In this episode, Cody has a conversation with musician Emma Hill. Emma is a prolific Alaska folksinger and songwriter. She released her first album when she was 19. Since then, she’s released seven full-length albums, a live album, and two EPs. The focus of her music has always been introspective, focusing on healing, recovery and more recently mental health. She says that she’s always been a heart-on-her-sleeve songwriter and that a lot of her music focuses on heartache in one form or another.
Emma’s worked as a traveling musician since 2006, so it makes sense that her live performance has evolved. When she was younger, her set was more planned—she got onstage and sang her songs. Nowadays, her performances are mostly spontaneous. As an example, she points to the Spenard Song Circle, a monthly event Emma hosts. She says that it’s more than just a concert, it’s a safe space to talk about the feelings and experiences behind songwriting.
Photo by Lauren Parker Photography