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You can also download from iTunes:
get "sleepyhead" direct from emily:
12$...
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Or download from iTunes:
Packages should arrive within 7 to 10 business days in the US and can take a little longer overseas.
Influences
nina simone, bob dylan, egon schiele, biggie smalls, timmy straw, outkast, yoshi nara, toumani diabate, aphex twin, billie holiday, david sedaris, hope sandoval, simple citizens, matmos, beethoven, raymond carver, suzuki, carl orff, FAV NEW BAND: Department of Eagles
Listen to Andrea Seabrook's Interview with Emily on "All Things Considered"
Watch the Trio's live performance on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic Oct 2008
Check out Symphony 6 on KCRW's today's top tune
The Symphonies: NY Public radio top pick...
Sounds Like
"Emily Wells is a wonder to behold, a multi-instrumentalist who moves from violin to sampler with the greatest of ease, who cites Outkast, Aphex Twin and Matmos among her influences, but who doesn’t mimic, overdo or overproduce. She makes funky beats using analog reverb and, as a string player, understands and appreciates the art of arranging better than most guitarists. Her self-released The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties is a humble affair that’s crafted with just enough ornamentation to offer a hint at what Wells might accomplish in more grandiose surroundings."
-Randall Roberts
LA WEEKLY
"Ms. Wells’ latest album, “The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties” (creative control) is a warm, intriguing slice of avant-garde pop, and on stage she’s a delight. "
-Jim Fusilli
Wall Street Journal
"Many great composers have struggled to write nine symphonies in their lifetimes – think of Beethoven or Mahler. Now, a 20-something singer and violinist named Emily Wells has released an album containing ten symphonies. As you’ll hear, the term "symphony" is used rather loosely here; these are really electronic-folk songs that fuse layers of strings, bass, and drums to create rolling sonic textures. Working in her own recording studio, Wells played up to 21 separate tracks of violin on each symphony, often using an octave pedal to create the tones of a cello or viola. You can hear that DIY feel in the track, "Symphony Number 6."-picked by Brian Wise
-WNYC's CD picks:
"Wells carves up elegant, classically based pop tunes and frosts them with Björk/Kate Bush-style embellishments... This multi-instrumentalist is multitalented, with subtle powers of magic and persuasion; she even "taught the neighborhood how to creep for you."
-Falling James
LA WEEKLY
“Multi-instrumentalist Emily Wells says she's ‘most influenced by the songs and voices of Nina Simone and Bob Dylan.’ You can hear it in Emily's music. She's a singer-songwriter with unconventional and often chilling vocals."
-NPR
"Emily Wells has a quavering, angelic voice that has a little aura of strangeness."
-iTunes (indie spotlight)
"... she's something of a music phenomenon. She started playing violin during her pre-school years and was fielding record label offers at the age of 17. But she didn't want to be the pop star they were hoping to create, so she kept on her own path which eventually led to Los Angeles.
It's hard to describe her music – I can start by calling it pop with classical elements (she's an incredible violin player). But with all the layers and layers of music, the songs end up sounding like symphonies – as they are named on her record. And to keep us guessing further, she covered the song "Juicy" by the Notorious B.I.G.
Definitely keep an eye out for this one and check her out live if you can."
-KCRW music news.. VOX
"....no one raises the bar for exquisitely crafted, orchestral (and danceable) indie folk like Emily Wells, who's celebrating the release of her ambitious new album. The Symphonies: Dreams Memories and Parties has been years in the making, and its soaring arrangements and heartbreaking harmonies are well worth the wait."
I love rap music and Vivaldi. Nina Simone and Biggie Smalls make my world go round. The first record i really, you know, heard, in headphones, was Simon and Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence". I play the violin and have since i was a little kid. Growing up, my home was filled with music. There was a lot of singing, french horn playing, and symphony listening, plus youth orchestras, church choirs and xylophones, I use to listen to the classic rock station in a three up front car with my two best friends, the windows cracked and the Indiana winter creeping in. I was born in Texas.
I love the studio, it could very well be my favorite place, (especially when it's raining). So I do a lot of live sampling and looping in an attempt to bring the studio to the stage. All the live looping is like a sporting event, or keeping the first take of every recording. I could fall off the balance beam... which makes it all so much more exciting.
As a dirty teen I would sneak into a tiny jazz hole in the wall almost every night and watch the band play. My favorite person there was an old upright bass player with a bushy smile. The women who worked there knew I wasn't of age... They served me coffee while I fell in love with jazz and live performance.
I really like to make beats, sample old records, but I often leave the beats up to my favorite drummer, Sam. Joey is the bass player and together we make a live trio. I started playing with them both a couple of years ago while making my first record "Beautiful Sleepyhead and the Laughing Yaks." Even though I made and released a number of cassette tapes and CDs before that, I call "Sleepyhead" the first because all the others were similar to going to college. Very important, very influential to my future, but mostly, they were about learning. This year I released my latest work, "The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties", which consists of 10 songs heavily influenced by classical music and hip hop production.
I'm interested in old or odd instruments, samplers and synthesizers, mallets, and analogue reverb. I collect toy pianos, though I only have three. I'm interested in songs, and word play, and sonatas. I'm curious.... Most of all, I'm grateful for every day I get to make music.
hey emily first of all i love your music, i think your absolutely amazing! When i first found out that you were coming to chicago ,i got so excited but then suddenly bummed out in finding out the show is 21+ ..sadly .im only 20.lol :(
I really would love to come n check out your music live ...is there anyway i can get in ...i dont know stupid question considering you might not even reply or get this msg at all.... but ya hopefully i will find a way ;even if i have to sneek in haha
My Better Propaganda weekly e-newsletter had a glowing review of your work last week and it made me insanely happy. Congrats on the success! I love that your name is spreading like quickfire through the music scene. Your amazing musical talent deserves to be recognized. Here's to more great reviews like this one...
Saw you live at Cafe Du Nord last week in SF. Your music was so beautiful. Thank god I saw you on Carson Daly's Last Call, otherwise I'd be missing out on some grrrreat (Tony the Tiger) music right now.
Hey emily wells!!!!! absolutely love your music........i think your so talented and creative....and you even have a passion for hip hip........your a true artist and i hope i could attend one of your shows soon :) -FoRcE
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