Emy Reynolds
Emy Reynolds has been busy lately. Voted "most likely to be a rock star" in her senior year at Nordhoff High, the young musician had no idea what the next few years would bring when she went off to CSU Channel Island college - thinking going off to college was a big step. Instead, music has been doing it's best to distract her from studying, and she couldn't be happier about it.
Growing up in small town Meiner's Oaks, CA, the folkishly quirky artist was musically inspired. First by guitar teacher, Patricia Cardinali, who recognized her natural talent and challenged her guitar skills. Then by Nordoff High Women's Choir director, Jaye Hersh, who taught her to love singing in other languages and classical choral pieces. Singing in the choir gave her the chance to travel to New York (where she sang at Carnegie Hall), and throughout Europe.
Despite reservations about playing solo in a band competition, Emy entered a 'Battle of the Bands' contest in June 2007. It was no surprise to her peers when she placed 1st, and won the chance to open a big 'Food For Thought' benefit concert for Brett Dennen and Perla Batalla at a capacity show in Ojai, CA's Libby Bowl.
The experience brought Emy together with a manager, Leslie Merical, who had developed and managed Brett Dennen. Charmed by her uniquely beautiful voice, engaging songs and confident stage presence, and the audience response to her 3 song debut on a big stage, they began working together. Soon after joining her manager, Emy got to play in a lineup of established musicians in Santa Barbara, CA when Jill Sobule had to back out of a singers-in-the-round benefit show. Although skeptical when Merical recommended the unknown performer to fill-in, the promoters (and the capacity audience) were won over when Emy opened her mouth and began to sing and play. She walked away with a roomful of new, devoted fans, and requests for a cd they hadn't started yet! The show marked her leap from 'Pay-to-Play' beginner to professional musician.
Performing all over Southern CA, mostly with a band, she's been making quite an impression on audiences at venues from Soho, Zoeys Cafe, The Ventura Theater, and The Farmer and the Cook, to the well-known L.A. indie hotspot, Hotel Café. Accompanied whenever possible by UCLA symphony cellist, Ro Rowan, guitarist/background singer Piper Denney, and Jo Pusateri (an L.A. session artist) on drums, Emy is staying busier than her full-time college schedule allows. She's looking forward to completion of her 1st cd soon, and a tour of the northwest and east coast.