Ask us who our favorite music-making mama is these days and without skipping a beat we’ll tell you that it is Emily Shirley. Having recently 
discovered Emily’s EP Tiny Truths, we’ve found ourselves utterly hooked on this Texan’s sultry voice. Hailing from Austin and dabbling in everything from web design to raising two little girls, Shirley somehow manages to make time for songwriting- and thank goodness she does. Falling somewhere on a scale between Erin McKeown and Ingrid Michaelson vocally, Shirley has all the prettiness of pop without any of the cavity inducing sweetness. Tiny Truths has a Radiohead like fuzziness behind its base of relatively simple guitar strums but is executed with the same old-meets-new-quirkiness of Feist. The added production of Shirley’s songs is handled just the way accenting sounds should be in that they actually do compliment her own product; there are no attempts to cover up Shirley’s voice or instrumental capabilities in pos-production. Tracks “Taking the Sun” and “Earnest” offer more whiskey ridden vocals than the other songs of Tiny Truths, while “Blueberry Song” and “Flowers” are more along the lines of Elizabeth and the Catapult’s jazzy indie-pop. So much variety in such a small dose of music is just one reason of many for why you ought to own this record. A simple offering of five tracks, Tiny Truths may not initially seem like anything to flip your lid over, but given time to settle in, this EP is bound to get you hooked on its concordant melodies and slightly edgy sound.
Emily Shirley recently spoke with us via email to share her influences, the story of her most memorable concert and just who she would want to bring along on her dream tour.
Reviewsic: Can you give us a quick recap of what you and music have been up to lately?
Emily Shirley: Mostly, my music and me have had our hands full taking care of my girls lately – now 9 months & 2.5 years. But when we find a little window of time we’re getting back to writing.
Reviewsic: What is the back-story on how you got your start as a musician?
Emily Shirley: I’m pretty sure it’s in the genes. Throw in some leg warmers and some Air Supply records and this little girl mapped out a plan.
Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?
Emily Shirley: I’m really influenced by the piano right now. I studied as a kid in a very classically oriented inside-the box kind of way. As I find my way back, I’m just banging out chords and little melody snippets like an untrained monkey. And you write totally different kinds of songs on different instruments (most of Tiny Truths came from my 3rd-grade level guitar skills). So I’m having fun with that. Also, chile chocolate and soda water with lime. And red wine.
Reviewsic: Sting, among others, once released his lyrics on their own as poetry. Do you think that’s something you would ever do/would your lyrics hold up in that separate format?
Emily Shirley: No – and I hope so. Poetry’s so subjective. I think that’d work in my favor.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Emily Shirley: The Lennon Sisters, Band of Heathens and Wee Sing & Move.
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Emily Shirley: Jeff Buckley because I want my music to sound like his.
Reviewsic: What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?
Emily Shirley: Debbie Gibson, Out of the Blue tour circa 1987. Need I say more?
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
Emily Shirley: Ben Kweller, Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir, Band of Heathens
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Emily Shirley: Lady GaGa because I think that’d be fun, Rufus Wainwright for inspiration and because I think we’d get along, Joni Mitchel because I’ve always wanted to meet her and maybe soak up some of her wisdom.
Reviewsic: Tell us about Tiny Truths - Did you enter the studio with a specific intent or concept? What do you hope listeners take away from this record?
Emily Shirley: The album is a collection of songs I wrote in the little windows of time when babies were sleeping. It’s just a record of what came out.
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing?
Emily Shirley: The same but different. I’ve learned a lot, but there’s so much more to go. It’s a challenge and it’s fun and it keeps me on my toes. I could do this for three lifetimes.
Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities and/or venues to play?
Emily Shirley: The Lizard lounge in Cambridge MA. It’s a tiny, intimate basement bar where the stage is an oriental rug. And Austin of course. I feel lucky on a daily basis that I get to live here.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst music moments so far in your career?
Emily Shirley: Worst: maybe…it was landing in a town I didn’t know with no band mates and a guitar I didn’t know how to play
Best: Maybe…a band called Amun Ra, back in Boston. I enjoyed just about every moment with those guys. But a close second would be writing and recording Tiny Truths. Turns out, writing solo doesn’t have to be so very lonely…not to mention that it’s been a blessing to work with Dan Barrett along the way.
Reviewsic: What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit”?
Emily Shirley: A tour…for starters.
Reviewsic: What are your plans for music in the next year?
Emily Shirley: Keep writing. I’m headed back into the studio in the next couple weeks to start a track I just finished called Amnesty. From there I’m gonna take it a track at a time and well…we’ll see where we end up.
Tags: Album Review, DIY, EP, Interview, New Music, recent release
