Grateful for the opportunity to play live music again with people I love - traveling all around the country with Jenny Lewis <3 (opening for the most electric Harry Styles)
Mini-tour with Jacob Collier
10 days of far-out light-speed beauty with Jacob Collier & co…
I’ve admired Jacob’s music and energy from afar for years, but witnessing his creativity, vision, and generosity of spirit in person truly blew me away. This band and crew came together to learn the songs and prep the show in 4 days, which seemed almost impossible, but there was so much positivity and inspiration flowing that it generated a whirlwind momentum to carry us forward in a joyful way. What a gift it is when focused work can feel like explorative play; when trust, humor, and mutual support are immediately integrated. Woah. So grateful to the whole team and all who shared in the experience… stoked for more together in 2022
Hollywood Bowl Live Stream with Sara Bareilles
It was a total pleasure to join Sara Bareilles for her live stream from the Hollywood Bowl in L.A… what a beautiful artist and writer. Here’s a couple of clips from the set (more on YouTube):
stella artois x lenny kravitz for NIVA
Stoked to be a part of this Stella Artois x Lenny Kravitz campaign for a cause very close to my heart. A handful of artists around the country filmed this video of Lenny's song "It Ain't Over Til It's Over" on one of his Les Paul guitars - it is now up for auction in support of the Save Our Stages act (via the National Independent Venue Association).
live with leon bridges
had the pleasure of playing guitar for one of texas’ most soulful sons recently, leon bridges:
funky stretch playlist
made a funky lil playlist of tunes to stretch and get into your body with today ♾
easily gone gold
Quite excited to find this in the mail… “Easily,” a Bruno Major single which we wrote together a few years back, has gone gold in the U.S., with over 150 million Spotify streams worldwide. Such a trip to watch it rise! Congratulations to Bruno and all involved.
'morning pages' playlist
A playlist for your morning journaling 🍃 I’m a big fan of the “morning pages”, as Julia Cameron encourages...with the goal of just writing three pages in a notebook early each day, stream-of-consciousness. Lately I’ve been doing this sitting on the porch, listening to gentle wordless music, and it’s led to some really beautiful experiences - so I thought I’d share the tunes with you, in case you’d like to listen :) I’ll likely add more as time goes on. For now, it starts with Carlos Niño, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Rakesh Chaurasia, Ballaké Sissoko, and Keith Jarrett, then moves through a bunch of other earthy and celestial grooves…here’s the Spotify link. 🦋 cover art by Superstudio.
"service" video with EQD
recorded a solo version of “service” with my friends at earthquaker devices recently - here’s the session:
new bruno major release
Had the pleasure of writing another tune with Bruno Major recently... “I’ll Sleep When I’m Older” is on his new record, “To Let a Good Thing Die.” Give it a spin here:
Dancing with the Muse: Creative Self-Care for Musicians
Hi friends, I shared some thoughts on self-care for musicians (and a funky playlist) via a blog on EarthQuaker Devices’ site. I feel that if we care for ourselves with a deeper sense of love and intention, it can enable us to be more present on our musical path, and in our work in the world. Give it a read/listen here if you like.
"Living a musical life is an incredible gift. It allows us to engage our imaginations, expand our worldview, make our own rules, and hopefully have a positive effect on the world. As a career, it comes with potential challenges, though - there’s no clear path to follow, and the limited job security can feel stressful, particularly during a time of global crisis. In order to keep our groove going, it’s important that we take good care of ourselves, and be intentional about nourishing our bodies, minds, and spirits. This helps us deepen our work, and care for the world better, too.”
enough is enough
How do we better understand the ways in which the liberation of all beings is tied to the unwinding from white supremacist capitalist hetero-patriarchy? To learn how we have benefitted from it, been complicit, and will dismantle it? The work doesn’t end when this week's headlines slip down our feeds. It requires meaningful, sustained, evolving action. Shame is understandable, but white tears aren’t constructive. Let's feel the anger, feel the grief - then alchemize it. We’ll need the energy to stand firm in our sacred responsibility. We’ve got to keep questioning - can we find the pleasure in humility, in commitment, in being of service? How do we carry the conversation forward not just by talking, but by practicing active listening, and supporting with our actions, attention, and resources? This process will be set into motion not just by being shared in the digital realm, but by being woven into our daily lives as an active prayer. The fires lit must remain burning in our consciousness until we can rise from the ashes together.
'weightless' live at golden hour
Golden hour in the park, earlier this year with Jon of A Song Catcher, and recorded this new song. It was sweet to meet up with a kind stranger, go for a walk, and record a moment on a hilltop as the light retreated behind the hills. Jon was traveling around the country in a converted van, filming songwriters during his travels, and we intersected at Elysian Park in L.A.
'pink + white' cover with stories
Here’s another one with the Stories crew, this time a Frank Ocean tune. Mason Stoops and Ryan Lerman on guitar…
jenny lewis tiny desk
Such an honor to join my friend Jenny Lewis for her appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, in an acoustic trio with Anna Butterss on bass. You can see the full video here.
'little wing' cover with stories
Re-imagined one of Jimi’s dreamier songs with the folks from Stories, featuring Ryan Lerman and Mason Stoops:
new single "service" out now
Peace is possible. New music out today: “Service” is up for listening everywhere.
Vocals, guitar - Emily Elbert
Bass - Solomon Dorsey
Drums - Abe Rounds
Keys - Jake Sherman
Produced by Dillan Witherow and Emily Elbert
Additional engineering by Sam Brawner at Blue Dream Studios
Mixed by Ben Kane
Mastered by Alex De Turk
Art by Ines Gurovich
vintage guitar magazine feature
Thanks to Vintage Guitar Magazine for the feature and album review in their May 2019 issue. Check it out here:
new "true power" video
Once more, for Mr. Trump - this time, with the powerful voices of Jessica Childress and Raquel Rodriguez joining in. The videos from "We Who Believe in Freedom" continue with an original, "True Power."
Thanks to Nick Warner for filming and editing, and to Dillan Witherow for recording and mixing the audio, and to Sam Brawner at Blue Dream Studios in LA for having us.
For more of Raquel and Jessica's music: http://raquel.la/ and https://www.jessicachildressmusic.com/
"Cruisin'" Video Out Now
Smokey Robinson and D’Angelo on a rainy Sunday with Georgie Clifford and Raelee Nikole: