*depending on your definition of "everything"
In which my friend Sarah and I sit down with our favorite brilliant interesting exciting people and have stimulating conversations punctuated with songs and snark – subscribe to What the Folk wherever you stream podcasts! The first ten episodes are already live with some amazing guests and cover fun topics like musical oracles, psychedelic drugs, Julian Assange, anti-racist organizing, and U.S. imperialism, along with a healthy dose of folkery.
Emily Yates and Eleanor Goldfield present an evening of political folk’n’words in observance of the 17th anniversary of SHOCK AND AWE, the blatantly illegal bombing that began the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
March 19 – Mercury Cafe – Denver
7 PM – $10 adv, $12 @ door
tickets: folknraw.brownpapertickets.com
A holiday centered on love can be laborious to get through when your heart is broken or hurting, so here’s some real-talk to balance out the romance:
I wrote “Happy Ever After” as a reminder that life is full of surprises, and that people are complex, ever-changing creatures – sometimes the ones we think we know best reveal themselves to be strangers when we least expect it. Because life is also steeped in irony, a few weeks after recording this song, I realized I had written myself less of a gentle reminder and more of an agonizing told-you-so. I’m releasing it into the world on Valentine’s Day because for the first time in a decade, this day is a painful one for me, and in my experience there are few better ways to feel pain than through sharing the art that grows from it.
Many thanks to producers Dango Rose and Evan Reeves for inviting me into the Elephant Collective, to musicians Darren Garvey (percussion, guitar) and Mekenzie Solidago (cello, vocals) for lending their talents to the track, to Dan Rodriguez for the lines that helped me tie the room together, and to all of you for your consistent support of my music and heart. Community is everything in this crazy world, and I’m endlessly grateful for you.
Credits:
Words/Music/Video by Emily Yates
Produced by Dango Rose and Evan Reeves (Rose-Reeves Productions) in association with Elephant Collective
Engineered by Evan Reeves
Mixed by Patrick Tracy
Additional mixing by Max Nordby
Recorded at Elephant Collective Studios, Boulder, CO
Musicians:
Emily Yates – Vocals, Ukulele
Darren Garvey – Percussion, Guitar
Mekenzie Solidago – Cello, Vocals
Erik Yates – Flute
with special guest Elliott Garvey as The Witch
Embed for Youíre the Enemy
A few months ago I wrote and recorded “You’re The Enemy,” a song about Military Sexual Trauma (MST), for the non-profit Warrior Songs‘ new compilation album Women At War. The album will be released in a couple months but in light of current events, we have decided to pre-release my song digitally now. You can stream it above and/or download with a pay-what-you-want option:
https://warriorsongs.org/track/1564039/you-re-the-enemy
This song is dedicated to all survivors of MST, especially those whose attackers have not had consequences.
Produced by Enion Pelta-Tiller & Emily Yates
Engineered by Andrew Gragg Lunsford at Mountain Star Studios – Black Hawk, CO on 04/19/2018
Baritone Ukulele & Lead Vocals : Emily Yates
Violin & Backing Vocals: Enion Pelta-Tiller
Upright Bass & Backing Vocals: Julie Gussaroff
Drums: Michelle Pietrafitta
Backing Vocals: Jenny Boykin Roe
I didn’t report being sexually assaulted in the military because I knew the investigation, if one even happened, would be even more demoralizing than being assaulted by people I knew.
I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford because there is no way in hell you can convince me a person would subject themselves to death threats AND the demeaning process of being questioned about past trauma by ridiculously-powerful frat boys unless they were either telling the truth or on a masochistic search for truly cruel and unusual punishment.
I believe survivors. I want justice for survivors. I am a survivor.