I am 15 years old, and I will be a junior in high school this fall (09). Though I have been playing piano for four years, it was only a year ago that I decided I wanted to write my own music. Although I grew up listening to "THE BEATLES" and "THE GOO GOO DOLLS", My biggest influence has been GAVIN DEGRAW ! Like most children, I used to dream of being onstage, singing and performing. Unlike most kids, I am following through with my dream and embracing the music I love. I have written nearly 30 songs some of which were recorded on my debut CD "HALL OF MIRRORS" which was released July 18th, 2009. The CD was recorded, mixed and edited by James Wunderlich of Orbital Sound in Hamilton, NY. Jim did a masterful job of recording, mixing & editing, and I encourage all local artists to consider Orbital Sound for their recording projects as well. In the meantime, I anticipate I will be performing locally at all the open mic nites, FIREWORKS OVER UTICA (Aug. 22nd, 2009),UTICA MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL (Sept. 2009), as well as SKYWAY FESTIVAL in Hamilton (Sept. 2009). The times, and actual venues TBA....keep checking back for more info ! Thanks, Emilee
Little Girl, Big Voice - review by Margo Frink @ Madison County Courier. (11/05/09)
I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never been to the Barge Canal
Coffee Co. in Hamilton, so, when Emilee Smith’s father, AJ, asked me to
drop in and hear Emilee perform there recently, I thought, why not? I’m
not a music critic by any stretch of the imagination. But I know what I
like and I own a diverse collection from many genres.
As I was grabbing a cup of coffee and a sweet, Emilee had begun. I
had my back to her as I listened and to me she sounded a bit like
Natalie Merchant with soul. But her voice is much bigger than that, a
deep, sultry alto.
Just 15 years old, Emilee said she picked the guitar up last year.
She started with three songs on guitar, one inspired by the Goo Goo
Dolls. She played very well for someone who just began a year ago.
Emilee’s real love is the piano and when she started I could tell
she felt at home at the keyboard. She told me later that she began
playing piano four years ago and immediately started writing songs. I
was shocked. I know people who have played piano for decades and do not
play that well.
The first time Emilee got up in front of an audience she was in
sixth grade. She began performing in front of crowds last year, when
she was just 14, and this summer Emilee performed at Hamilton’s Skyway
Fest, The Utica Boilermaker, the Utica Music and Arts Fest, and was the
opening act for rock legends Blue Oyster Cult at Fireworks Over Utica.
Emilee writes her own music and lyrics and what I was most impressed by is that she has all of her own pieces memorized.
Although we are years apart, we share something in common. When she
said her favorite artist was Gavin DeGraw and thought most of the
audience wouldn’t know him, I chuckled because Gavin DeGraw is also my
favorite artist. She played one of my favorite songs by him, “Reason”
and I
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CASSAUNDRA BABER of FUSION-UTICA OBSERVER DISPATCH for the interview and review which will appear in this Thursday's edition (Oct. 15th, 2009)...Thanks, Emilee
Hey Em, Thanks for adding this page too . It's funny that you have Carole King as your top friend. Morgen said you remind her so much of Carole..(and a bit of Fiona too). Really Rosie is her favorite CD ever lol
Let us know if we can ever do anything in our power to help you along in your career. We give artists free mixes of their tracks from time to time and try to promote them when we believe in their talent.
Being that you got burned by the Write4Kids too, we'd love to have you on our Podcast next week! Jake
HEY FANS !!! Your support is needed ! (AGAIN!) I ma playing in a BATTLE OF THE BANDS at THE WESTCOTT THEATRE in Syracuse, NY on Tuesday August 4th @ &:15 pm. Judging will include number of fans brought to the show. Please come out and support me. Unfortunately most of my friends aren't old enough to drive !!! PLEASE HELP OUT! THE WESTCOTT THEATRE
BLUE OYSTER CULT IS AWESOME !!! And I will be opening for them at "FIREWORKS OVER UTICA" in Hanna park, Utica on August 22nd, 2009. My set starts at 4:30... hope to see you there !
Please join me for my 2nd CD release party this Friday July 24th 2009 at "THE COFFEE (CAFE') CONNECTION- 28 South Broad Street, Norwich, NY. Show starts @ 9pm. Last chance to grab one of my CD's for only $5.00 !!! Also... Some of my music will be on the radio this Sunday, July 26th (9-10pm) on 96.9 WOUR UTICA. DJ Dave Frisina will be playing some of my music on his weekly radio show "SOUNDCHECK" !!!!
Just wanted to tell you Congratulations and Enjoy Saturday! We will be in Wallkill at a family gathering! Actually with some of your family, (ask your Mom, I don't want to put names here!) but we have some relatives in common! Again Congrats and Enjoy sat. Hopefully I'll come see you next Saturday!
Emilee Just want you to know you sound great and I am so impressed with your music. It blows my mind that you have grown so much from the first time I heard you sing at the talent show a few years ago when you sang Twistin the night away, I thought you were special then I was right!
Hey. I saw that you were online and I thought I'd comment you. If I don't have to work this Friday, I do believe I'll probably play an open mic night gig at the Barge Canal. Will you, perchance, be playing there too?
You ROCK! Thanks for being a friend and for all your
hard work. Hope to see you at the 2nd
annual Utica Music and Arts Fest. Over
250 performers in 21 venues for 3 DAYS! Including
a kick-off party, Utica Tattoo Fest and the Utica Greens Fest!
Early Bird tickets are
only $20 for a limited time.
Visit our site for more
info and performer submissions. Have a
great day!
