With her plaintive, at times delicate voice, singer/songwriter Emily Arin weaves tales concerned with the heavy graces of being human. She explores experiences where shadows and light converge and transformation is offered as a possibility. Deep in the bones of Arin’s songs, one can trace the wide-ranging mix of influences from Hank Williams and Memphis Minnie to Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Caetano Veloso, Tom Waits, Sybille Baier and Gillian Welch.
“The most talented solo artist to emerge in Ithaca in recent years, Emily Arin writes with profound emotional intimacy and honesty and has an exquisite voice to boot,” said Luke Z. Fenchel of the Ithaca Journal. “Her talent is on par with early Gillian Welch, Jana Hunter and Nina Nastasia.”
In late summer of 2007 Arin moved from her native Los Angeles to Schuyler County, NY to focus on developing her songwriting skills without the distractions of the big city. Since relocating to the Southern Tier, she has expanded her body of work, performed regularly in Ithaca and New York City, debuted in Austin, Texas and been joined by a stellar backing band.
“Songwriting for me is a process of distillation,” explains Arin. “My aim is to arrive at an essence—to repeatedly filter an idea/emotion until lyrics, melody, and rhythm combine to form an honest vehicle for sharing life’s poignancy, playfulness and mystery.” Whether autobiographical songs of love and longing, or third person waltzes and ballads, Arin’s inventiveness with language and melody hold court.
This past year, her songs have captured the affection of radio luminary, Vin Scelsa (Idiot’s Delight, WFUV), and garnered praise from Kim Ruehl on No Depression’s website where she was named one of the “top five unknown artists you love.” Her song “When You Knew Me When” was recently selected for the soundtrack to Greenland’s first international feature film “Nuummioq” alongside work from Giant Sand, Howe Gelb, Matt Bauer and Nive Nielson.
Other 2009 highlights include opening for John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) at Ithaca College and working with Greg Weeks (Espers, Language of Stone) to record her first full-length studio album slated for release in early 2010. Emily Arin will also be appearing on albums by Artanker Convoy (Social Registry) and Jennie Lowe Stearns in early 2010.
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Recommended if you like: Jana Hunter, Laura Veirs, Gillian Welch, Leonard Cohen, Alela Diane, Cat Power, Connie Converse, Eilen Jewell, Josh Ritter, Jolie Holland, Laura Gibson.
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