Defined by love

Miss Emily releases new studio album at Regent Theatre

County native Miss Emily released her latest studio album Defined by Love with a high-energy show at the Regent Theatre last Friday night. The near sold-out audience was treated to songs from the new album as well as some of the more familiar ones from Miss Emily’s growing catalog. Backed by a flawless fivepiece band, including the multi-talented Benni Vander, the Juno-nominated Miss Emily delivered a spectacular performance on a stage that remains close to her heart. Her first appearance on the Regent stage was 30 years ago at age 12, when she was part of a group that led fundraising tours through the disused theatre, with the aim of reviving the facility. At that time she said the theatre hadn’t been used in ages and still had seats made from straw. A year later the resurrection of the Regent was underway and she appeared as the lead role in Suzanne Pasternak’s folk opera Minerva. “I was 13 and I got to play the role of Minerva. It was mostly singing and dancing, and it was a memorable night for me, and for a lot of community members who really rallied to make this theatre come alive again, and she’s been going ever since thanks to a community that supports her,” she said.

The songs in Defined by Love were written during the past three years, while the world was going through the COVID-19 pandemic and while Miss Emily was going through a challenging time in her personal life. It is a diary of sorts, of emerging from a broken relationship and embracing a new path forward. The soul/blues album was recorded last year in Cobourg at blues musician Jimmy Bowskill’s Ganaraska Record Company, and was produced by Steve Marriner.

Miss Emily said that her Juno nomination last year has made it somewhat easier for her to find open doors. “Career-wise, people see that word ‘Juno’ and they open the emails faster when you’re trying to get bookings and trying to network. It really does do quite a bit.” With a teenage daughter at home, Miss Emily tries to limit the length of time that she spends on tour. “In the fall of 2022, I was away for six and a half weeks in a nine-week period, and that was a bit too much. I’m not in a position to say ‘no’. We need the work. I’m a single-income family, with a daughter and a house and pets. The goal is to work as much as I can without having to be away for long periods of time.”

Friday night’s show was opened by Annelise Noronha, accompanied by Jeremy Kelly on guitar. Noronha’s performance was very much appreciated by Miss Emily. “I’m honoured I get to share the night with her. I’m a huge fan. For people who don’t know her, Google-search her name, because she’s a pioneer of sorts in a number of different elements of the music industry in this country, and her artistry as a musician is just one of them. I look at her as my peer. We all have something to bring to the table and we all need to support each other. Having her support means a lot to me, and I want to support what she does too, because I think she’s brilliant.” Noronha’s smooth melodic voice coupled with Kelly’s virtuoso guitar was the ideal opening for Miss Emily’s performance. It was immediately obvious how comfortable Miss Emily was on the Regent stage as she greeted the audience, and it was, quite literally, a meeting of old friends. At the same time, though, it was a performance from someone who is at the top of their game. Her voice has evolved in range and expression, dipping down into the alto register and then cleanly soaring up in power. Whether it was at the microphone, at the keys of the Regent’s venerable piano, or singing a capella, Miss Emily demonstrated even with a 20-year career behind her, that her star is still rising. Her songs covered the gamut of emotions, from the pain of divorce, the anguish of losing someone to opioid addiction, to the uplifting message in Glory and the anthemic sound Hold Back the River. In a gesture that was appreciated by everyone, Miss Emily invited Annelise back on stage for an encore performance of Sam Cooke’s Bring It On Home To Me.

Although the past three years have had their challenges, Miss Emily said she is in a good place now, helped in part by what she called an “upgrade” in her life. “There’s been a lot of great stuff happening. I just celebrated my 42nd birthday and I am having the best career now in my forties than I have ever had, and I’m really excited to see where things are going to go,” she said. She will soon be leaving on a week-long tour of Germany and Sweden, accompanied by Benni Vander. She has appearances booked with blues legends Colin Linden and Jack de Kyzer, and will be on tour with Jenie Thai in October. She’s also signed a deal for a US tour towards the end of June. For more information, please visit themissemily. com. Be sure to visit the “The Miss Emily” channel on YouTube to see the music video of the song Glory, which was filmed at Base31.