Monday Motivation: "In a world where you can be anything, be kind." — Clare Pooley
Emma G - TEDx Speaker, Musician and Youth Empowerment coach
Survivor of 10 brain surgeries, and now singing, speaking, and coaching about music and mental & emotional health. ??
At a Glance:
Happy Monday, friends - and happy Labor Day!
I always forget about holidays - as an independent musician, my life is both a non-stop work day, and a non-stop adventure. And last Friday's show at City Ridge DC was no exception. It wasn’t just about music; it was a celebration of how limitless our choices can be when we connect through creativity and authenticity.
You may have noticed that in the past few months, I've been playing with a number of "outfits" I perform as - solo, duo, full band [for my original music] and - for the first time in almost a year - as a trio again!
But whether solo, duo or trio, one of the things I've been most enjoying lately is interacting even more with the audience than ever.
How?
Well, if you've noticed during my performances lately: there's a QR code that I now have on my performance banner. This QR code leads directly to a "menu" if you will: and this menu offers a number of options that the audience [you!] can peruse at your own discretion. The third option, however, is a link to my personalized Spotify playlist - that showcases every. single. song. on my performance set list.
I then invite the audience [*ahem* you!] to scan the QR code, peruse the set list, choose a song that lights you up, let me know, and BAM! We play it for you.
Because each show I play is far less about ME, and ALL ABOUT YOU. I want you to feel included, and to feel part of the show.
And this past Friday's choices lit up the night: from the soulful sassiness of Erykah Badu’s “Tyrone” to the rock anthems of Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" and even Pantera's "Cemetery Gates". Someone even requested “Dear Me” from my Static Era days.
It was a vivid reminder of the power of music to bridge our pasts with our present, and an even more beautiful reminder of the power of music when it comes to building our community.
You can check out the full playlist on Spotify here, and start planning what kind of set list you'd like us to perform at your next event. It’s a vibrant mix designed to cater to all tastes and moods, echoing the vast spectrum of human emotion and connection, and - of course - if you can think of any songs you'd like us to add to the mix: let me know and I'll learn it for you!
Because I'm not going to be doing this bar thing for much longer...
Yep. I started my music career here in DC as a street performer, before getting into the bar and restaurant live music scene, but with the YES Tour 2024 winding down, I’m channeling my energies into more targeted engagements and coaching, aiming to provide tools for resilience and self-expression for teens and adults alike. So while my public performances will become select, I invite you to keep connected through BandsInTown for updates on shows and appearances.
In the meantime, I’m super grateful for every city visited and every story shared on this tour. These experiences reaffirm the incredible impact of reaching out with kindness and an open heart, especially as we gear up for the final shows from Baltimore to Niagara Falls.
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I'm also going to be focusing much more heavily on my own original music - and that includes focusing more on my YouTube content!
I was talking with my assistant Camilo just the other day, and we realized I have over 50 original songs out on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon music etc... so - in conjunction with other things you'll be seeing from me soon on YouTube - you'll also see a number of lyric videos dropping every month.
And this week's newest one is the lyric video for “All This Love,” a track that embodies our theme of embracing love in all its forms, featuring DC's own Nia Monae` aka Pink Moni. After all: love doesn't recognize gender, race or ability. Love is love. And we should celebrate "all this love" in my opinion ;-)
Yep. I'm all about that #musicwithamessage. Haha.
And that's about it for today - as I prep for Baltimore tomorrow, and Philly on Wednesday, I want to remind you, however, that when it comes to living a life rooted in following one's inner compass, staying authentic, and leading with love and kindness: the possibilities are as limitless as the music we share. Seriously, if you'd told me ten years ago, as I was finishing up with X-Factor New Zealand and preparing to move to the States that I'd be touring in partnership with the Hard Rock Cafe, delivering keynotes to audiences young and, er, experienced, and coaching teens to express themselves through songwriting... I would have laughed in your face.
So here’s to living a life that’s as expansive and profound as the music we love. Don't limit yourself this week. Go forth and kick ass.
Have an amazing day on purpose,
x
Emma G
PS. My books are finally back in stock!
Yes, you can grab a copy on Amazon, but if you want to get your hands on a physical copy of one of my books: make sure to get along to one of my shows soon! I sold out on the last leg of the tour [thank you!] and am getting some fantastic feedback, so get in quick! [I also have a limited number of physical copies for my album "Fight the Fear", so same-same. I'll see you at a show soon!