Emma Hill — Denali
♠ Confessional songs of heartbreak and love and loss, the album showcases Hill’s penchant for homey alt–folk and countrified sounds, this time paired with more pop sensibilities. A honeyed voice and confident delivery.
Location: Sleetmute ~ Palmer ~ Portland, Oregon ~ Anchorage, AK
Album release: November 11, 2014
Record Label: Kuskokwim Records
Duration: 35:33
Tracks:
01 Bright Eyes 4:04
02 Denali 3:35
03 Hard Love 3:28
04 Lioness 3:13
05 An Epic 4:36
06 49er 2:55
07 Rooted in Fear 4:00
08 If the Gods 3:34
09 Sad Again 3:23
10 A Long Way to Run 2:47
Credits:
♠ Emma Hill — lead vocals, acoustic guitar
♠ Bryan Daste — vocals, pedal steel guitar, banjo, upright bass, 12–string and baritone guitars, harmonium, glockenspiel, Omnichord, saxophone
♠ Evan Phillips — vocals, electric guitar, percussion
♠ James Dommek, Jr. — drums, percussion
♠ Tim Easton — resonator guitar
♠ Megan Palmer — fiddle, vocals
♠ Corwyn Wilkey — trumpet
♠ Kat Moore — keys
♠ Kate McVey — viola
♠ Kevin Charlestream — cello
Ξ Co–produced by Evan Phillips, Emma Hill and Bryan Daste
Ξ Recorded by Evan Phillips at The Wolverine Den, Anchorage, AK
Ξ Additional engineering by Bryan Daste at The Magic Closet, Portland, OR
Ξ Mixed by James Glaves
Ξ Mastered by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering, Boston, MA
Ξ Assistant mastering engineer: Maria Rice
Ξ Cover art by Laura Lauterbach
Ξ Graphic design by Alan Wasem
Album Notes
Ξ Emma Hill and longtime band mate Bryan Daste are at it again. The Alaskan duo, who have been compared to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, are set to release their fifth full length album this fall. Entitled “Denali”, the album was co–produced with Evan Phillips (Whipsaws, Easton Stagger Phillips) of Alaska and features many of the state’s finest players.
Ξ Emma Hill grew up in Alaska, coming from the small village of Sleetmute and later moving into Palmer for high school. In 2006 Hill decided to move to Portland, a thriving music scene, to continue her education and pursue her musical aspirations. In 2007 Hill met Daste and they began their collaboration. Seven busy years, four widely well–reviewed albums, and thousands of tour miles later, the duo are going strong, bringing remarkably intimate lyrics to life with their poignant harmonies, lonesome pedal steel, and Hill’s honeyed voice and confident delivery. Critics have described their sound as ranging from folksy Americana to catchy alt–country.
Ξ Hill moved back to Alaska in the fall of 2011, combining performing for her fan base in the state with travel south for regional and national tours. She stays busy year round performing solo as well as with Daste both in Alaska and the states. The pair plays various venues but their signature performance experience is the house concert. Ξ The intimate setting of a house show lends itself perfectly to their style and will continue to be a staple of their tours this year as they promote “Denali”, the newest addition to an impressive body of work.
Press Quotes:
Ξ “(…[M]uch warmth and sincerity to appreciate in this melodic, heartfelt, low–key record. “ — Pop Matters
Ξ “Emma Hill is not afraid to sing. In fact, her voice’s countrified richness, delicate inflections and fear–no–range transitions make it easy to imagine that’s all she ever does.” — Willamette Week
Ξ “…[I]ntimate, heartfelt, sincere…” — The Long Journey, Italy “Delightful vocals allied to some strong songs makes this girl from the far North worth a listen.” — Maverick Magazine
Ξ “Homey vocals with heart.” — Jukebox Heroines
Ξ “Emma Hill is a young woman with plenty of creative power.” — Hooked on Music Germany
Ξ “Rooted in Americana and spouting a folk pop sensibility.” — No Depression
Ξ “The kind of voice that one can easily fall in love with.” — The Philadelphia Examiner
Ξ “Following in the footsteps of Sarah Harmar, Kathleen Edwards, and Caitlin Cary.” — Ctrl Alt Country, Belgium
Ξ “She shoots from the heart.” — Rambles.net
Review
Rudie Humphrey, Monday, 03 November 2014; Score: 8
Ξ Tundra Folk & Chilly Country
♠ Throw another log on and draw yourself closer to the fire, an Alaskan chill is all pervasive here. Cold to the marrow, this is a series of tales from the loneliest state. We’re a minute in with just Hills sparkling voice when we get tambourine and band bounce in; from the moment she opens her mouth on ‘Bright Eyes’, you’re hooked. A few albums in, and a few moves, she’s nestling in Alaska again with musical partner Bryan Daste in tow, and a cameo from Tim Eastern, the flavour of the place is leaving icy finger prints all over this record. Often said to be the place everyone goes to hide — the final frontier — this is some fine frontier folk. Spritely in places, title track, ‘Denali’ skips along, but her voice is its central core, crystal clear, bitingly crisp, fans of Hem will love this. Homespun, backwoods feel is the counterbalance to their knowing New York cleverness. The banjo / brass trend is easily devoured, but don’t mistake its folksy feel for lower production values — they’re not, it is built tastefully, so as not to detract from Hills beguiling voice. She twitters, “I’m wearing lipstick with hope” and your heart caves in. The album feels like an old friend from the first track, Sunday morning, loafing, and strong coffee in hand music. ‘Lioness’ with its string break reminds you again of the quality of what you’re listening too, its diverse musicality is one of its many strengths, fiddle and banjo on ‘49er’, pedal steel on ‘An Epic’ all testament to this. It’s wistful stuff, “just when you think you’ve got all the answers, when you think you’ve got it all figured out, life knocks you on your ass, with a head full of doubt”. It is not melancholy, more reassuring, that it is not just you that has days like this. With the gospel feel of ‘Rooted in Fear’, again with lightly sprinkled banjo, all is OK again. Her brand of tundra country, bright as sunlight on snow, sharp like the first outdoor breath on frosty morning — are required in any serious musical collection. The quirky tempo ‘If the Gods’, resplendent with enthusiastic hand claps, a voice so high dogs will yelp, Baez like, her party piece encore is the only spoiler. By the time she closes out, ‘A Long Way to Run’, the male backing, used throughout to magical effect you know that you’re glad to have travel so far North. :: https://href.li/?http://www.americana-uk.com/ :: http://www.americana-uk.com/
Review
November 19, 2014, 7:07 PM MST; Rating: ****
♠ Alaskan singer–songwriter Emma Hill has released a new ten–song indie folk and alt–country album on her own Kuskokwim Records. Denali, the follow–up to 2013's The Black and Wretched Blue, features co–writer, multi–instrumentalist and project mainstay Bryan Daste, as well as a handful of other players, all of whose efforts go towards making this one of Emma's most impressively composed and finely executed records to date. With Emma's impossibly gorgeous singing voice over natural and flowing song structures built with tools such as acoustic guitar, resonator guitar, pedal steel, banjo, upright bass, viola, cello, keys, saxophone, trumpet, drums, and more, Denali reveals an artist determined to climb to the peak of her musical potential.
♠ Denali opens with "Bright Eyes," a catchy piece of folk pop whose lyrics deal, as much of Emma's material has over the years, with matters of the heart. The title track follows, and it has a slightly Celtic folk feel to it at first, which then picks up to include a bit of alt–country with horn accompaniment which brings to mind, at least to some degree, traditional brass–based Mexican music. Lyrically, in "Denali," Emma conveys how she has observed and experienced so much, and how she has traveled to a great many places, yet it still takes her breath away to see Denali. The point being, one doesn't need to travel to exotic places to behold wonder and beauty; sometimes it can be found much closer to home. "Lioness," which is one of my favorites on the album, is an indie folk and pop offering, with a captivating fictional narrative about a complex female character, the Lioness, who is at once both heroine and antagonist, savior and killer, elegant and bestial... an interesting mess of contraries, in other words. "Epic" is a soaring piece of folk rock music with beautiful vocals by Emma, and fitting accompanying vocals by Bryan Daste, and with lyrics penned in heart–blood high on a wall for all passersby to see. And "Sad Again" is a somber country composition with weeping pedal steel, reverberating amplified guitar, and acoustic strumming, and lyrics about how it hurts despite trying to numb it with alcohol.
:: http://www.examiner.com/
Website: http://www.emmahillmusic.com/
MySpace: https://myspace.com/emmamariehill
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emmahill5/from/viglink
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmamariehill
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/emmahill
Bandcamp: http://emmahill.bandcamp.com/album/denali
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmahillmusic
Press:
Mark Pucci
Mark Pucci Media
5000 Oak Bluff Court
Atlanta, GA 30350
770.804.9555
www.markpuccimedia.com
Agent:
Evan Phillips, Monolith Agency. — 907-830-3799
Emma Hill
The Sleetmute Sweetheart
♠ "Alaskan singer/songwriter Emma Hill and her co–writer/musician Bryan Daste have quickly made a massive impact with their alt/folk songs and their penchant for touching upon the deepest, most universal of subjects. They’ve been compared to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and their fourth album proves they’re not just a one–off, fly–by–night duo. Hill easily exudes that wild, adventurous style that only a true Alaskan can. There’s not a cut on here that doesn’t hit the nail right on the head. Hill’s voice is clear, strong and fierce, her lyrics to–the–bone, while Daste and company bring a tough yet gentle touch — a nd it all comes together with an honesty and truthfulness that’s rare to find in any genre these days. One tasteful collection of memorable, honest songs delivered with a flawless, stand–out panache. Here’s an artist you’ll be following for ages to come — check out this album posthaste!" — TOM H A L L E T T — Elmore Magazine
♠ Emma Hill and longtime band mate Bryan Daste are at it again. The Alaskan duo, who have been compared to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, are set to release their fifth full length album this fall. Entitled “Denali”, the album was co–produced with Evan Phillips (Whipsaws, Easton Stagger Phillips) of Alaska and features many of the state’s finest players. These players will join Hill and Daste for a special album release show on August 16th at The Taproot in Anchorage. Through August the duo will tour extensively in Alaska followed by a nationwide tour in support of the new album.
♠ Emma Hill grew up in Alaska, coming from the small village of Sleetmute and later moving into Palmer for high school. In 2006 Hill decided to move to Portland, a thriving music scene, to continue her education and pursue her musical aspirations. In 2007 Hill met Daste and they began their collaboration. Seven busy years, four widely well–reviewed albums, and thousands of tour miles later, the duo are going strong, bringing remarkably intimate lyrics to life with their poignant harmonies, lonesome pedal steel, and Hill’s honeyed voice and confident delivery. Critics have described their sound as ranging from folksy Americana to catchy alt–country.
♠ Hill moved back to Alaska in the fall of 2011, combining performing for her fan base in the state with travel south for regional and national tours. She stays busy year round performing solo as well as with Daste both in Alaska and the states. The pair plays various venues but their signature performance experience is the house concert. ♠ The intimate setting of a house show lends itself perfectly to their style and will continue to be a staple of their tours this year as they promote “Denali”, the newest addition to an impressive body of work.
____________________________________________________________
Emma Hill — Denali
♠ Confessional songs of heartbreak and love and loss, the album showcases Hill’s penchant for homey alt–folk and countrified sounds, this time paired with more pop sensibilities. A honeyed voice and confident delivery.
Location: Sleetmute ~ Palmer ~ Portland, Oregon ~ Anchorage, AK
Album release: November 11, 2014
Record Label: Kuskokwim Records
Duration: 35:33
Tracks:
01 Bright Eyes 4:04
02 Denali 3:35
03 Hard Love 3:28
04 Lioness 3:13
05 An Epic 4:36
06 49er 2:55
07 Rooted in Fear 4:00
08 If the Gods 3:34
09 Sad Again 3:23
10 A Long Way to Run 2:47
Credits:
♠ Emma Hill — lead vocals, acoustic guitar
♠ Bryan Daste — vocals, pedal steel guitar, banjo, upright bass, 12–string and baritone guitars, harmonium, glockenspiel, Omnichord, saxophone
♠ Evan Phillips — vocals, electric guitar, percussion
♠ James Dommek, Jr. — drums, percussion
♠ Tim Easton — resonator guitar
♠ Megan Palmer — fiddle, vocals
♠ Corwyn Wilkey — trumpet
♠ Kat Moore — keys
♠ Kate McVey — viola
♠ Kevin Charlestream — cello
Ξ Co–produced by Evan Phillips, Emma Hill and Bryan Daste
Ξ Recorded by Evan Phillips at The Wolverine Den, Anchorage, AK
Ξ Additional engineering by Bryan Daste at The Magic Closet, Portland, OR
Ξ Mixed by James Glaves
Ξ Mastered by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering, Boston, MA
Ξ Assistant mastering engineer: Maria Rice
Ξ Cover art by Laura Lauterbach
Ξ Graphic design by Alan Wasem
Album Notes
Ξ Emma Hill and longtime band mate Bryan Daste are at it again. The Alaskan duo, who have been compared to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, are set to release their fifth full length album this fall. Entitled “Denali”, the album was co–produced with Evan Phillips (Whipsaws, Easton Stagger Phillips) of Alaska and features many of the state’s finest players.
Ξ Emma Hill grew up in Alaska, coming from the small village of Sleetmute and later moving into Palmer for high school. In 2006 Hill decided to move to Portland, a thriving music scene, to continue her education and pursue her musical aspirations. In 2007 Hill met Daste and they began their collaboration. Seven busy years, four widely well–reviewed albums, and thousands of tour miles later, the duo are going strong, bringing remarkably intimate lyrics to life with their poignant harmonies, lonesome pedal steel, and Hill’s honeyed voice and confident delivery. Critics have described their sound as ranging from folksy Americana to catchy alt–country.
Ξ Hill moved back to Alaska in the fall of 2011, combining performing for her fan base in the state with travel south for regional and national tours. She stays busy year round performing solo as well as with Daste both in Alaska and the states. The pair plays various venues but their signature performance experience is the house concert. Ξ The intimate setting of a house show lends itself perfectly to their style and will continue to be a staple of their tours this year as they promote “Denali”, the newest addition to an impressive body of work.
Press Quotes:
Ξ “(…[M]uch warmth and sincerity to appreciate in this melodic, heartfelt, low–key record. “ — Pop Matters
Ξ “Emma Hill is not afraid to sing. In fact, her voice’s countrified richness, delicate inflections and fear–no–range transitions make it easy to imagine that’s all she ever does.” — Willamette Week
Ξ “…[I]ntimate, heartfelt, sincere…” — The Long Journey, Italy “Delightful vocals allied to some strong songs makes this girl from the far North worth a listen.” — Maverick Magazine
Ξ “Homey vocals with heart.” — Jukebox Heroines
Ξ “Emma Hill is a young woman with plenty of creative power.” — Hooked on Music Germany
Ξ “Rooted in Americana and spouting a folk pop sensibility.” — No Depression
Ξ “The kind of voice that one can easily fall in love with.” — The Philadelphia Examiner
Ξ “Following in the footsteps of Sarah Harmar, Kathleen Edwards, and Caitlin Cary.” — Ctrl Alt Country, Belgium
Ξ “She shoots from the heart.” — Rambles.net
Review
Rudie Humphrey, Monday, 03 November 2014; Score: 8
Ξ Tundra Folk & Chilly Country
♠ Throw another log on and draw yourself closer to the fire, an Alaskan chill is all pervasive here. Cold to the marrow, this is a series of tales from the loneliest state. We’re a minute in with just Hills sparkling voice when we get tambourine and band bounce in; from the moment she opens her mouth on ‘Bright Eyes’, you’re hooked. A few albums in, and a few moves, she’s nestling in Alaska again with musical partner Bryan Daste in tow, and a cameo from Tim Eastern, the flavour of the place is leaving icy finger prints all over this record. Often said to be the place everyone goes to hide — the final frontier — this is some fine frontier folk. Spritely in places, title track, ‘Denali’ skips along, but her voice is its central core, crystal clear, bitingly crisp, fans of Hem will love this. Homespun, backwoods feel is the counterbalance to their knowing New York cleverness. The banjo / brass trend is easily devoured, but don’t mistake its folksy feel for lower production values — they’re not, it is built tastefully, so as not to detract from Hills beguiling voice. She twitters, “I’m wearing lipstick with hope” and your heart caves in. The album feels like an old friend from the first track, Sunday morning, loafing, and strong coffee in hand music. ‘Lioness’ with its string break reminds you again of the quality of what you’re listening too, its diverse musicality is one of its many strengths, fiddle and banjo on ‘49er’, pedal steel on ‘An Epic’ all testament to this. It’s wistful stuff, “just when you think you’ve got all the answers, when you think you’ve got it all figured out, life knocks you on your ass, with a head full of doubt”. It is not melancholy, more reassuring, that it is not just you that has days like this. With the gospel feel of ‘Rooted in Fear’, again with lightly sprinkled banjo, all is OK again. Her brand of tundra country, bright as sunlight on snow, sharp like the first outdoor breath on frosty morning — are required in any serious musical collection. The quirky tempo ‘If the Gods’, resplendent with enthusiastic hand claps, a voice so high dogs will yelp, Baez like, her party piece encore is the only spoiler. By the time she closes out, ‘A Long Way to Run’, the male backing, used throughout to magical effect you know that you’re glad to have travel so far North. :: https://href.li/?http://www.americana-uk.com/ :: http://www.americana-uk.com/
Review
November 19, 2014, 7:07 PM MST; Rating: ****
♠ Alaskan singer–songwriter Emma Hill has released a new ten–song indie folk and alt–country album on her own Kuskokwim Records. Denali, the follow–up to 2013's The Black and Wretched Blue, features co–writer, multi–instrumentalist and project mainstay Bryan Daste, as well as a handful of other players, all of whose efforts go towards making this one of Emma's most impressively composed and finely executed records to date. With Emma's impossibly gorgeous singing voice over natural and flowing song structures built with tools such as acoustic guitar, resonator guitar, pedal steel, banjo, upright bass, viola, cello, keys, saxophone, trumpet, drums, and more, Denali reveals an artist determined to climb to the peak of her musical potential.
♠ Denali opens with "Bright Eyes," a catchy piece of folk pop whose lyrics deal, as much of Emma's material has over the years, with matters of the heart. The title track follows, and it has a slightly Celtic folk feel to it at first, which then picks up to include a bit of alt–country with horn accompaniment which brings to mind, at least to some degree, traditional brass–based Mexican music. Lyrically, in "Denali," Emma conveys how she has observed and experienced so much, and how she has traveled to a great many places, yet it still takes her breath away to see Denali. The point being, one doesn't need to travel to exotic places to behold wonder and beauty; sometimes it can be found much closer to home. "Lioness," which is one of my favorites on the album, is an indie folk and pop offering, with a captivating fictional narrative about a complex female character, the Lioness, who is at once both heroine and antagonist, savior and killer, elegant and bestial... an interesting mess of contraries, in other words. "Epic" is a soaring piece of folk rock music with beautiful vocals by Emma, and fitting accompanying vocals by Bryan Daste, and with lyrics penned in heart–blood high on a wall for all passersby to see. And "Sad Again" is a somber country composition with weeping pedal steel, reverberating amplified guitar, and acoustic strumming, and lyrics about how it hurts despite trying to numb it with alcohol.
:: http://www.examiner.com/
Website: http://www.emmahillmusic.com/
MySpace: https://myspace.com/emmamariehill
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emmahill5/from/viglink
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmamariehill
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/emmahill
Bandcamp: http://emmahill.bandcamp.com/album/denali
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmahillmusic
Press:
Mark Pucci
Mark Pucci Media
5000 Oak Bluff Court
Atlanta, GA 30350
770.804.9555
www.markpuccimedia.com
Agent:
Evan Phillips, Monolith Agency. — 907-830-3799
Emma Hill
The Sleetmute Sweetheart
♠ "Alaskan singer/songwriter Emma Hill and her co–writer/musician Bryan Daste have quickly made a massive impact with their alt/folk songs and their penchant for touching upon the deepest, most universal of subjects. They’ve been compared to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and their fourth album proves they’re not just a one–off, fly–by–night duo. Hill easily exudes that wild, adventurous style that only a true Alaskan can. There’s not a cut on here that doesn’t hit the nail right on the head. Hill’s voice is clear, strong and fierce, her lyrics to–the–bone, while Daste and company bring a tough yet gentle touch — a nd it all comes together with an honesty and truthfulness that’s rare to find in any genre these days. One tasteful collection of memorable, honest songs delivered with a flawless, stand–out panache. Here’s an artist you’ll be following for ages to come — check out this album posthaste!" — TOM H A L L E T T — Elmore Magazine
♠ Emma Hill and longtime band mate Bryan Daste are at it again. The Alaskan duo, who have been compared to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, are set to release their fifth full length album this fall. Entitled “Denali”, the album was co–produced with Evan Phillips (Whipsaws, Easton Stagger Phillips) of Alaska and features many of the state’s finest players. These players will join Hill and Daste for a special album release show on August 16th at The Taproot in Anchorage. Through August the duo will tour extensively in Alaska followed by a nationwide tour in support of the new album.
♠ Emma Hill grew up in Alaska, coming from the small village of Sleetmute and later moving into Palmer for high school. In 2006 Hill decided to move to Portland, a thriving music scene, to continue her education and pursue her musical aspirations. In 2007 Hill met Daste and they began their collaboration. Seven busy years, four widely well–reviewed albums, and thousands of tour miles later, the duo are going strong, bringing remarkably intimate lyrics to life with their poignant harmonies, lonesome pedal steel, and Hill’s honeyed voice and confident delivery. Critics have described their sound as ranging from folksy Americana to catchy alt–country.
♠ Hill moved back to Alaska in the fall of 2011, combining performing for her fan base in the state with travel south for regional and national tours. She stays busy year round performing solo as well as with Daste both in Alaska and the states. The pair plays various venues but their signature performance experience is the house concert. ♠ The intimate setting of a house show lends itself perfectly to their style and will continue to be a staple of their tours this year as they promote “Denali”, the newest addition to an impressive body of work.
____________________________________________________________