Photo from 2018's single Superhero. Watch here
As the first leg of the "YES Tour" rolls on, I've been reflecting on how the timing of this journey feels incredibly significant. We've [my drummer and I] been on the road for two weeks now, and have performed at Hard Rock Cafe's in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Biloxi, as well as Beth's Burgers in Orlando, Penny Whistle in Houston, and Opening Bell Coffee in Dallas. We are now gearing up for shows in Austin and San Antonio, as well as a music-and-mental-health presentation and workshop in Palm Beach, Florida.
But the interesting thing that I realized halfway through our show in Mississippi is that - quite unintentionally - this tour is both perfectly timed as we lead up to the release of my upcoming album "Fight the Fear" on August 4th, and - of course - the upcoming election.
Let me take you back.
It was 2016, and I was travelling through Colorado with some New Zealand friends who were traveling for a wedding. They asked me to join them, and I excitedly obliged. I'd never been to Colorado before, and we ended up roadtripping through the state - going from Denver to Telluride, then back to Colorado Springs.
It's a beautiful state.
But halfway through our trip, we stopped through a town called Montrose, and I realized two things:
There was practically no one in town that was of color
There were a lot of tattooed folk
I decided to get a tattoo while we were in town, and - long story short - ended up booking a session with a tattoo artist who was on probation for attempted murder of his uncle, because his uncle has raped his niece.
If you're familiar with my story and music; you'll know that my song "Barbed Wire" was written specifically as my way of dealing with my uncle doing the same thing to me just after I turned 15. The music video won a Telly Award earlier this year. Here it is, ICYMI:
Anyway, I went ahead with the tattoo appointment, and during the 4 hour session: ended up discussing my experiences as a person of color in America, my feelings about the upcoming election, and my thoughts on what was happening in the country.
It was a beautiful conversation, but it planted a seed.
That night, I went back to our hotel, and in a moment of meditation: I wrote Superhero - my prayer to the United States to recognize that - in a world riddled with fear, anxiety, bigotry, and judgment: we each possess superpowers to combat all the negativity with love, compassion and empathy.
This was the first time I'd fully stepped in to using music to combat fear, and it felt incredible.
The next day: I went back to the tattoo parlor, and played the song to everyone who worked there. The owner burst into tears, and immediately asked me to perform it later that evening as an impromptu concert for an event they were holding. That night, I had everyone singing along - teaching them the lyrics, and encouraging them to step into the power of their voice: especially when the world felt so... disconnected.
The next year, I embarked on a "Superhero Tour" of New Zealand and California, and in 2019; my drummer and then-DJ joined me for the Together We Rise tour of the United States.
This time, however, feels different.
It's another election year, and - as I'm writing this - in the past week, we've - as a country - not only had an assassination attempt on former-President Trump, but yesterday, as we pulled into Dallas, Texas, we learned that the First Baptist Church, where Trump's spiritual advisor is head-Pastor, was burned to the ground. There was smoke everywhere.
It's such a crazy time to be on tour.
But isn't this what writing, recording and performing music with a message is all about? Singing songs about unity, stress, combatting anxiety, and stepping into our power, as a united people.
It's always been so important for me to use music to combat bigotry, fear and political unrest. Especially when it comes to raising Gen Z.
And, so far, it seems to be working.
Atlanta Highlights
I've always loved Atlanta. It's a mecca within the entertainment industry, so to be able to perform there professionally was kind of a dream come true.
Destination goals aside, however, I was thrilled to learn that we would have over 100 teens [visiting from the Carolinas, Dakotas, Oklahoma and Texas] in the audience. We had a great time singing for them, and inviting them to request songs.
The process was simple:
They scanned the QR code on my banner or business card.
The banner took them to my bio site, [similar to Instagram's LinkTree].
The last option on my bio site took them to my Spotify playlist of all the songs in my repertoire (songs I both sing and play guitar for).
They let Nadia, our wonderful intern, know what song they'd like us to perform, and Nadia managed the wait list for me.
It worked beautifully, as I mixed up both covers and originals - including songs from my upcoming album "fight the fear".
The best part of the concert, though? Connecting with so many incredible teenagers from states I've never visited, and exchanging energy with each and every one of them as we talked about the power of their voices, sang songs about navigating our feelings, and discussing things that really matter: mental health, emotional well-being, social justice and overcoming anxiety through stepping into the power of one's voice
Then we made our way to New Orleans
Our show at Hard Rock Cafe New Orleans was unforgettable. It was another show that aligned with a visiting youth group, youth conference, or youth organization. This time: they were from Philadelphia. Since we hadn't conducted a songwriting workshop in New Orleans, we decided to pivot, and instead of just asking for song requests, we invited whoever wanted to come up on stage to talk to our wonderful intern Nadia, and request to perform a song.
An 11-year-old kid named Colton sang Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah,” a group of girls sang The Killers' “Use Somebody,” and I even had Pastor Tim perform "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit. The defining moment, however, was when the audience joined me on stage to sing backup vocals for my song “Harmony.” It was a beautiful display of unity and connection, a reminder of how music can bring people together and create lasting memories.
Biloxi Reflections
Biloxi was a slightly different experience. The Hard Rock Cafe there, connected to a casino, had much fewer kids in attendance. Despite that, we packed out the restaurant [what can I say? Music brings people together!], and stuck to our strategy of two covers per original.
During this show, however, I had two realizations:
We were in the deep South, a place known to be full of cultural judgments and stereotypes.
I'm a brown woman, with a drummer who is also... not what we would refer to as "lighter and brighter" (except in personality - he's a rather positive chap).
Again, if you're new to my music, many of my songs address social justice issues, especially the songs from my upcoming album “Fight the Fear,” which we performed several of. These songs include:
"What If?" about rebelling against today’s superficial fame.
"Seven Two," which speaks to making the best of a bad hand.
"I Hope You Never," dedicated to those battling ego and ambition.
"Glitter," which encourages recognizing our value in a broken world.
We also played “Superhero,” “Together We Rise,” and “Harmony,” all rooted in social justice themes.
Performing these songs in the South was intentional, however. Sure, there might have been folk in the audience who didn't quite know how to take Joey and myself... and sure there's a shit ton of chaos going on: the fear-mongering, and political unrest.. but my mission with music has always been to heal, empower, and build community. And it seems to be working.
Five people in Biloxi approached me to thank me for the positive messages and the love. Even more people said the same thing in Houston and Miami.
During times of crisis, love is a superpower. It helps us find peace in chaos and purpose in pain. And music is a beautifully powerful tool to step into that calm.
Austin and Beyond
We just arrived in Dallas last night, and performed at Opening Bell Coffee. Today: we're off to Austin to perform at Carousel Lounge before we fly out tomorrow to Palm Beach to deliver a keynote at a behavioral and mental health summer [7/22], then back to San Antonio for another Hard Rock Cafe show on July 23.
Each city brings its unique energy, and I can’t wait to continue to share my music and message with more incredible people. If you know anyone in these cities who might enjoy the shows, please spread the word!
So How Does it Work? How Do We Turn Pain into Power? Here are 5 Tactics to Shift from Divisiveness to Unity
Songwriting as Therapy: Making music and writing songs about personal experiences can be a powerful tool to reduce anxiety and stress. This process helps in processing emotions, calming the brain, and turning pain into something beautiful and empowering.
Community Sing-Alongs: Hosting events where people can come together to sing promotes a sense of connection and unity. Singing upbeat music and positive songs like "Harmony" can help shift feelings of fear and divisiveness towards a more connected and positive environment.
Lyric Analysis Workshops: Analyzing lyrics of songs that focus on social justice and unity can help people understand different perspectives, reduce stress hormones, and foster empathy. This exercise allows participants to be present, focus on the message, and feel more connected.
Music and Movement: Combining music with physical movement like dancing or even simple exercises can help release stress hormones, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being. Rhythms and melodies can create a calming effect on the brain and help people feel more present and relaxed.
Positive Messaging in Music: Creating and sharing music with positive, empowering messages can counteract the negativity in the world and remind people of their inherent worth and potential to make a difference. Listening to and playing such music can help people feel more grounded and focused.
If you or your teenager is interested in turning your pain into purpose through songwriting and music, I'd love to hop on a call with you to learn more about your goals, and see how I can help. Nadia is one of my YES clients, and she's about to record one of the songs I helped her write recently called "Holy" (working title). This internship is her deep dive into learning more about the music industry, as that's one of her goals after she graduates high school.
But the coaching isn't just for those wanting to become musicians. It all goes back to turning pain into power, struggles into songs, and chaos into choruses. 😉 I'm currently accepting clients starting September 16. This is a chance to explore your creativity, find your voice, and use music as a powerful tool for healing and self-expression.
I can't wait to speak with you.
In love and power,
Emma G x
