Journey of an Artist

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"I've revealed the most intimate things onstage." 

When you first start making things with your imagination, you're mesmerized by the magic of it. You're enchanted by the possibilities. You dive delightedly down rabbit holes of work you admire, soaking up the genius of others and wrapping their incredible achievements around you like a cocoon of inspiration. Then, somewhere along the way, you get jaded, or you get discouraged, or the business end of showbusiness beats you into engagement-focused submission to the algorithms.

New York City-based hybrid collagist and playwright Pamela Enz says it doesn't have to be that way. She says that, if you stay focused on the art--and you surround yourself with other people who are focused on and awed by the art--you can keep that sense of wonder with which you began.

Wonder and catharsis have fueled her work thus far, from City Girls and Desperadoes to Afterwards. In this episode, she sits down with Emmeline to talk about her favorite creative moments and why she currently identifies as a collaborator. 

To learn more about Pamela Enz, or to follow her creative journey, visit her official website or see her work at the Theater for the New City on Halloween!

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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"I was looking for love in so many places." 

Getting real in your art often means getting real with yourself--and the best, most beautiful and hard-hitting art can come from the realest, darkest spaces. Irish alt-pop artist Christian Cohle knows this truth intimately.

In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Christian Cohle for an intensely personal and thoughtful conversation about his brave new record, Queen of Ashes. Christian shares about the process of self-discovery that inspired the album, addiction, love, the way we distract ourselves from spiritual growth, and how his musical curiosity ran parallel to his spiritual curiosity. Christian and Emmeline also discuss the ways in which true love requires constant attention to self-improvement--and how the ones we love are always pressing our buttons and forcing us to grow. Love, life, art--it's all a grand invitation to which we choose to say yes. 

You can also get a sneak peek of three songs from Christian's new record--"Life with Lucy," "Venus," and "Queen of Ashes." Christian even talks about why Conversations on Love is his favorite book right now!

To learn more about Christian, or to follow his musical journey, visit his official website or follow him on Instagram. 

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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When the legendary listening room Poor David's Pub celebrated 49 years in business, rumors were swirling that the venue was planning to close its doors for good--then the effervescent Amelia Card came along.

In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Amelia to talk about her decision to take over the beloved bar, her passionate advocacy for live music, her desire to make Poor David's accessible and inviting for songwriters and audience members alike, and her propensity for championing female-fronted acts! The women also chat about the challenges of being a woman in music--and about the beauty of a musical community that ultimately becomes chosen family. Amelia discusses the balancing act of preserving and celebrating history while introducing a venue to a broader audience. She even speaks candidly about the creativity involved in business ownership and about how to take a risk when you feel called to take on a new endeavor. Plus, hear Amelia's beautiful song, "The Moon Song"!

To follow Amelia's journey, or to get more deeply connected with Poor David's Pub and its incredible lineup of shows, visit the venue's official website and follow the bar on Instagram.

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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So you know you need and want a creative practice, but...which creative medium is right for you? Which instrument fits your personality? Can you feel fulfilled by expressing yourself in just one way, or do you need multiple outlets?

In this episode, Emmeline sits down with autoharp enthusiast and musical comedian Harping Mel to tackle these questions and more. Mel shares how, despite growing up in a musical household with two professional musicians as parents, it took her a bit of time to find the perfect musical fit. She also details how the autoharp marks, for her, a melding of her engineering training and her affinity for singing. Lastly, Mel talks about the importance of having and nurturing a creative community--especially through open mics, showcases, and variety shows!

To learn more about Harping Mel, or to follow her musical journey, find her on Instagram or YouTube. To get your own autoharp and learn more about how to play, visit Mel's favorite autoharp company, d'Aigle Autoharps. 

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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“If you’re giving your all for a full house, that’s expected. But if you’re giving your all for just a few people, that’s a big deal. People remember that.”

Incremental steps lead to great progress--but staying a student of creativity can be hard sometimes. In this episode, Emmeline sits down with rap artist, sound engineer, and open mic host Manii to talk about why the arts are a slow burn--and why that's okay! He shares his path to professional musicianship and discusses how little wins can add up. He also discusses the importance of community in finding inspiration and listening to that little creative voice inside of you. Lastly, Manii offers a sneak peek of a brand new remix he's been creating.

To learn more about Manii, or to follow his musical journey, follow him on Instagram.

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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"Es que la ciudad es tan vacía como dicen." 

How do you know which language best fits a song? How do you keep your saddest stories from sounding too depressing? Where do you go for sonic inspiration?

AMANDA tackles these questions and more as she sits down with Emmeline to discuss her brand new song, "Medio Oeste." They talk about the importance of pulling the right producers on board, how one riff can transform a track, and why songwriters are so tempted to tell stories that seem a smidge melancholy. Plus, hear them geek out over their favorite 90s musicians!

To learn more about AMANDA, or to follow her musical journey, make sure to find her on Instagram. For more episodes of Journey of a Song, Emmeline's other show, make sure you're subscribed to Journey of a Song on all of your favorite podcasting platforms, or visit here.

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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How do we stay inspired as creatives? How do we ensure that what we're producing is in line with not only our goals, but what makes us feel happy and fulfilled? 

In this episode, Emmeline tackles these questions and more with Josiah Leeper! Josiah is a prolific producer and the brains behind the indie music project Indoor Swimming. Josiah is both a thoughtful, seasoned producer and an intentional student of music, and his belief in consistency and curiosity have helped him build a home studio where he produces projects in which he deeply, enthusiastically believes. 

He shares his plans for growth, his excitement about music and how the manifestation thereof has changed, and what inspires him most!

To learn more about Josiah Leeper, or to follow his musical journey, visit his official website or follow Indoor Swimming on Instagram and Spotify. You can also check out his open mic at The Celt every first Tuesday!

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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“You need to have security and confidence enough in yourself to invite someone else into the creative process.” 

How do you keep the creative process from getting stale? How can you ensure fruitful collaboration with fellow creatives? How can you preserve with a group the open mind and heart needed to write from a truly vulnerable space.

How I Became A Wave tackles these questions and more in this episode! How I Became A Wave is more than just a band; it's a living, breathing collaborative that seeks to bring new musicians and new styles to every live show and recording. Helmed and conceived by Pat Carey, How I Became A Wave recently released its self-titled debut album. In this episode, Pat sits down with Emmeline to talk about how the project was created, how he was able to work with fellow musicians to breathe new and unique life into each of these songs, and what he's learned about vulnerability along the way. He also shares the importance of letting collaborators bring the fullness of themselves to each creative project!

To learn more about How I Became A Wave, or to follow their musical journey, visit their official website or follow them on Instagram.

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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"You just have to trust the process and keep going." 

Sometimes, the creative process is quick--but sometimes, it takes years to honor the creative vision you have for a project.

In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Christine Hand Jones and Kenady Sean, the two brilliant minds behind The Scarlet Letter musical! The women share more about how the musical began, what steps they've taken to hone the production over the years, and how acceptance into the Spark Theatre Festival in New York City inspired them to finally put together the show they'd always wanted to make. They also talk about the process of writing, rewriting, and casting so that every new creative perspective makes the show better.

To learn more about The Scarlet Letter, or to get tickets to the DFW or NYC productions in April, visit The Scarlet Letter Musical Linktree. You can also learn more about the Broadway Bridge Project by following Kenady on social media or visiting her official website. 

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

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“The thing that’s going to kill you first is your ego.” 

How do we balance our desire to do it all and be it all--and all of the messaging that tells us to do those things--with our knowledge that we aren't always the foremost expert? 

In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Sean Martin of hard rock band The Quarantined to talk about how humility AND motivation can be collaborative forces in one's creative career. Sean shares about how the willingness to "start over" has been one of his greatest assets, how failure is actually a GOOD thing, and how “DIY has its place, but it can also destroy you if you only rely on it.” He also discusses how he managed to land his dream producer for The Quarantined's new album, Aversion to Normalcy. 

To learn more about Sean and The Quarantined, or to follow their musical journey, visit their official website, follow them on Spotify, and stream the new album Aversion to Normalcy. 

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.