Summer Makes It So Easy

I did my first visual/songwriting collaboration!  Amazing artist, and longtime friend, Brian Demeter, just completed a series of paintings titled Oceanus that I used as inspiration for a song.  


I kept the chords simple; I imagined it being played on the beach around 5:30 p.m. with the air extra breezy but just starting to cool off.

Click here to see all the paintings from this gorgeous series.

The Sneezy Sneak Rag Song Sketch

Here is me lying in the grass defying all allergies. HA!

I know it's not very sexy or glamorous but I fear that I have allergies.  And when I have an allergy attack, I tend to sneeze.  A lot. Like four in a row.  Fortunately, I can keep my allergies at bay by incorporating local honey into my diet (it really works, guys, it just takes a couple months to work but it DOES).  But I know the agony (maybe too strong of a word) of trying to sneak into the bedroom without waking up my baby and then...  ah ah ah CHOO!  

Anyway, I wrote and recorded this little ragtime piano piece with that image in mind.  Download, enjoy and eat local honey.

I'm Mister Green Christmas but I'm having a Blue Christmas Song Sketch

This month I did two (yes, TWO) holiday song sketches/free downloads!

Mister Heat Miser was one of many inspired requests on my Facebook page.  It was a TON of fun to do and seemed quite appropriate as we had to have the air conditioning on yesterday on, what was it, December 18th?   Crazy Florida weather.







I've already put Blue Christmas up on the blog but just in case you didn't get it, here it is!

I'm Gonna Give You Candy Song Sketch

I'm at this really super-cute vintage candy shop in downtown Winter Park, Florida!  If you're ever in the area, you should visit Sassafras Sweet Shoppe. 

So, what's the best part of October (besides that it's my birthday month [along with Sting, John Lennon, Paul Simon and Gandhi], pumpkin everything, cooler weather and cinnamon brooms)?  I'll tell you - CANDY!   Candy everywhere!  And it's just the beginning of candy season so all the more reason to celebrate!  

A couple weeks back I asked for sugary, candylicious song suggestions on my Facebook page and one of them was one of my favorite songs, Come On-a My House by Rosemary Clooney (who actually hated the song but, whatevs).  So, thank you, Michaela, for the suggestion!

And have a perfectly marvelous October!

Photos by Maria Jones

Keep Your Eye On the Grand Old Flag! Song Sketch

I hope that if you are celebrating Memorial Day, you have a wonderful one!  


And if not, I hope you have a lovely Monday.  


And if you're on the other hemisphere, I hope you had a lovely Monday.


And, to all, have a completely amazing week!

A Friend Like You Song Sketch

Here is...
My very first buddy song.  EVAH!  Very exciting, very exciting indeed.  I don't have any project this is supposed to be for but I thought it would be fun for you all to hear!



*Ironically enough, my best friends are my husband and family members... But... poetic license, right?

When You Wake You Will Find All the Pretty Little Horses

Here is the Lullaby from Friday's Rose-Colored Radio Show.  I know, I know, I just released a lullaby album - WHEN WILL IT ALL STOP, EMMA? - but I do love this song so it was fun to do.

How Cheerfully He Seems to GrinSong Sketch

So, here is a little, teensy recording I did of the poem "How Doth the Little Crocodile" from Alice in Wonderland for last Friday's literary-minded Rose-Colored Radio Show.  This was the part of the Disney movie that always seemed to get in my head when I was a little girl so when I picked out a poem to 'read,' this was the one I chose!

Happy Year of the Dragon! Song Sketch

As you may have guessed, I'm a very big fan of new beginnings and celebrations and today is... Chinese New Year!  The year of the Dragon! How exciting and fortuitous is that?!  


So, in observation of the most exciting day of the past twelve years, I'm posting a song from my c.d. Love Songs and Lullabies called "Odayaka-na Yume No Shogusha" which is about a guardian dragon. The violin was provided by the amazingly talented Marie Bee.  


It'll be free until the end of the week so be sure to download it if you don't already have it!


Hoping this year is the most wonderful and magical year yet for you! 



*For those who have already downloaded the song from iTunes or the like, don't worry - I'll be posting up a never-before-heard free song that will be on my Friday podcast for download on Monday.

Happy, Happy New Year!

 Auld Lang Syne by iamemma 

I hope 2012 is one of your best years yet and that the dreams you're hoping for fall into place perfectly.


Love you!
Emma




P.S. My New Year's podcast will be up on Friday! Come by and hear it!

Make Your Mark

 Make Your Mark by iamemma 

You may, or may not, know that International Dot Day is this very Thursday.  Dot Day, inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' The Dot, encourages you to embrace your creativity bravely and 'make your mark.'  We'll be doing a little feature on The Dot on Wednesday's podcast and for this momentous occasion, I wrote a little song about making your mark and doing what you want to do. 


Hope this starts your week off happily!

I Forgot!

P.S. My hair doesn't look like this anymore. But I haven't taken any photos of me with my new hair AND a piano.

 Fur Elise by iamemma 

I cannot believe - I totally forgot to do a blog post on Monday (and on Friday)!  Badly done, Emma!  


So, to make you all forgive me, here is a little impromptu Song Sketch - it's going to be on my upcoming Rose-Colored Radio Show for Wednesday, August 17.

Over and Under and Then Up For AirSong Sketch

 By the Sea by iamemma 

I know, posting a Song Sketch on a Friday?! I'm a crazy rock star, that's for sure.  This song was featured in my Rose-Colored Radio Show that I posted yesterday (here) during my nautical week!


The song is totally fun and free-spirited.  Although it does have a less-than-feministic line: "Anything that Joe would suggest to her, Jane would always think it was best for her." Ahem, Jane, think for yourself, dear!  However, I did somewhat bring her up to level with Joe by making her the one owning the car and driving... Ah, it's the little things.  


Anyway, I also have a fabulous giveaway sponsored by Shabby Apple - go here to enter it!  It closes on Monday, 11:59 p.m. EST.

The Ladies, They Will All Turn Out Song Sketch

 When Johnny Comes Marching Home by iamemma

This is, by far, one of my favorite wartime pictures.  I thought I'd do one of my favorite vintage (really vintage - Civil War!) wartime songs to go along with it!  


I do look forward to the day when all our Johnnys and Janes can come marching home safe and sound and stay home.


Hope you all have a wonderful Fourth!


P.S. I have another Rose-Colored Radio Show coming out on Wednesday!  Be sure to check back!

What If I Like Sleeping Past Nine? What Then? Song Sketch

My little sweetie!

 Alternate Version - Come Here To Me by iamemma 

I had considered using this song in my Love Songs and Lullabies album but thought I haven't been around quite long enough to be self-referential...  Ha!  But here is the version I did when I recorded that first version of A Reason to Stay Up All Night. It's pretty close to the original, but there are some differences!


Feel free to download, of course!


Thank you all for your encouragement about Rose-Colored Radio Show and all those listens!  I'll have another episode up in the next week or so so be sure to check back!

Under Construction - Week Six Song Sketch

Here's a pic that was taken from a photo shoot during that time!  I miss that necklace...

 Hard To Get - Alternate by iamemma 

I am actually 100% finished with the album!  I'm at the wait and wait point - waiting on the album to finish getting mastered, waiting on the covers to be approved for licensing, waiting on iTunes to accept my album, etc., etc.  But that's all very exciting!  

I want to thank everyone who donated money to my album fund!  I actually overmet my goal of $300!  For those who never specified, please be sure to email me with whether you want a signed print by the cover artist or an exclusive original song!


This is another of the songs I recorded with Dan Garcia (who is doing the mastering on my Love Songs and Lullabies album!); you can hear the difference right off from the one on the album!  


Hope you are all doing wonderfully!  

Under Construction - Week One Song Sketch

Cuddle Up a Little Closer Sketch by iamemma

So, I've decided to do something a little different for the next several song sketches; I'm working on my lullaby album coming out and I thought it'd be fun to release some instrumental parts or partially recorded songs so you could be with me on the process.

Here is the beginning instrumental part to my cover of Cuddle Up a Little Closer that I'm doing. I think I'm going to keep it piano/vox only... I think that simple is good when it comes to lullabies. What do you think?

P.S. Can you go by my Feature Friday post and show some love to my feature of Zel? I adore her blog and I think my visits were slow on Friday so she didn't get as much publicity as I'd love her to get!

Me, I Want a Hula Hoop

Buy the print here

Hula Hoop Old Movie Mastering by iamemma

No, I'm not doing a cover of Alvin and the Chipmunks... I did, however, write a ragtime piece for Kate Gabrielle to use in an animation. About hula hoops.

I added an old movie filter to the mastering so I think it sounds cooooool. What do you think?

Speak Love to Me... And Soon Song Sketch

Speak Low by iamemma

Today happens to be my mother's birthday! Whew! Maternal birthday madness! So I covered a song I remember her loving when I was little. It plays in One Touch of Venus with Ava Gardner (who my mother adores) and each of the main characters sing it alone and so longingly - it really is a gorgeous scene.

It was written by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash for the play version of One Touch of Venus, but quickly became a jazz standard covered by a ton of people. And now me! I hope you like it, Mommy! I love you!

I'm now using SoundCloud which allows the listener to download the song themselves from the widget, however, I still truly appreciate the comments! And if you aren't able to work the download, don't hesitate to ask me for a copy!

Quem, Quem, Quem Song Sketch

O Pato by iamemma

This Wednesday is my maternal grandmother's birthday. I never got to meet her as she passed away before I was born but I've heard so many stories; she was very much into music and completely zany and lovable.

My mother is the little girl on the steps.

I thought I'd cover a song in her native language, Portuguese, that my mother said she remembered her singing. It's about a duck and goose with musical aspirations that may or may not be supported by actual talent.

Happy Birthday, Vovó!

I also have a giveaway going on right now - it's very easy to enter, so be sure to leave a comment there! If you aren't the dress-wearing type (or gender), still leave a comment and maybe win it for a grateful wife or friend!

If you would like a copy of this song for you, just let me know in a comment! If it's your first request, please leave your email address as well.