I want to say to everyone who has expressed their feelings of how some of the wording came out in the latest ADN article about me, that I apologize. I was quoted accurately in the paper, but I will say in my defense that some of the other side of my story did not make it in. I did and ALWAYS do say that I am so grateful to have grown up where I did, in rural Alaska. I would not be the person that I am today if I had not had the experiences, both good and bad that I did living in both of those towns. I count Sleetmute as my hometown and always will. I did not mean offense. We all know that villages have their ups and downs but I in no way regret or hate that I grew up in two of the Kuskokwim's finest. I hope you'll believe me. I know I don't make it back much, but I made it back last summer and I was very glad to see everyone and to share my songs.

I hope you'll still love me as one of your own.


xoxoemma

If you own the new album "Clumsy Seduction" please go to CD BABY and itunes and review it! It will be so kind and helpful to us here at Emma Hill headquarters. If you don't own the album, go to either of those websites to purchase a copy!

Other cool things- Please sign up for our email list! We are headed out on a 7 week national tour this summer WITH THE FULL BAND and we want to be able to give you the heads up when we are getting near YOU! There may be some special perks to being on our email list coming soon as well such as free downloads to unreleased songs and live albums!!!! WOOT WOOT!!

Another REALLY REALLY helpful thing everyone could do is call your favorite local radio stations and request some Emma Hill. It's very likely that they'll have the album because boy have we sent out a ton!! If they don't have it, demand that they get their hands on it for the next time you call in!! :) This will help us a gazillion times over. Spreading the word is crucial. These people have our material they just need to realize that they should be playing it and that people want to hear it!!!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!


xoxoxoemma hill and the gang

PS-PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD AND RE-POST!!

Hi All,

We have a new email list up. You can sign up here: Emma Hill email list. By signing up you can stay up to date on recording, release, and tour information. Like if Emma is coming to your town, you will know, so you can go. Won’t that be nifty?

 

Thanks,

Zach

Kuskokwim Records

I've put 4 new songs up from the album!!!! Though the album is not quite ready to be released, (the release date is set for late February if everything goes as planned,) I could not keep you all in the dark any longer. Please listen to these songs and I hope that you enjoy them. Help me out by reposting this and telling everyone you know to get on and give them a listen. We're trying to get the word out on this album as much as possible! Thanks so much everyone! Cant wait to hear what you think! xoxoemma hill

My dear friends,

So I know I promised tracks off of the new album a long long time ago but this album has been a much lengthier process than the previous one....BUT what does that mean? It means it is sounding super awesome and fun. I'm very excited about this project as it has a full band sound behind it which is the first for me. I'm just gonna say be excited for a really new sound. Don't worry too much though it's still me and that same folky focus. Expect new tracks up on myspace by Christmas and the album release is looking to be around the first weekend of February. Thanks for your continued support and please do tune in for more updates as this is going to be a very exciting and jam-packed next few months for me. Take care and Happy Holidays!

xoxoemma hill

PS-Dear Alaska, I sadly wont be able to make it up over Christmas this year, but I'll be making it up to you sometime next year with a special Alaska version of the cd release. kisses!

Hello my dear friends! I just want to let everyone know that though it seems I've been way out of the music loop lately, it's actually because I've been focusing ..ing the writing of the new album. I've recently begun  recording with my good friend Ryan Bohac. We haven't got much done yet, but the album is completely written and will have 13 tracks plus 2 bonus tracks and will be called "Clumsy Seduction." We're hoping to have it ready for release sometime by the end of this year, BUT we should have new songs ready for you to taste sometime in the near future, even if they are just in demo form. I miss all my wonderful friends I've made touring across the country and Portland I know I've been slacking on shows lately, but I'm working on getting a couple of fun ones set up for the coming month. Hope everyone is doing marvelous. Love you all!

xoxoemma hill

Hey Everyone!

I'm writing from Reno. I'm sitting on my friend Ciara's couch in her wonderful home on Lander street. Garrett and I have had a wonderful week. After Arcata we made our way down to the Bay area and I dropped him off in the city to spend time with friends. I crossed back over the Golden Gate to spend two days with my Aunt Becky and her kids in Fairfax. I had a wonderful visit with them. It was very exciting because we had never met before and I connected with them all almost instantly. The second day I was there we cooked all day and that night Becky had about 25 friends over and I played a show in her living room. The show was marvelous and everyone bought cds and t-shirts which always feels really good. I got to meet some very fun and interesting people as well. I really fell in love with her kids and I can't wait to go back for another visit. On the 21st I drove into the city and met up with Garrett who was staying with Bryan next door to Mary. I stayed the night with Mary and it was a great day and night all around. I played a show at Socha Cafe and even though it was a little slow I had some people come up and express to me how much they enjoyed the show and that made it completely worth it! I also got free food which is always a plus!

We woke up early the next day to head to Yosemite. I cannot put in words how beautiful Yosemite National Park is. I've never experienced beauty like it and I'm from freakin Alaska!!! We spend two amazing days there and sweet Mama Yo took such good care of us! We got our own room in resident housing and ate and drank for free. I ended up playing two shows at the loft and both went really well. We were fortunate enough to meet and play with 3 wonderful singer/songwriters named Jake Hill, Jim Hanft and Tim Mcglow. We had so much fun trading off songs and learning each others music. I know that those two days in Yosemite are really gonna stick with me. Thanks so much Yolanda!!

On the 24th we woke up and grabbed some grub from the lodge and then started to trek up the mountain to get to Reno. We made it up just fine and then made the stupid decision of taking small roads and ended up 7000 feet up the Sierras on highway 88 before we were turned around my a cop telling us it was closed ahead. We had to backtrack our way back to the 49 and take it up to the 50 and crossed the mountains again! 5000 feet twice and 7000 once all in one day. We ended up driving for a total of 9 hours that day because people down here don't know how to handle a little snow. BUT we made it and I was so happy to see Ciara that I forgot all about it. Last night I played a show here at the Holland Project which is a wonderful little art collective based out of a house in downtown Reno. It was a great turnout and I played with two awesome musicians, Yudai and Will. They both really impressed me.

Now it's the 26th and I get to spend the day with Ciara and then Garrett and I will entertain ourselves this evening while she's at work. We plan on leaving for Salt lake early tomorrow morning. I have a show there tomorrow night at Red Light Books. I'm very excited because I continue to hear more and more cool things about the place!

Well that is all I have for you today. I love and miss everyone back home. I've been daydreaming about my new apartment and I can't wait to get back and set it up. Talk to you again soon!

xoxoemma hill

Hello everyone!! So the first few days of the tour have been exciting and unexpected!
The first night we were in Salem and I played at this great little place called The Blue Pepper Gallery. It is a really nice atmosphere and Derek the booker/owner was so kind to us. I didn't have a huge crowd but everyone there was really into it and bought cds and nice tips which really really helps with gas money. My friend Elan came to the show and brought a nice group of friends with him. We ended up going out for drinks afterwards and then they put us up at their house in Corvallis. He even gave me his bed for the night!! How kind!

The next day was hot and sunny and perfect for driving. After about 4 and 1/2 hours we got into Crescent City and from the git-go Garrett and I were wondering about the place. We drove around and called The Pizza King and they had no idea what was going on and said call back later. We went down to the beach and drove around town finding free internet. There were no cool people out and about except this very nice older lady making a fire on the beach. She was awesome and I wanted to talk to her more but I also wanted to run away from Crescent City which had no good vibes. We called The Pizza King back and all the guy could say was "I don't know darlin'" so we decided to head south to Arcata. After another hour and half of driving I decided I wanted to sleep in a bed so we splurged for a Super Motel 8 room. I was glad for a shower and some sleep.

This morning we came into town and started exploring. As soon as we hit Arcata, I remembered why I loved this place. It is FULL of good vibes. Everyone you meet is so nice and helpful. I love the Redwood park full of all the beautiful trees and views. I got to climb up and sit on the stump of a tree that was about 10 feet high and like 6 feet wide! How fun! We checked out the local record shop and played in the Plaza for awhile. We then rode about 5 miles out of town out to the Cape and got to run around in some dunes and see the ocean from both sides. Then we went even further down on Jetty Rd and got to walk along the sea wall with waves splashing up at us. It was very relaxing. I really really love this town and I don't think I would have one problem living here. I think I might make that a goal for my life-spend at least one year living in Arcata.

Now we are sitting in the CO-OP parking lot stealing their internet and waiting for an awesome open mic to start. It's called Menstrual Mondays! I'm super stoked to play it and here all the music Arcata women have to share. We found a girl on Couchsurfers to stay with and she spins fire and is in a circus so her and Garrett will have all kinds of things to talk about! I'll probably drink a beer and go to sleep...all this driving makes me tired.

Tomorrow we head for Fairfax. I found out today that Aaron is going to be in Berkeley this weekend so I'm very excited to see him while we're both in California. I'm also super excited to meet and play at my Aunt Becky's house. It sounds like we're going to have a really great turnout that night. Garrett plans on catching the Ferry over the city a day early to meet up with friends. I'll be meeting up with him on the 21st to play my show at Socha Cafe on Mission St. So if you have any friends in San Fran, tell them to come see me play!!!

Alright everyone, that's enough for now. I miss you all and hope to see a lot of you for the first time on this trip. I'm excited!

Love you all
xoxoemma hill

Small-town girl
Emma Hill left Alaska to take on the world
By Ben Salmon / The Bulletin
Published: January 11. 2008 5:00AM PST
It was John Cougar Mellencamp who once sang of all the good things about
living in a small town.

But the Coug's got nothing on Emma Hill, who will perform Wednesday at
Silver Moon Brewing Company in Bend (see "If You Go").

Hill, 19, lives in music-rich Portland, but grew up in a tiny, remote
village in Alaska called Sleetmute.

That's Sleetmute, population 100.

Sleetmute is located right in the middle of Alaska's southwest quadrant,
about 250 miles west of Anchorage. Nestled near the confluence of the
Kuskokwim and Holitna rivers, it's a destination for hunters and fishermen
of all sorts.

It's also the kind of place with an airstrip right in town, because you
can't drive anywhere (at least not most of the year). Google Maps shows a
"Winter Trail" leading east from town. Online topographic maps label that
same path "Tractor Trail."

And you thought Bend's roads were treacherous this week.
In Sleetmute, street names include School Road, Cemetery Road, Gravel Pit
Road and Housing Street. Actually, that may cover all the town's roads.

You get the point. Not exactly a ton of opportunity for a musically
inclined gal.

Hill lived in Sleetmute until just five years ago, when she moved in with
relatives in Palmer, Alaska (population 7,000) for high school. She'd been
singing since she was 3 and writing songs since she was 8, so it seemed
like the right thing to do.

"I wanted a better education and more opportunity, because (Sleetmute) is
so small; it's very limited," she said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
"I've always been musical, and there was no outlet or training for me to
work on my music, so going to Palmer allowed me to be part of all the
choirs and other programs."

From there, it was on to the fertile scene of Anchorage (population
280,000) for a year to attend the University of Alaska on a music
scholarship. But that didn't satisfy Hill, who longed to get out and see
the world outside Alaska.

IF YOU GO
What: Emma Hill
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Silver Moon Brewing Company, 24 N.W. Greenwood Ave., Bend
Cost: Free
Contact: 388-8331 or www.myspace.com/musicsilvermoon
"I said, 'Well, I don't really want to do the music school thing,'" she
said. "I wanted to feel free to do whatever I wanted, so I moved to
Portland.

"It was very spontaneous," she continued. "I'd heard a bunch of cool
things (about Portland) and had a bunch of friends moving down. I'd never
been here, but I was just like, 'Let's do it.' So I piled my life into a
station wagon and made the move."

That was in September 2006. Last January, Hill began booking shows and
playing around Portland (population 540,000), most frequently at The
Mississippi Pizza Pub and coffee shops — places that are perfect for her
folksy, girl-with-guitar act.

Despite her remote upbringing, Hill wasn't raised in a music-less house.
In fact, she started out singing along to her parents' records, which
covered all the biggest acts of the 1960s and '70s — Don McLean, Bob
Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles.

And today, you can hear that influence in Hill's songs, which lilt along
in a folk-singer manner, twangy but with a tinge of jazz and blues
influence, and carried mostly by her beautiful, smoky voice. She sounds
like a rootsier Sarah McLachlan, or perhaps like fellow Alaskan Jewel, but
with more soul.

But back to her relentless work ethic. Hill recorded and released her
debut album, "Just Me," last year, and she already has almost enough
material for a sophomore effort, she said. And this spring, she'll head
out on a tour that will take her as far as Dallas, Texas.

From Sleetmute to Anchorage to Portland to touring in five years? Not too
shabby. Hill thanks her family for its constant support (both financially
and otherwise), not to mention her own desire to go out and "look for
America," as her MySpace profile says.

"Right now, it's just sitting in front of a computer for several hours a
day making it happen," she said. "I'm a hard worker, but it's been fun.
It's been really cool."