"I think Emily Arin's voice is just flat-out birdlike. If I could choose the soundtrack to my REM sleep, I think it would sound like this." - Kim Ruehl for No Depression

"One of my finds here at the end of the year--her name is Emily Arin. She's one of the most interesting new song writers I've come across in a while." -Vin Scelsa

I am excited to be heading into Hexham Head Studio in August to work with Greg Weeks on my first official studio album. If you'd like to participate in the pre-sale, click here. 

Luke Z. Fenchel of The Ithaca Journal writes: "Not to be missed Montour Falls singer and songwriter who is one part Jana Hunter, one part Richard Swift and one part Lavender Diamond. "White Heat" from Time & Space, the culmination of Arin's 2007 subscription series, burns soft and warm like a kerosene lantern in winter." 

2009 has been an exciting year of expansion and recognition for Emily as a singer and songwriter. She has been a guest on Vin Scelsa's Idiot's Delight on The Loft on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio and WFUV (out of Fordham University in the Bronx), was selected as one of the top 5 unknown artists by Kim Ruehl on No Depression's website, and will be recording a full length album this summer with Greg Weeks of the band Espers.

She continues to build her following by playing locally in Ithaca, Brooklyn and New York City. Having hosted bands from both Germany and Sweden, she has a small, but growing fan base across the Atlantic as well.

A Los Angeles native, Emily Arin migrated to a small town in Schuyler County, New York in August 2007 with the goal of diving deeper into the craft of songwriting.

She is thrilled to be backed by an amazingly talented cast of Ithaca-based musicians (Peter Glanville, Gordon Rowland, Brian Dozoretz) to bring her shows to life. Additionally, she has had the pleasure of joining Jennie Lowe Stearns and the Fire Choir singing harmony and performing at the esteemed Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance.

A recent article published in the Ithaca Journal reads, “A creative writer, a journalist, a gardener…and an employee at all manner of odd jobs, Arin is at her core an incredibly gifted songwriter. On tracks like “White Heat,” “Evergreen,” “Love, Love, Love,” and the Hank Williams sing-a-long “You Won My Heart Outright” from 2007’s Time and Space, and on the more recent “I Want You to Sing Along With Me,” Arin shares the highs and lows of a contemplative life. [She] writes with profound emotional intimacy and honesty and has an exquisite voice to boot. Her talent is on par with early Gillian Welch, Jana Hunter and Nina Nastasia…"

For more stories and photos from Montour Falls, visit Emily's blog "Won't You Help Me Tie My Apron?" 

Emily entered the Williamsburg Live Songwriting Competition 2008 and, unlike last year, made it to the semi-finals this time around. 

About the competition: From 700 submissions, 150 songwriters were chosen to perform live over 8 nights at alternating venues in Williamsburg to an audience of fans, friends, and industry judges. From these 150, 18 advanced to the Semi-Finals on Friday night. 

Here's a clip from the Jezebel Music blog: "That’s it! At Royal Oak, the last three contestants have been chosen to advance to the Semi-Finals of the WLSC2008, TONIGHT at Public Assembly on North 6th Street. There were contestants from Nashville, Seattle, Canada, and as far as Ireland, all coming together in Williamsburg to share their song, make new musical acquaintances, and of course, win $4,000.

But as always, there can only be three lucky winners (pictured, left to right). Emily Arin is a markedly skilled songwriter, and strong performer. I couldn’t help but be reminded (in a good way) of Jaymay, a highly revered WLSC2005 Finalist. Mike Schrieffer put a ton of heart into his performance, spinning a forlorn alt-country tale of a war widow, and earning himself a slot alongside what promises to be an extraordinary line-up tonight. Todd Michaelsen vivaciously strummed his Parker Fly electric guitar as his projective voice soared and delivered him into the Semi-Finals."