This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification, as its only attribution is to self-published sources; articles should not be based solely on such sources. (February 2023) |
Emily Elbert (born December 21, 1988) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Emily Elbert | |
|---|---|
 Emily Elbert in Plymouth, Massachusetts (Denise Maccaferri photography) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Emily Caroline Elbert |
| Born | December 21, 1988 Dallas, Texas |
| Genres | Folk, soul, jazz, pop |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Voice, guitar |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Website | www |
Elbert was a member of Esperanza Spalding's experimental jazz and theater project from 2015 to 2016. The band toured internationally and recorded Emily's D+Evolution. In 2019, she joined the band of songwriter Jenny Lewis. In 2022 she joined Jacob Collier's band, undertaking a world tour.[1] Elbert has also worked with Lorde, Sara Bareilles, Mike Gordon of Phish, Dweezil Zappa, and Bruno Major, and is currently in the touring band of Leon Bridges.[2]
Biography
editElbert was born in Dallas, Texas. Early influences cited include Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and Jimi Hendrix.[3][4] She recorded her first album Bright Side while in high school, paid for by local gigs and crowd-funding, and began touring the U.S. independently. At 18, Elbert was awarded a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music.[5] While there, she continued to tour nationally and internationally, and released two more independent albums, Proof, and Alive, In Love, both of which were also crowd-funded. In 2010, Glamour magazine named Elbert one of their Top 10 College Women of the Year.[6] In 2013, Elbert released Evolve, an EP recorded at Brooklyn, New York's Mason Jar Music.
Since then, Elbert released several singles: "Letting Go" (2016), "Here and Now" (2016) and "True Power" (2017), a protest song about Donald Trump, benefitting the American Civil Liberties Union. In a press release, Elbert spoke about "True Power": "My love for rhythm, harmony, and story sharing is woven in with my compassion for the Earth and its people. Songs can be powerful tools used in their defense... As a young, queer, woman, an environmentalist, and someone who believes in equality and human rights for people of all races, faiths, and cultural backgrounds, I can’t sit back and be a silent witness to injustice. ...Donald Trump may have bought and bullied his way into the presidency, but true power is in the hands of the people when they come together. That’s what this song is about."[7] Elbert released a full album of music focused on social justice, We Who Believe in Freedom, in October 2018.
Her sixth independent album, Woven Together, was released in August 2022. In 2023, Elbert joined Norah Jones on a 10-date U.K. and Ireland tour, as her opening act.
Events and touring
editElbert has performed in more than 35 countries,[8] and opened for artists including Norah Jones, Emily King, Nick Hakim, Big Thief, Richie Havens, Victor Wooten, Leon Russell, Kaki King, The Wood Brothers, G. Love & Special Sauce, Tuck & Patti, Jorge Drexler, Bruno Major, Moonchild, Robben Ford, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Joan Osborne.[9] and Jacob Collier.[10]
Discography
edit- Bright Side (Full Sun, 2006)
- Proof (2010)
- Alive, in Love (2011)
- Evolve (2013)
- Letting Go / Here and Now (2016)
- True Power (2017)
- We Who Believe in Freedom (2018)
- Woven Together (2022)
As guest
edit- Via Zammata - Dweezil Zappa (2015)
- Emily's D+Evolution - Esperanza Spalding (2016)
- Dakar Suite - Leni Stern (2016)
As writer
edit- A Song for Every Moon - Bruno Major (2017)
- To Let a Good Thing Die - Bruno Major (2020)
- Columbo - Bruno Major (2023)
References
edit- ^ "Tour". emily elbert. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
- ^ "Live with leon bridges". 30 March 2021.
- ^ "PODCAST: Emily Elbert | Berklee".
- ^ Cincy Groove Magazine, Interview with Emily Elbert
- ^ BERKLEE | Student Profile: Emily Elbert
- ^ "Meet the Top 10 College Women of 2010: Amazing Women You Haven't Heard of…Yet!". www.berklee.edu. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
- ^ Emily Elbert Official Website : True Power
- ^ "emily elbert". emily elbert. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
- ^ "emilyelbert". OurStage. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
- ^ "u.k. opening tour with jacob collier". emily elbert. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-15.