Juno-nominated Miss Emily, also known as Emily Fennell, is a Canadian singer-songwriter who released her fifth studio album, The Medicine, on Nov 7. through Gypsy Soul Records.
The title track, “The Medicine,” was an emotional investment for Emily, who composed it around themes of heartbreak and perseverance after the family of an overdose victim reached out to her.
It demonstrates the different stages of grief, from denial, to bargaining to acceptance, and it expresses desperation through delicate vocals.
“You took The Medicine ’til the medicine took you,” she sings.
The album opens with the track, “My Freedom,” a song about how harnessing the confidence to achieve new beginnings is never impossible.
“There ain’t no use looking back / when the past is dark and reckless,” she purrs.
Despite this theme of endurance, Emily also uses the extensive range in her voice to tackle feelings of distress, affliction, and indecision.
And on the soulful song, “Running Again” Emily reminds listeners to get back up, choose themselves and “run again.”
She closes out her album with “Remember This Song,” and don’t worry, we will.
Emily’s new album was produced by Grammy winner Colin Linden, a legend in the Canadian music industry not only as a producer but as a performer and songwriter.
The result is not just an album, as much as it is an expressive revelation for first-time listeners of Miss Emily.
To have the mental capacity to tackle such heavy themes, and the vocal range to make listeners feel as if they are suffering themselves is not easy, and Miss Emily executes it perfectly.
Emily has a show coming up on Dec. 18 in Kingston, ON at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
Doors open for the show, A Miss Emily Christmas, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $15.
For more information on Miss Emily, visit https://themissemily.com/
