Emily Reid

Beat-n-Track: Emily Reid
A&E, Music — By Dustin Stout, Staff Writer, on January 25, 2012 at 8:44 pm

A wave of gray matter clears her mind. She’s intense, but also disengaged. If the time is right, a song will flow from Belmont singer/songwriter Emily Reid in a matter of 60 minutes, or even less. The senior music business major has traveled more than 2,500 miles from her home in British Columbia, Canada, and she believes she has a “golden opportunity” at Belmont, in Nashville, in America. And she’s using it. With an album slated for May release and even more show bookings soon to be set, Reid is nothing if not focused. Still, she said it was only her inner 6-year-old self who thought a music career might be a reality. That has changed since her honest songs that point to what really matters in life pointed her to Belmont. And the musical journey since then has been harmonious. But what’s next for the lover of the outdoors and the Biebs? Vision senior A&E writer Dustin Stout found that she’s discovered the possibilities are endless.

How would you describe your music and your style?

The music I make fits in the eclectic singer/songwriter category. It errs on the side of positive and is a direct translation of my personality. I sometimes like to describe it as life music—the type of music that accompanies you as you are doing “life.” I mean, that’s just how I feel, and I sure hope that others feel the same way.

You’re from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. How did your upbringing there inspire the kind of music you create today?

I am very moved by nature and by people. Growing up, I was always surrounded by nature—whether that be the mountains or the ocean, and it shaped me to be very reverent and conscious of the place in which we live. That has impacted my songwriting, as I do like to write about stripping complications away and focusing on what really matters. It has also influenced my sound through the upbeat lifestyle and carefree vibe of the West.

What did you grow up listening to? How did those influences create the artist you are today?

My dad listened to every song he ever loved on repeat, and when I say repeat, I mean he repeated it six or seven times—over and over again. So I grew up with an earful of John Denver, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, the Bee Gees and Annie Lennox—but I’m definitely not complaining about that. When I became independent of my parents’ music choices, I really started listening to Ingrid Michaelson, Annie DiFranco and Feist. I think, through these influences, I really found value and truth in honest, tasteful, moving songs, and I try my absolute best to translate that in my own writing.

What’s the most regularly played music on your playlists these days and why?

I have the most random taste in music. I love a nice top 40 jam. I appreciate a great singer/songwriter. I like pretending I can rap. I secretly wish I was a country artist. So my most regularly played music these days includes The Civil Wars’ album, the new Augustana album, some Ryan Adams, some Biebs and some others that are better left unmentioned.

You were part of Belmont’s “God Gave Me You” video tribute to the troops. The video has nearly 15,000 views on YouTube. How did you get involved with that, how important is it for something like that at Belmont and what did it mean to you?

My sweet friend, Clark Buckner, whom I met as a freshman in ELP [Executive Leadership Program], asked me to help find some people to pull the video together. I was so humbled by his request and so excited to help him with his incredible plan and vision for the troops. It was such an incredible experience to be a part of! I just got to do what I love, and the video team and music producer—Kirk Slawek, Matthew Shaw, Kevin Grosch—along with the Belmont community, made it into something really special. If we made even the smallest difference in the day of any troop, then we did what we had intended to do. Clark Buckner is an incredible guy, and I’m very lucky to have him as a friend.

I took a listen to some of your music, and a standout tune is “West Coast Waters.” Now, I initially noticed the interesting beat behind the song. Talk about the song’s beat and what you like about this particular one?

I’m so glad you think it’s a standout! That means so much to me. The intention, as I perceive it, is to be very West Coast vibe-y—very earthy, very fun. If you were a native of the West Coast, I hope it makes you feel like you want to return. I like this song because this is what I want most of my songs to sound like—honest and fun.

Another song of yours is called “Let’s Play.” The last line is “I exhale, breath freezes in the air. It’s morning and you’re still not here.” What do you hear when you listen to that lyric? Talk about why you wrote “Let’s Play.”

When you first hear the song, you might think that I wrote it about a prospective love. But it’s actually about the beginnings of my relations - Belmont Vision

Beat-n-Track: Emily Reid
A&E, Music — By Dustin Stout, Staff Writer, on January 25, 2012 at 8:44 pm

A wave of gray matter clears her mind. She’s intense, but also disengaged. If the time is right, a song will flow from Belmont singer/songwriter Emily Reid in a matter of 60 minutes, or even less. The senior music business major has traveled more than 2,500 miles from her home in British Columbia, Canada, and she believes she has a “golden opportunity” at Belmont, in Nashville, in America. And she’s using it. With an album slated for May release and even more show bookings soon to be set, Reid is nothing if not focused. Still, she said it was only her inner 6-year-old self who thought a music career might be a reality. That has changed since her honest songs that point to what really matters in life pointed her to Belmont. And the musical journey since then has been harmonious. But what’s next for the lover of the outdoors and the Biebs? Vision senior A&E writer Dustin Stout found that she’s discovered the possibilities are endless.

How would you describe your music and your style?

The music I make fits in the eclectic singer/songwriter category. It errs on the side of positive and is a direct translation of my personality. I sometimes like to describe it as life music—the type of music that accompanies you as you are doing “life.” I mean, that’s just how I feel, and I sure hope that others feel the same way.

You’re from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. How did your upbringing there inspire the kind of music you create today?

I am very moved by nature and by people. Growing up, I was always surrounded by nature—whether that be the mountains or the ocean, and it shaped me to be very reverent and conscious of the place in which we live. That has impacted my songwriting, as I do like to write about stripping complications away and focusing on what really matters. It has also influenced my sound through the upbeat lifestyle and carefree vibe of the West.

What did you grow up listening to? How did those influences create the artist you are today?

My dad listened to every song he ever loved on repeat, and when I say repeat, I mean he repeated it six or seven times—over and over again. So I grew up with an earful of John Denver, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, the Bee Gees and Annie Lennox—but I’m definitely not complaining about that. When I became independent of my parents’ music choices, I really started listening to Ingrid Michaelson, Annie DiFranco and Feist. I think, through these influences, I really found value and truth in honest, tasteful, moving songs, and I try my absolute best to translate that in my own writing.

What’s the most regularly played music on your playlists these days and why?

I have the most random taste in music. I love a nice top 40 jam. I appreciate a great singer/songwriter. I like pretending I can rap. I secretly wish I was a country artist. So my most regularly played music these days includes The Civil Wars’ album, the new Augustana album, some Ryan Adams, some Biebs and some others that are better left unmentioned.

You were part of Belmont’s “God Gave Me You” video tribute to the troops. The video has nearly 15,000 views on YouTube. How did you get involved with that, how important is it for something like that at Belmont and what did it mean to you?

My sweet friend, Clark Buckner, whom I met as a freshman in ELP [Executive Leadership Program], asked me to help find some people to pull the video together. I was so humbled by his request and so excited to help him with his incredible plan and vision for the troops. It was such an incredible experience to be a part of! I just got to do what I love, and the video team and music producer—Kirk Slawek, Matthew Shaw, Kevin Grosch—along with the Belmont community, made it into something really special. If we made even the smallest difference in the day of any troop, then we did what we had intended to do. Clark Buckner is an incredible guy, and I’m very lucky to have him as a friend.

I took a listen to some of your music, and a standout tune is “West Coast Waters.” Now, I initially noticed the interesting beat behind the song. Talk about the song’s beat and what you like about this particular one?

I’m so glad you think it’s a standout! That means so much to me. The intention, as I perceive it, is to be very West Coast vibe-y—very earthy, very fun. If you were a native of the West Coast, I hope it makes you feel like you want to return. I like this song because this is what I want most of my songs to sound like—honest and fun.

Another song of yours is called “Let’s Play.” The last line is “I exhale, breath freezes in the air. It’s morning and you’re still not here.” What do you hear when you listen to that lyric? Talk about why you wrote “Let’s Play.”

When you first hear the song, you might think that I wrote it about a prospective love. But it’s actually about the beginnings of my relations - Belmont Vision

There’s a great danger in being friends with artists. What if they make you go to all of their shows? What if they start a Kickstarter? What if they suck?

Thankfully, with Emily Reid (now known simply as Reid), that’s not an issue.

Reid’s self-titled debut dropped Tuesday and it’s stuck in my head ever since. The album covers all the edges of pop, from the anthemic single “The River” and the country-fried “Lover” to the surprisingly synth-y “West Coast Waters” to the pop-rock closer “A Friend of Yours.” Her voice sounds like a softer, more — ahem — natural Ke$ha; she knows just when to stretch out her ohs and when to let her voice float effortlessly above her acoustic guitar. With an eye for hooky Sara Bareilles-esque melodies and a penchant for sprinkling in handclaps, snaps, and a bit of glockenspiel, Reid writes the kind of songs that are both unapologetically honest and unashamedly catchy. Every single song is made for stomping your feet and chanting along during an outdoor show. Hell, even the sad songs are underlined with an optimistic hope for better times. This is the kind of music that you can settle into — like your favorite sweater, it’s cheerfully familiar — but Reid puts enough of a twist in her songwriting that it’s never dull. Yes, almost every song is a love song, but never the one you expect. “I want to be the one I’m wanting / I want to be the one I need / I’m not looking for somebody / I wanna be staring back at me” she sings in “The One I Want,” the first real ballad on the album. Like all of her songs, it’s a tribute to the self-discovery and independence. Reid isn’t perfect, but she’s trying and, dammit, we’re all gonna become friends in the meantime.

Standout Tracks: “Lovers,” “Hollow,” and “Honestly” - Ale Delgado

There’s a great danger in being friends with artists. What if they make you go to all of their shows? What if they start a Kickstarter? What if they suck?

Thankfully, with Emily Reid (now known simply as Reid), that’s not an issue.

Reid’s self-titled debut dropped Tuesday and it’s stuck in my head ever since. The album covers all the edges of pop, from the anthemic single “The River” and the country-fried “Lover” to the surprisingly synth-y “West Coast Waters” to the pop-rock closer “A Friend of Yours.” Her voice sounds like a softer, more — ahem — natural Ke$ha; she knows just when to stretch out her ohs and when to let her voice float effortlessly above her acoustic guitar. With an eye for hooky Sara Bareilles-esque melodies and a penchant for sprinkling in handclaps, snaps, and a bit of glockenspiel, Reid writes the kind of songs that are both unapologetically honest and unashamedly catchy. Every single song is made for stomping your feet and chanting along during an outdoor show. Hell, even the sad songs are underlined with an optimistic hope for better times. This is the kind of music that you can settle into — like your favorite sweater, it’s cheerfully familiar — but Reid puts enough of a twist in her songwriting that it’s never dull. Yes, almost every song is a love song, but never the one you expect. “I want to be the one I’m wanting / I want to be the one I need / I’m not looking for somebody / I wanna be staring back at me” she sings in “The One I Want,” the first real ballad on the album. Like all of her songs, it’s a tribute to the self-discovery and independence. Reid isn’t perfect, but she’s trying and, dammit, we’re all gonna become friends in the meantime.

Standout Tracks: “Lovers,” “Hollow,” and “Honestly” - Ale Delgado