Folky blues served up with a "voice that has a body and character which is rare and I believe it to be reminiscent of Miss Peggy Lee." Matthew Freed (Producer)

13 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk Blues, EASY LISTENING: Adult contemporary

Show all album songs: Vicky Emerson Songs


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Vicky Emerson
Vicky Emerson-10/01/07

In high school, Vickyâs basketball coach gave each team member a flyer and suggested they put it up in their locker. It said, âThe harder you work, the luckier you get.â Vicky still has that flyer and as an acclaimed independent female artist, her career is a stellar example of what one can accomplish with talent, hard work, determination and the strength to believe in yourself.

Vickyâs sixth album, a self-titled release, was recorded at Fur Seal Studios in Minneapolis with her incredibly talented All Man Band which includes Dean Magraw, Gordy Johnson and Steve Goold. With steel guitar added by Lloyd Maines (Dixie Chicks, Terri Hendrix) from Austin, Texas, this album is a sophisticated blending of folk, blues and country that shines true Americana music while also opening a window into Vickyâs life. Why the self-titled release? âI feel I have truly lived every song on this album,â admits Vicky. âIâve come a long way since my days when I sat quietly behind the piano. I picked up the guitar three years ago and learning that instrument has forced me to sing out and become a better vocalist and performer. So, when we recorded this album, I felt very comfortable and confident in the studio. We only had four days to record this album. That meant it was imperative that my vision was accessible to the other guys in the band. The first day we recorded eight songs as a group so I feel that we were able to achieve that goal while also capturing the spontaneous energy we generate when we play live.â

Emerson, who grew up on a pig farm in the small village of Elmwood, Wisconsin (self-proclaimed UFO Capital of the World) now lives in New York City. Not surprisingly, half the songs for this album were penned during her first four months living in Manhattan. âThis city is certainly on the cutting edge of new music, fashion and technology; however, there is a strong sense of history here, too. One of the first shows I attended was to listen to Les Paul play at the Iridium. As I watched him play the instrument he invented that has had such a monumental impact on music and listened to him play familiar melodies as the audience quietly sang along, I was completely awe-struck. I knew in that moment the kind of record I wanted to make: A record that incorporated the music I love to listen to-- beautiful melodies intertwined with lyrics that reach out to the listener with honesty and sincerity.â

Emerson certainly hits her mark on this album. âWheat Fields is based on a nightmare I had last winter, I Miss You (More than I Usually Do) was written during the long-distance courtship with my fiancé, Days I Have Left is about my grandmother, Over and Over is a vision of my future had I not left an abusive relationship and Mauna Loa Lane is for my friends who are embarrassed that they met on the Internet; so, I gave them a new story. I wrote Daisy after reading the Great Gatsby and I was completely enamored with Jayâs obsession for this woman. Dean and I came up with the arrangement for Amazing Grace in about ten minutes and performed the song only once. It was one of those magical takes where we played facing each other and we knew we were âin the moment.â You can even hear his chair squeaking, but we didnât even bother recording it again because we both agreed it is impossible to re-create a moment like that.â

Co-produced with Matthew Freed (Cloud Cult), this record is a testament to Emersonâs talents as a vocalist and songwriter. âMatthew and I agreed that the difference in this record compared to my others is the gem would be my voice and lyricsânot my piano playing.â Emerson began piano lessons at age six and continued her musical education at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. âI never sang my music in front of an audience until just a handful of years ago. I was always the accompanist for the singerânever the singer.â That scenario has completely changed for Emerson. While she had previously been known for her virtuosic piano skills, now people come out to hear her sing and tell her hilarious stories. âMy favorite performers are the ones who can engage the audience on all different levels during a performance and using humor is a great vehicle to bridge the two together in between songs.â

Over the past few years, fans and music critics alike have taken notice of Emersonâs unique musical style. The Minneapolis Star Tribune dubbed her âa Lilith Fair-style folkieâ while the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called Emerson a âpiano-playing Terri Hendrixâ. Comparisons have also range from Cowboy Junkies to Eva Cassidy, but the most accurate vocal likeness is to a legendary blues singer. Producer Matthew Freed (Cloud Cult) agreed, "Vicky's voice has a body and character which is rare and I believe it to be reminiscent of Miss Peggy Lee", who was also raised in the Midwest. Perhaps growing up on a pig farm in a rural community was the best training Vicky could have had to learn the discipline required to pursue a career in music. Vicky laughs, âI grew up in a place where the closest city was an hour away and my home town celebrated alien sightings. I could not make this stuff up if I tried! For many artists, including myself, you can spend so much time trying to please people who tell you to write a certain way or look a certain way that you spend too much time chasing your tail instead of writing music. I moved to New York City and something clicked inside me. I decided to embrace my pastâthe good and the bad. Instead of shying away from it, I began drawing upon my experiences to write from a very honest place. It may have taken me awhile to get to this point, but Iâve never felt more comfortable in my own skin than right now and I believe you can hear that on this new record.â

Vicky hits the road this year to promote the album with over 200 shows from coast to coast. Will she bring a four-leaf clover for luck? âNope,â says Vicky, âWho needs a four leaf clover when I already feel pretty darn lucky to be able to play music for my living! Is it hard work? Oh yes, it surely is and there are days when I get crazy frustrated. However, that is the point where you know you are making progress because even though it feels like youâre being tested, youâre actually learning and growing as an artist. Itâs a beautiful thing.â