Emily grew up surrounded by great music. Through her mother, Emily fell in love with Carole King, Carly Simon, and Billy Joel - all singer/pianists. Her father introduced her to her favorite artist of all time, Dan Fogelberg, as well as other greats including James Tayor and Stevie Wonder.
The radio was always on, and, living in the middle of nowhere, only a few stations played - all top 40's pop, everything from the 50's to contemporary music. And so Emily became fluent in the pop music form.
Emily searched for years to find her writing niche, trying desperately to write like Fiona, Tori, and Ani, but it all came out wrong. When she finally gave up trying to sound like someone else, she found her own voice, and was surprised to discover it was a little bit...country!
Current favorite artists include Regina Spektor, Dixie Chicks, Sufjan Stevens, Jason Mraz, Coldplay, Peter Gabriel, Ryan Adams, and Radiohead. Current artists Emily aspires to write for include Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson.
My name is Emily Marie Shackelton. I am a singer/songwriter who grew up among the hills and trees of a 900-person village in Northern Minnesota. I moved to Boston at the age of 18 to study at Berklee College of Music, where I experienced culture shock, latin music, Thai food, Irish pubs, and the amazing idea that songwriting could actually be a career choice and not just something I did for myself. I fell in love with a beautiful boy with a beautiful name and an even more beautiful spirit, and we were married - back among the hills and trees of that same small village in Northern Minnesota. Then we moved to Nashville, which has proved to be our greatest adventure yet...
Songwriting has blossomed from just another musical hobby into something so much more. It is the passion inside of me, poured out on paper and then sung for the whole world to hear. It's my truth, my transparency - something so deeply personal that is also at the same time meant to be universal. Songwriting is my way of venting everything inside of me, and also my way of reaching out to try and touch others. And it is so much bigger than me. Sometimes, I swear the songs were alive long before I was, and I am only the vessel through which they chose to be heard.
I am just a girl, trying to make it in a great big world. I'm an optimist at heart. I've been called naive, but I usually take it as a compliment. I think the world is absolutely breath-takingly beautiful, even though it also scares me to death. I believe that in the end, good will always triumph over evil, but I don't believe that anybody or anything is born inherently good. I am who I am because of the family that surrounds me, supports me, and stands by me no matter what. I am a daddy's girl and my mother is my best friend. My little brother has kept me safe, because I knew there was always someone looking up to me. I still think that true love conquers all. I know so. I made up Mr. Impossible in my head, and then he found me. But I believe that true love - real, honest love - is the hardest work in the world. It is not a fairy tale and it is not always easy, but in the end, it is the only reason I wake every morning. I believe that the only way to truly understand love is to look to Jesus Christ; this is the epitomy of self-sacrifice because of the heavy burden of love. And faith, well, that's what really carries me through. No matter what is happening around me, to me, because of me, knowing that there is Someone so much greater than me, knowing that I am so small in this vast universe, but that I am so loved...that we are all so, so loved...that's enough to get me through anything.
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My name is Shawn Mills and I am an 18 year old Senior at Bishop Ready High School in Columbus, OH. My freshman year I attended Grove City High School where I was in a show choir and it inspired me to start a show choir at my new school Bishop Ready. Our show's theme for this year is going to be "Dream" and I have proposed a list of amazing songs. One of our songs, the opener actually, I envisioned to be "Dream Big" which I'm sure you know David Cook performed on American Idol and which I fell in love with. I looked for sheet music for the song and came up with nothing, but eventually I discovered you wrote the song. Thank you SO MUCH to start off, the song is amazing and I've listened to some of your other work you are GREAT! I don't know how this works in the music business but I'm guessing I need your permission to use your song in our show, this is a small show choir and we will not be competing just performing for our school. I also need a huge favor of you though if this is at all possible. Is there anyway I can have the sheet music to your song? I'm not sure if that's a bad question to ask or if we have to pay for it or what but I guess I'll only know if I ask. We would LOVE to include your song as the opener and if you could help a struggling show choir just starting out we would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Hey Em! How have you been? I'm still so in love with your music! I listened to all the new stuff I hadn't heard yet and I'm still floored by your voice! Just thought I'd say hi and I hope you are still loving it in Nashville (which I'm sure you are)!
Hey Everyone! check out my appearance on GOOD DAY ATLANTA! I performed "It's Gotta Be Rough" and there's an interview too! We had a great time! I would love to see you re-post this to all your friends.
Thanks for the add Emily (wo, that line's gettin' old). Nice story, clear vision, great songs! Good to hear of a childhood pianist inspired by Carole, Carly, and Billy. When I was a kid listening to AM top 40 (late 60's -- we couldn't afford a radio with an FM dial), I went to a James Taylor concert and guess who opened . . . Carole King. No-one had heard of her yet, even though she wrote half our songs. The year before, the unknown James Taylor (pre-Fire and Rain) had opened for Chicago (man could those guys pass the brass . . . cry sweet tears of joy, make me smiiiiiile!!). Carly got to sing one of her signatures with Mick Jagger doin' backup (he probably thought that song was about him). We all bought apricot scarfs and practiced a casual glance as we slid by the mirror. Billy broke a little later, by then I needed to discover that . . . in every heart there is a room, a sanctuary safe and strong. Sorry to wax nostalgic (though it beats waning). Just think, 40 years from now some now-young fellow (by then, an old guy like me) will look back at the inspirations provided by your great songs, even when it seemed that every road crumbled, and every dream dissappeared.
Will you please help me by voting for me at the link below? I am in 3rd place in the GeorgiaCountry Poll for Favorite Teen Artist. I really need your help.It takes less than a minute to vote and it would mean a lot to me to have your help! Go to www.myspace.com/georgiacountryms and please vote in each categories for the votes to count. It's one vote per day, So you can vote daily!!
Thanks for adding me. I'll keep an eye on your page and see what your up to. Please let me know when your buying merch and I'll help ya make it look sweet and at a great price...
Thanks so much and good luck! Bill Nishanian Music Imprints bill@musicimprints.com 615-829-6858
Hello, Could I please ask you for a favor, I'am currently in 3rd place in the Georgia-Country Fave Teen Singer Contest, And I really want to win this, It only takes a minute to vote, and I would greatly appreciate your time and vote!
