Emily Searles
is a vocalist, composer-songwriter, lyricist, arranger, and educator
She describes her approach to music as “living my life as a vocalist, instrumentalist and a composer, I want to convey urgency and intimacy - singing what I would never say to anyone.” Emily is a fan of a wide range of musics who desires to sew threads of jazz, alternative, indie rock, and folk into her woven musical tapestry.
Photos by Jo-B Sebastian and Lauren Desberg.
Live
““Emily Searles is a vibrant, enthralling composer and vocalist who will compel you to listen — and keep listening. The surface of her music is beautiful, yes, but below that surface is a lustrous depth of emotion, color, and imagination.””
Bio
It all started when…
Emily Searles is a vocalist, composer-songwriter, lyricist, arranger and educator based in Las Vegas. A native of Cherry Valley, a small town nestled in the Catskills of upstate New York, Emily was originally trained as a classical singer and flautist, beginning her career with the prestigious Glimmerglass Opera’s shadowing program. She was selected as the recipient of the Catskill Choral Society’s Dox Apprenticeship Program. In 2009 she toured in France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland with the American Music Abroad Organization. That same year Emily was accepted to the renowned New England Young Writer’s Conference at Bread Loaf where she further pursued her love for poetry and prose which eventually shaped into her lyricism. Although Emily’s training was deeply rooted in classical music, her love of jazz ultimately guided her to Vermont where she studied with her mentors Dennis Bathory-Kitsz and Emily Day at Johnson State College before transferring to the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
While attending the New School, Emily had the privilege of studying with Richard Harper, Kate Baker, La Tanya Hall, Elisabeth Lohninger, Kirk Nurock, Reggie Workman, Ben Allison, and many more. Studying with these mentors along with being immersed in the New York jazz and live music scene has helped Emily shape her sound, mixing a jazz foundation with various contemporary stylings. Also during this time, Emily interned at Nonesuch Records, working in the production and publicity departments for artists such as Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana, Tigran Hamasyan, the Punch Brothers, Robert Plant, the Black Keys, and others.
Emily currently resides in Las Vegas and works remotely in fundraising at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in addition to performing and songwriting. She looks to further explore her interests in teaching artistry and to someday pursue a master's degree in arts administration, music education, or intellectual property and copyright/music business.
News & Updates
Gallery
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RT @local2110united: “I’m voting for #2110united because this slate has the vital experience required for successful organizing, bargain… https://t.co/sjGZpIGer9 -
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RT @IamBridgetKelly: Just a reminder of what those Capitol steps looked like during BLM protests. Miss me with the “overwhelmed” and “un… https://t.co/JccFKzHv0L
Projects
Barbaric Yawp
Founded in 2010 by guitarist/singer, Peter Fabrizio and drummer Cesare Papetti, Barbaric Yawp has grown into a six piece amalgam of FUNK, ROCK, BLUES, and SOUL. Driving unison riffs give way to long form solos featuring bass, saxophone and two more singers.
Dan Cooper, bass
Scott Hoefling, saxophone
Emily Searles and Audrey Anjos, vocalists
Photo by Charles Roussel
Layered
Utilizing only her voice, a vocal processor and loop station, Emily builds her compositions and covers from the bottom up - one layer at a time. With the help of distortion effects and other electronic tools, the result is fully orchestrated pieces with different timbres, despite the limitations of a single vocal range.
"TBA"
To be announced! A new project is in the works; please check back soon for more information!
Study with Emily
Emily offers a variety of one-on-one private instruction. The below categories are the most popular areas of study:
PERFORMANCE / AUDITION PREPARATION
Preparation for an upcoming solo show, recording session, choir performance, recital, or audition. Includes repertoire recommendations, transposing your selected songs into your key, and creating personal arrangements of your tunes.
VOCAL TECHNIQUE
Exercises on developing range, increasing power, diminishing break, better breath use, blending, matching pitch, minimizing accent, and lyric study.
OVERALL MUSICIANSHIP
Lessons in Theory, Ear Training, Basic Arranging, Sight-Singing, Improvisation, and Song Writing.