by Laurel Kathleen

Brandi Emma is a singer/songwriter from Silverlake, but you might also know her as Emma Burgess, In 2007, she released her first solo album Swim to considerable buzz, then tinkering with other musical projects before returning to her birth name and her current endeavor. With a return to her birth name and EP Photographic Memory just released in October, her latest project marks a return to a heady blend of folk and alt-country flavors. Brandi Emma isn't a people-pleasing pop starlet in the making, but rather a talented songstress whose ontemporaries skew more towards the dusky reality of Jesca Hoop than the sticky-sweet fantasy of Sara Bareilles. Her songs range from the quirky and genuine to dark and melancholy, and the subject matter and delivery is realistic and down-to-earth. Last night she performed with a string bassist, electric guitarist, and drummer along with her own acoustic guitar, and the ever-increasing audience enjoyed the raw vulnerability of her music intimately housed within the walls of The Hotel Cafe. For a free listen of her song "Let it Go", please click the link below.

What really struck me about Brandi Emma is that her vocal skills are evenly matched by her songwriting ability. Eschewing the modernity of new folk, she instead taps into traditional folk and the country-western style of wistful, timeless ballads. The lyrics of "Let it Go" (posted above) are particularly melancholy, and the beauty of Brandi Emma's music is that it sounds like it could fit in any time period within the last 30 years:

And I don't know where I'm going

But I know where you've been

Stocking up on secrets, and brushing up on sin

I don't mean to lose it baby, but I know

Sure as I'm standing here tonight, I'm gonna let you go

The lyrics and style of all of her songs are a perfect blend of touching and memorable, and this song in particular sounded like the kind of radio folk anthem that Jewel's "Pieces of You" became. On the album, the arrangements are full of soft strings that they recreated onstage with electric guitar effects. The result was a decidedly ethereal effect that complimented the reality of her self-confessionals. The pain and frustration was plain on the singer's face, masked only by the occasional sweep of hair over her eyes. She was very genuine yet informal onstage, introducing and thanking her band in one fell swoop to wild applause at the end of the set. Even if her lyrics profess aimlessness, it's clear that Brandi Emma is on her way up.

Her EP Photographic Memory is now available on iTunes. She will be going into the studio in the coming months before playing shows more regularly, but she does plan on playing at South by Southwest in March. Stay tuned to BestNewBands.com for coverage of the Austin music festival and Brandi Emma's Facebook page for upcoming details!