may not be in a place to dive back into music even though it's what I'm most passionate about. (And hell no am I quitting! It's just a break for an indeterminate amount of time.) To clarify, it's nothing super serious like some sort of condition (as far as I know) or cancer--nothing to that degree of serious. It's just several things combined together that have really slowed me down, and a lot of uncertainty and "what ifs". If anyone's curious as to exactly what, I don't mind answering, just message me, idec if it's anon. ;p I just didn't want to post that whole schpeal off the bat because it'll be long and I hate spamming people's feeds :p Sooo anyways, recap: unanticipated health challenges, no clue when I'm getting back to music, but I will be back at some point. Cya as soon as I can, take care.

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Taking a break

I don't want to do this, but I need to. I won't be posting anything on this blog/putting significant work into songs until the semester ends. My grades are tanking in my non-music classes and I'm really behind in assignments (both for a variety of reasons). I need to seriously commit to making academics my highest priority right now, and my music is a huge distraction from that. It sucks because they're not even classes in my major (aka have no real purpose in furthering/positively impacting my career) but still, excellence is excellence and that's more important than grades, so I need to be trying harder. Cya in May :p

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A little throwback to fall of 2012 with this one. I remember when this music video came out (Trouble) and literally everyone hated this monologue but me. I can't quite describe it, but the words Taylor chose and how she said them just speak to me. She articulates what it's like to fall in a way I've never heard matched. It's nonspecific, but personal at the same time. It's really shaped my songwriting style in ways I can't explain and still inspires me now almost three years later.

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Update: Current Projects

None of these are super sophisticated or finalized yet, but I just couldn’t keep them to myself any longer! Here are some things currently in the works:

1. I’m writing my first EP! I’ve been wanting to do this for some time now, and I finally decided to go ahead and make it happen. I’m still thinking about the general theme of it and what exactly I want it to sound like, but as of right now I can say it’ll most likely be between 4-6 original songs (+ maybe a cover?) released in 2015 or early 2016, depending on how everything goes with writing, recording, production, etc..--I’m so excited!!

2. Collabs will be happening, starting in Summer/Fall 2015! I’ve been surrounded by musical talent my whole life, and I’ve got some collabs in the works for this year. Most of them won’t be happening until I move (locally), since there’s an entire room dedicated to music in my new house (we’re getting a Steinway grand y’all!!!) with enough space to make music in with some friends. I don’t want to give too many spoilers this early on, but let’s just say I’m going to be collaborating with my brother, Jason--who’s a talented amateur DJ. Can’t say more than that right now, but yeah. Those are things that are happening.

3. Not an individual project per se as much as it is a serious accomplishment, but, assuming everything goes mostly to plan, I will have 20 new, finished songs in 2015! Since January, I have developed (to varying extents) around 18 song ideas, and put in some serious work to at least 2 songs I’d begun in 2014 or earlier (give or take based on what I could find after looking/counting for about a minute). The best part? It’s only April. I still have 8 more months of 2015 to come up with even more ideas and songs.

I’m so pumped about this year it’s actually ridiculous. Not much will happen until my finals are over and I’m officially done with freshman year (college), but I can’t wait to give another update when I can. Bottom line: at last, everything is falling into place for me to write, record, and produce my first ever EP, and there are no accurate words to describe how amazing and excited I feel.

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Music's been pretty on-and-off lately. I haven't gotten a restful night's sleep in months and it's affecting everything in my life, especially school, so unfortunately music is basically getting shoved to the side (which I absolutely hate, but that's life and ya gotta do whatcha gotta do). So I may be inactive for a little while. Or I may post things. I don't know. Everything is up in the air at this point.

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The signs as music genres

Aries: Club Dance Taurus: Teen Pop Gemini: Electronic Cancer: Disney Leo: Rap Virgo: Singer/Songwriter Libra: This was country but I had to change it because every. fucking. libra. in. the. world. was complaining but heres your new genre of music: emo. Congratulations. Scorpio: Rock Sagittarius: Alternative Capricorn: Classical Aquarius: Dubstep Pisces: K-Pop

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Finally getting around to using my staff notebooks!

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I'd be down to cover this duet with someone, just saying...

budapest || "duet" with george ezra

this song gives me the warm fuzzies/butterflies/etc. and i wanted to hear it as a duet, so i made that happen. i hope this gives y’all happy warm feelings. let me know what you think in my ask, like and reblog as you wish. hope you enjoy!!

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A New Chapter in Songwriting and a Peek into My Brain

One thing I do as a songwriter is keep an inspiration journal to write down my thoughts and ideas for songs. It catalogs my growth as a songwriter and a person. These were my words of inspiration to myself in January 2014 (left) and January 2015 (right). It’s crazy to see how much I’ve changed even in a single year.

I’m in a soul-searching time of my life, and that’s definitely reflected in my writing. It’s different from anything I’ve ever done before because I’m having completely new experiences and seeing past events through fresh eyes. As a result, my music has been going in a new direction. I’m opening up and showing much more vulnerability in my lyrics, and while I love that I’m being genuine, the idea of sharing some of my songs is quite honestly terrifying. I know that when I eventually post some of what I’ve been working on, I’ll be judged for it. But if that means getting the real Emily out in the open and not just the half-mask I put on to conform to my community’s ideas of me, it’s worth it.

There’s a lyric I wrote recently that really sums up my perspective on all this, and has encouraged me to embrace all of my music, even songs about things I’m not particularly proud of. It says, “Who made the rule that attraction is something we have to be ashamed of?”, and the more I think about it, the more I believe that being permanently embarrassed of life’s lessons is pretty dumb. Whether it’s physical attraction or any other experience, lessons are there for us not just to learn from our experiences, but to use those experiences as motivation to grow. We aren't supposed to stay ashamed and hope we don’t do that thing again. It happened so that we know how to improve and/or know what to expect next time. The process of learning and growing has never been an “either/or”. It has always been a “both/and”.

This is my conclusion: I will put forth music that I feel is at least close to complete, musically and lyrically, regardless of its content and whether or not I’m emotionally prepared for any potential backlash (because I can never be fully prepared). If I continue hesitating, especially in situations when it’s not entirely necessary, I’m not going to get anywhere. It’s my way of “embracing every adventure & losing control”, because if I’m not “living honestly”, I’m stifling the “passion burning in [my] soul”. If I’m not passionate about who I am, how I live, and what I do, I certainly can’t “love recklessly” or be “bursting with excitement”. It’s all dependent on 1) whether or not I’m honest with myself and everyone else, and 2) after choosing the appropriate level of transparency, embracing whatever life throws at me: good or bad, clean or messy.

In this tumultuous time of my young life, I’m striving to delve even deeper mentally to form better-crafted lyrics, that are relevant to where I am now and hopefully relatable to others. Keeping in mind all I have shared, please bear with me. Some lyrics are explicit (not explicit as in cursing, but rather discuss things in a blatant manner), and may surprise you. I’d ask you (along with myself) to think before you react and not make assumptions. At the same time, I appreciate all concern, and would be happy to answer most any question you have privately. I am so blessed to have so many people in my life who care about me, and I would hate to cause needless worry.

To close: entering this new chapter of my songwriting is a daunting task, but I’m loving every second of it.

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Mini Milestone

Wrapping up writing on what is almost my first completely written song of 2015! It feels fantastic and kinda freeing, 'cause with this muse, it's about damn time I finished a song about him honestly. Can't wait to share a rough recording with you all soon! =)

[epsongs]

Untitled draft -- {original lyrics}

Life's been crazy but I wanted to post some lyrics (two verses) to a song I'm currently working on. Some big things could end up happening, so stay tuned!

Staccato snapshots are racing through my head

Overwhelm me as I'm lying in my bed

Reality embellished, now I'm seeing red

If only we were like that instead of strangers just trying to get ahead in the world

My imagination is getting the best of me

Secret messages, blood rushing to my cheeks

A language only spoken by us two

If only we would speak up, we'd both stop feeling blue and shine a little light in the world

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May or may not have just written a song in my bathtub... 🛀🎶📝