MySpace: Emily Long

Emily Long’s epic melodies and soaring rock vocals highlight epic debut ‘When I Was In Love’ (out Spring 2010)

Emily Long is a gut-belting rock songstress making her debut with ‘When I Was In Love With’ (out this Spring 2010). With an impressive voice—confessional and towering, Long carries her anthemic melodies over a thick, driving band.

Upon first listen it’s obvious that Emily is a child of the ‘80s who probably spent countless hours singing Pat Benatar, Blondie, The Runaways, Queen and maybe some Joy Divison into a hairbrush. (There’s even a fitting cover of The Concrete Blonde’s “Joey” on the album.) What’s also very evident is how fresh, and edgy ‘When I Was In Love’ feels.

Long, a Tucson Arizona native who now residing in Brooklyn, explains, ‘When I Was In Love With’ is a record about the nostalgia and emotional upheaval you feel not only when romantic love is lost, but when a particular chapter in your life is closed.”

Long however, is not another female singer/songwriter in a room of shoegazers in a Lower East Side club. Allowing her soaring voice to turn raw when the emotion calls for it, she thrashes her head of fiery red hair around and slams her hands on the keyboard in front of her. A CBGB type crowd is more suitable. On the album opener “Anyone Else”, she details, “I wanted the dynamics musically to follow the dynamics emotionally of falling in and out of love quickly.” While on the hard rocker “Blackout,” Long attempts to piece together the previous nights activities. Showcasing her dynamic talent, Long ends the album with a sparse, moving piano ballad called “Cry Some More.”

Long’s music has been featured on the WB’s TV shows “Sorority Forever” and “The Lake”, underground TV series “Prom Queen,” and on compilation album “Bad Girls Don’t Cry” alongside Amy Winehouse and Duffy with international distribution through Universal.

Long after the music has ended you may be left humming the melodies and singing the lyrics of Emily Long – maybe even to a hairbrush.

You can catch Emily at SXSW 2010, at the following venues:

17 March: The Dog and Duck 6:30pm
20 March: The Moose Lodge 11:30 am

Check our our SXSW calendar here for unofficial parties and the rest, including Emily’s shows. Email info@neverenoughnotes.co.uk to request your SXSW showcase addition to our calendar.