Greetings and welcome back to the 2016 Northwest Music Month, where June becomes the coolest month of the year, thanks to us featuring a different local band or artist for your music discovering pleasure every day this month, to help ring in a summer of music. Some days these artists could be a regional favorite that’s already got a respectable following, and other days they could be a complete unknown that you’ve never heard of. Though we’re up to the unlucky day number 13, today’s local artist brings anything but misfortune; it’s Emily Donohue!
Coming straight out of the high-yielding Seattle singer-songwriter scene, Emily Donohue is somewhat of a treasure in our local scene. Very few artists hit right out of the gate with as much confidence or creative talent as Donohue. It’s not easy to have such a small discography under your belt, while amassing pretty spot-on comparisons to nationally-renowned artists like Regina Spektor and Adele, but here you have Emily, whose couple EPs already sound ready for mass consumption, while feeling incredibly natural and personal.
Released just last month, Emily Donohue’s latest release, the Vices EP, is undeniably a force to be reckoned with when it comes to singer-songwriter music, and a release other up-and-coming singer-songwriters should take notes from. Praised by our own publication as being “much more mature than what’s found in most popular music that it shares similar sonic characteristics to,” we lauded the EP for its soul and depth, while falling in love with how “the multi-talented Donohue pours her heart, soul, and straight up solid musicianship into her sultry, honest vocals, serious guitar strumming, and even a mournful ukulele.”
Don’t let the “pop music” tags turn you off; Emily Donohue’s music feels anything but watered down. It doesn’t feel overly desperate for radio play, or even for buzz and acceptance from the hard-to-please indie crowd. Emily is just making the kind of music she wants to make, and just happens to be really damn good at it.
You can follow Emily Donohue on Facebook, Twitter, and Bandcamp, and sample the Vices EP below.