EMA with HELADO NEGRO at the Garrison (1197 Dundas West), Saturday (July 23), doors 9 pm. $10. HS, RT, SS, TM. See listing
Considering how much guitar feedback, digital noise and ghostly futuristic textures dominate ex-Gowns vocalist EMA’s (aka Erika M. Anderson) striking debut solo album, Past Life Martyred Saints (Souterrain Transmissions), it’s surprising to discover how passionate she is about folk music.
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what folk music is and what it represents,” Anderson says as her tour van heads toward Wisconsin.
“If most music today is being made on a computer, than folk music should have electronic and digital aspects. I hate it when music tries to sound old, because it never works and it doesn’t seem like an honest reflection of the times. It’s silly to me. Digital recording is rad. I mean, I understand why records from the 70s sound fantastic, but why should that be what we’re trying to make now?”
While she does use the occasional acoustic guitar and her harmonies evoke roots music in places, her work comes across more like a hyper-modern update of NYC art rock like the Velvet Underground or Patti Smith.
Her lyrics are heart-wrenching and often gory, and her vocals seem to draw from a deep well of sorrow. Nevertheless, she’s cheerful and down-to-earth, laughing easily about the choppy cellphone connection. (She even tries calling me back when bad reception interrupts the interview – rare for an interviewee.) Could it be that the mainstream attention she’s garnering as a solo artist is a source of happiness and comfort?
“With Gowns, there was some self-sabotage as far as success goes,” Anderson admits, choosing her words carefully.
“It’s cool to stay true to your art, but at some point I felt we’d outgrown the types of shows we were playing but weren’t ready to take steps toward changing that, like hooking up with a booking agent or publicist. I still don’t feel mainstream yet, though. I’m in the back of this van, and I’ll probably sleep on a floor tonight.”
benjaminb@nowtoronto.com
