Emily Wryn
Lompoc, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF
Music
Press
Emily Wryn, a Californian singer/songwriter, often teams up with backing band The Lights Electric and the result is this really great semi-psychedelic outfit. Really great to watch live, I expect she’ll make steady climbs to a good, long career. Take a look at this live video from the most recent SxSW. - Break The Black Entertainment
Add Date: August 14
Artist: Emily Wryn
Album: Head on Straight (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie pop, folk pop
Comments: Emily Wryn's music is familiar in that singer/songwriter sort of way. For me, that means a Feist-meets-Tori Amos allure with hushed bedroom vocals, simplistically clever lyrics and an eclectic background noise collection of bells, chimes and percussion instruments. Even if it's not the most original sound out there, Wryn's debut truly is enchanting and deserves to be heard by anyone with an appreciation for heartfelt music. Tracks 1, 4, 2 and 5 are recommended by this reviewer. - WLUR 91.5 FM
The sweetheart of the rodeo was Emily Wryn, who swept into town and into our hearts and ears. She won first in the songwriting contest with her tune “Fire,”...Wryn also won the Readers Choice Award and Best Live Performance! She’s kicking ass and taking names!...In the country, folk, Americana category, Emily Wryn won first with her song “Head on Straight,”...Thanks to all who entered, all who attended the show last Thursday, and congratulations to the winners and especially Emily Wryn. You’re something special, chica!
- Slo New Times
Head on Straight is the haunting and enchanting debut from 23-year-old Californian Emily Wryn. This album is going to turn heads and make people take notice. Writing since the tender age of 13, Emily Wryn is destined for greatness. Her dynamic vocals are the perfect expression for her lyrics about love lost, and love gained. Her music feels like it could be the soundtrack to a heart-breakingly beautiful independent movie, only the music would outshine the actors.
Head on Straight features a lot of plucking and strumming on the acoustic guitars, violins, and bass. Going back to Wryn’s vocals, at times she’s very breathy and whisper like, other times her voice is soaring. Whatever she does though, it sounds wonderful. Her confidence oozes through her music, giving her the same presence as many of the great female singer and songwriters that came before her.
What is also so pleasing about Head on Straight is it showcases Wryn’s ability not only as a singer, but a songwriter. The music is of course fantastic, but it doesn’t over-power Wryn’s vocals. The music enhances the lyrics, not the other way around. Wryn is always in the forefront of every song, and the music happily dances along behind her. Head on Straight is not to be overlooked. Jot it down; remember the name because you are going to be seeing more of Emily Wryn in the future! - Indie Music Reviewer
Head on Straight is the haunting and enchanting debut from 23-year-old Californian Emily Wryn. This album is going to turn heads and make people take notice. Writing since the tender age of 13, Emily Wryn is destined for greatness. Her dynamic vocals are the perfect expression for her lyrics about love lost, and love gained. Her music feels like it could be the soundtrack to a heart-breakingly beautiful independent movie, only the music would outshine the actors.
Head on Straight features a lot of plucking and strumming on the acoustic guitars, violins, and bass. Going back to Wryn’s vocals, at times she’s very breathy and whisper like, other times her voice is soaring. Whatever she does though, it sounds wonderful. Her confidence oozes through her music, giving her the same presence as many of the great female singer and songwriters that came before her.
What is also so pleasing about Head on Straight is it showcases Wryn’s ability not only as a singer, but a songwriter. The music is of course fantastic, but it doesn’t over-power Wryn’s vocals. The music enhances the lyrics, not the other way around. Wryn is always in the forefront of every song, and the music happily dances along behind her. Head on Straight is not to be overlooked. Jot it down; remember the name because you are going to be seeing more of Emily Wryn in the future! - Indie Music Reviewer
There’s something hauntingly familiar about Emily Wryn’s sound; something that almost dares you to compare her to the greats. In Head on Straight, the 23-year-old Lompoc dweller has a record that cleanly captures her voice first and foremost. Hers is a combination of breathless sighs, gentle power, and a high register that tugs at your heartstrings every time it breaks. “Fire” is almost textbook in its gentle guitar plucking, but Wryn’s here-then-gone vocal stretches elevate the whole thing to an almost ethereal level. Conversely, title track “Head on Straight” goes the more orchestrated route, with glockenspiel and muffled percussion driving the whole thing toward home. With the keen ear of producer/arranger Randall Sena at the helm, though, Wryn never gets lost in the mix and comes away with an EP that speaks loudly of a bright future. - The Santa Barbara Independent
Wryn’s been on my list of must-sees. While her oeuvre proves to be a bit tricky to track down online, a simple YouTube search quickly clarifies what all the hype’s about. Accompanied by nothing more than an acoustic guitar, Wryn’s voice is undeniably ear-perking; her deliveries are a heady combination of Florence Welch–style forcefulness and Laura Veirs–esque folk sultriness. - The Santa Barbara Independent
Wryn’s been on my list of must-sees. While her oeuvre proves to be a bit tricky to track down online, a simple YouTube search quickly clarifies what all the hype’s about. Accompanied by nothing more than an acoustic guitar, Wryn’s voice is undeniably ear-perking; her deliveries are a heady combination of Florence Welch–style forcefulness and Laura Veirs–esque folk sultriness. - The Santa Barbara Independent
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
'Head On Straight' is the first official release from now 24 year old singer/songwriter Emily Wryn.
Produced and arranged by longtime friend and mentor, Randall Sena, Head On Straight displays the simple and emotional style of songwriting which gained Wryn a reputation as a formidable songwriter from a tender age.
I was approached by this really young girl after a show and she told me that she was a songwriter I agreed to meet with her occasionally to talk about songwriting after only a few weeks she started bringing me these really beautifully crafted songs... it was clear to me that this 14 year old girl had a unique gift. Randall Sena, Songwriter / Producer / Engineer, www.certainsparks.com
After seeing her perform on public access TV, James Raymond (acclaimed composer/songwriter and pianist for Crosby Stills & Nash) compared her writing to that of Joni Mitchell, and Wryn began working with Raymond at the age of fifteen.
In 2007 she recorded a quick and dirty demo at Senas studio in their hometown of Lompoc, CA. That demo made its way to famed tastemaker Nic Harcourt and her demos for the songs Head On Straight and Rain were added into rotation alongside major label releases from Feist and Rilo Kiley on KCRW's, Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Wryn began playing venues like the Hotel Caf, where she was welcomed as a fresh voice in LAs singer/ songwriter resurgence.
Instead of clawing her way to the top, Emily next took a hiatus to start a family, and develop as a person and a songwriter.
In 2011 she returned to Certain Sparks and rekindled the collaborative relationship with Randall Sena which they had begun almost ten years earlier. The collaboration resulted in the Head on Straight EP, including the bittersweet song 'Thunder'.
After the release of 'Head on Straight' (2012), which she earned many warm reviews and won 5 ' New Times Music Awards' for, Wryn took her newly recorded EP and went national. Following a nationwide college radio campaign she began booking music festivals across the country.
In the Spring of 2013 she started playing the festival circuit with her band " Emily Wryn and The Lights Electric" comprised of long time collaborator and friend Jacob Cole, Samual Cole and Joel Martin. Before their Austin, TX debut at 'Red Gorilla Music Festival' during 'SXSW' they decided to record. In one day they recorded a mostly live and energetic 3 song demo at 'Erickson Sound Labs'. http://thelightselectric.bandcamp.com/
That same spring the band went international to Dublin, Ireland where they played 'Indie Week Ireland'. During 'Indie Week' Wryn and The Lights Electric introduced themselves to numerous new fans and made it as one of the top 3 finalist of the entire festival .
Today Emily is still playing solo and with The Lights Electric regularly as well as recording new material.
Band Members
Links
