Meet - and see - Emily Wells

Emily Wells plays songs from her ambitious new album "The Symphonies: Dreams Memories and Parties" on this falls' (all girl) Hotel Café tour with Rachael Yamagata, Meiko, Thao Ngyuen, Kate Havnevik and Lenka. But first, she'll kick off with a series of solo gigs in Southern California.
Who Is Emily Wells?

Emily Wells is an anomaly among musicians most of whom spend their careers striving for a major label deal. Before she was old enough to vote, a major label was courting Wells, two music-publishing companies were competing for the rights to her songs and she was recording with well known producers. By the time she was legally buying her first drink, however, Emily had chosen a different path. With true indie ethos, she moved from New York, leaving in her wake a lucrative deal from a major label, the renowned producers, recording studios, and a manager.

During that period of her life, Emily had been offered everything that most musicians want. Everything except what she, as an artist, needed most: creative control. Attaining the ever-elusive artist's dream of creative control, as Wells would soon learn, comes only at a price.

Wells' cost was the thousands of miles logged, traipsing across country, playing in and outside of bars, pubs, and juke joints. She traveled in a tiny car, dragging along guitars, a tiny bass, a giant old Linn 9000 drum machine, and a four track. When flush, Emily would spend the occasional night in a seedy motel room where she would tirelessly record with her archaic four-track and dirty old instruments.

Emily didn't look back to her swank days as a would-be priority artist on a major label and regret any of her choices. Landing in Los Angeles, Wells learned through recording and performing, how to have the creative control she craved. She built her own studio, she taught herself how to record and produce. This is the studio in which she would create, record, mix, and produce "The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties" her latest release.

To get the sound of a full orchestra, Emily didn't take the easy way out and simply loop the layers of violins; instead, she played up to 21 separate tracks of violin on each symphony, often using an octave pedal to create the tones of an underwater cello or viola. In addition to the strings, there is a plethora of other sounds, electronic and organic alike.

Two years ago, Wells found a bassist, Joey Reina, and a drummer, Sam Halterman, who add a richness to both the live show and the recordings. Their contributions to "The Symphonies" give the compositions more depth as well as a little junk in the trunk. Prior to "The Symphonies", Emily released "Beautiful Sleepyhead and the Laughing Yaks" to an ever widening audience and much critical acclaim. NPR featured the album on "All Songs Considered Open Mic" and Reviewer Magazine raved, "ŠSleepyheadŠhas some of the best, most well written music and gorgeous female vocals ever." iTunes also featured Wells as an Indie Spotlight Artist.

Live Dates including solo shows and Hotel Café tour dates
Sept 4th: LA, Hotel Café
September 11th: San Diego, Casbah (opening for Mirah)
September 12th: LA, Troubadour (opening for Mirah)
Sept 18th: LA, Hotel Café
Oct 30th: New York, Bowery Ballroom- Hotel Café Tour
Nov 1st: Brooklyn, Music Hall of Williamsburg - Hotel Café Tour
Nov 5th: New York, Zipper Room
Nov 11th: Denver, Bluebird- Hotel Café Tour
Nov 12: SLC, Avalon Theater - Hotel Café Tour
Nov 13th: Boise, Knitting Factory - Hotel Café Tour
Nov 14th: Portland, Doug Fir - Hotel Café Tour
Nov-15th: Seattle, Chop Suey - Hotel Café Tour
Nov 17th: San Francisco, Great American Music Hall- Hotel Café Tour
Nov 18th: LA, Henry Fonda - Hotel Café Tour

http://www.myspace.com/emilywells