StrongWriter On The Radio – Episode 174 “EMILY MURE – Sad Songs, Oboes, Busking and Waltzing” (AUDIO PODCAST)

Today's episode puts the spotlight on a young female singer-songwriter who has toured the country, busked in Galway, Ireland, and yet she hasn't drifted far from her island. What I'm referring to is EMILY MURE's hometown on Roosevelt Island in New York City, the setting in which she and I began to narrate her story. When we get to the part where we discuss her musical career, you are undoubtedly going to enjoy what you hear. For the last decade, Emily has released three folk-flavored albums of her own material and appears to have a solid following within that genre. This year, 2019, she decided to share something different. "Sad Songs and Waltzes" is a six-track EP of cover tunes from a handful of artists who influenced her, such as Radiohead, Coldplay, Wilco, and Willie Nelson, who happens to be the original artist of the title track. I really enjoyed having Emily as my featured guest, not only for her undeniable talent, but also for her convivial personality and insight as a performing songwriter. Take a listen and you will hear what I mean. Please enjoy!
Dean Olson
StrongWriter On the Radio

* Listen to Emily's Interview with Dean! *

Featured Guest: EMILY MURE

Photos courtesy of EmilyMure.com

ABOUT EMILY MURE

Emily Mure Revisits, Reinvents Music of Her Youth With Sad Songs and Waltzes

New York City-based artist tackles songs by Radiohead, The Shins, Wilco, others

NEW YORK, NY — After releasing three albums of original contemporary folk music, singer/songwriter Emily Mure shines a light on her influences — as well as her unique, classically-influenced arrangements — with Sad Songs and Waltzes.

A six-track EP of reimagined cover songs, Sad Songs and Waltzes finds Mure putting her own stamp on material originally performed by Radiohead, The Cranberries, Coldplay, Willie Nelson, Wilco, and The Shins. The majority of those artists launched their careers during the alternative-rock boom of the 1990s, but Mure keeps her own versions folky and acoustic-based, revising each track to suit the unique approach of a musician whose past records have earned her the support not only of New York City’s singer/songwriter community, but of the Folk scene at large. Tracks from Sad Songs and Waltzes will be released as a string of singles during the coming months, while the EP will officially hit stores September 13.

“This is a passion project and something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” says the New York native, who co-produced the EP at Boston’s Dimension Sound Studios with Dan Cardinal. “One of my favorite things to do is to reimagine other artists’ songs. These covers are a mix of collaborative studio magic and my very deliberate arranging.”

Those arrangements play a central role in Sad Songs and Waltzes’ sound. A classically-trained instrumentalist and lifelong oboist who performed at world-class venues like Carnegie Hall as a teenager, Mure weaves unexpected musical touches throughout these recordings. A cover of Radiohead’s “No Surprises” makes room not only for her vocals and acoustic guitar, but also piano, English horn, and cello. Assisting her throughout the EP are a handful of friends, collaborators, and tour mates, including Elizabeth Ziman (frontwoman of Elizabeth and the Catapult, as well as a guest vocalist and pianist on several songs here) and singer/songwriter Caroline Cotter.

Raised on New York City’s Roosevelt Island, Emily Mure sharpened her songwriting chops while studying music at Ithaca College and busking on the streets of Galway, Ireland. She later returned to New York, pursuing her songwriting career in the same city that housed her grandfather, musician Billy Mure. Over the course of three acclaimed albums, she has cracked the Top 10 on the Folk DJ Charts, showcased at the International Folk Alliance conference, toured internationally, and seen her music featured on NBC, ABC, and PBS. She’s also made a habit of nodding to those who’ve come before her, adding covers of David Bowie’s “As the World Falls Down” and Cake’s “Mexico” to the original music that fills previous albums. With Sad Songs and Waltzes, she directs her focus toward her influences, while also doubling down on her own ability to transform — and transcend — the sounds that helped inspire her to pursue a career as a songwriter.

For more information, please visit www.EmilyMure.com

© Copyright 2019 – StrongWriter Productions
Any additional music used is for illustrative purposes only and no infringement is intended.  “Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.”

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About the Author
DEAN OLSON is a songwriter host and producer of the weekly radio show "StrongWriter On the Radio." The popular long form music interview program is now a weekly podcast with new episodes being added each week. Dean is based out of Orange County, California.

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