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<\/p>\nWhen it comes to making music, eclecticism for its own sake can be confusing for potential listeners. But when it\u2019s executed with authenticity, casting a wide stylistic net can make for compelling music. And that\u2019s the goal of self-described folk-wave group Emma\u2019s Lounge. In celebration of the release of its new album, Confluence<\/i>, the Asheville-based band hosted an \u201cInterstellar prom\u201d Oct. 13 at Asheville Music Hall.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While Emma\u2019s Lounge is in fact a group \u2013 featuring guitarists Logan Venderlic and Brendan Bower, keyboardist Meg Proffitt Heathman, drummer Mackenzie Richburg and Emma Forster on fiddle \u2013 its origins are a bit confusing. Essentially working solo in 2017, Venderlic wrote and recorded an album\u2019s worth of songs at a studio in Ohio. Prior to releasing his collection of new tunes, the songwriter decided to assemble a group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat [album] was made before he even knew we existed, and before we knew he<\/i> existed; it had already been mixed and mastered,\u201d Heathman explains. \u201cWe needed a foundation to start on, so we came on, and we just all fell in love with his music.\u201d When Heart Heavy<\/i> came out in late 2017, the album was credited to Emma\u2019s Lounge.<\/p>\n
A year later, Emma\u2019s Lounge reflects the creative input of all its members (along with Venderlic, Heathman is a primary songwriter), and that character is reflected in the title and sound of Confluence<\/i>.<\/p>\n
But the group\u2019s character is now far more diverse than the Americana-flavored folk pop of Heart Heavy<\/i>. To capture the live feel the musicians wanted, Emma\u2019s Lounge returned to Ohio and cut the album live in the studio, with minimal overdubs. \u201cWe wanted it<\/i> to sound the way that we<\/i> sound,\u201d Heathman says.<\/p>\n
That sound can well be described as all-over-the-place. Two of the cuts on Confluence<\/i> \u2013 the dance-funk \u201cMarch\u201d and the blues-with-fiddle \u201cBreakdown\u201d \u2013 sound as if they could have been recorded by two different bands. Elsewhere, \u201cArvilla pt. II\u201d sounds like power-chording arena rock.<\/p>\n
Two styles of music that don\u2019t enjoy significant representation of Confluence<\/i> are folk and new wave. So what\u2019s with the folk-wave label? \u201cLyrically, our messages are rooted in folk,\u201d Heathman offers. \u201cIt\u2019s more of a perspective of where we\u2019re coming from.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that message \u2013 come as you are \u2013 gave rise to Venderlic\u2019s band name. \u201cThe name comes from a Charleston dive bar that no longer exists,\u201d Heathman says. \u201cNo matter what you were going through or dealing with, there was always a warm reception as soon as you came through the door. And we want to have that same kind of vibe with our music.\u201d<\/p>\n
That easygoing vibe lends itself especially well to festival gigs. To date, Emma\u2019s Lounge has played at quite a few up festivals and down the Eastern U.S. including the French Broad River Festival, the BIG What? in Shakori Hills, N.C., Toronto’s NXNE, Soulshine in Green Mountain, N.C., Meeting of the Minds in Schuylkill, Penn., Appleton, Wisconsin’s Mile of Music and the Sweetwater 420 Fest in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Heathman calls the festival scene a \u201ccreativity explosion. More than likely, festivals have had the biggest impact on the direction that we’re headed,\u201d she says. \u201cI feel like we’re in a music renaissance now; a lot of people are bringing authenticity and coming up with really unique ways to express themselves musically. It\u2019s inspiring to get into that festival scene, meet other bands and listen to what they’re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Onstage, the band can stick closely to the studio arrangements or extend the tunes, jam-fashion, seemingly at will. \u201cAt one show we might sound like the studio [recording],\u201d Heathman says, \u201cand at the next show our songs might be mashed up with a cover.\u201d When Emma\u2019s Lounge does play the songs of other artists, they\u2019re generally off-kilter choices. \u201cLogan recently did a really awesome mashup of Justin Timberlake\u2019s \u2018SexyBack\u2019 and Nine Inch Nails\u2019 \u2018Closer,\u201d Heathman says. \u201cWe\u2019re really all over the board.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group planned to play some of those covers and debut the new music from Confluence<\/i> with an event it called an Interstellar Prom. Attendees were scheduled to vote upon and crown a non-gender-specific prom king and queen, and festive, space-age themed attire was encouraged. \u201cIt will be interesting to see what we\u2019ve got cooking for that,\u201d Heathman teased ahead of the show. \u201cIt will be a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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