Emily Wells
Encyclopedia
Emily Wells is a violinist whose style "merge[s] ... hip-hop and classical". She also uses many other instruments in her work, including glockenspiel
s, analog synthesizer
s, and even toy piano
s and other toy instruments. In live performances, she does not use any pre-recorded loops, rather she creates her loops while performing. Her first violin was a "plastic violin from Michael's."
to a French horn teacher. In 1990 she moved with her family to Indianapolis, Indiana
, where she lived until she began traveling in 2000. While traveling, she made her "home base" primarily in New York
, where she now once again resides, after an 8-year residence in Los Angeles
.
She began playing the violin at age 4 and began releasing albums on her own. In 2000, she "took up" with Epic Records
but did not actually sign with them.
She has released numerous unofficial releases, starting at age 13 with a cassette tape (producing 100 copies), but her "official" releases are Symphonies, Sleepyhead, and Dirty.
Glockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
s, analog synthesizer
Analog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
s, and even toy piano
Toy piano
The toy piano, also known as the kinderklavier , is a small piano-like musical instrument. The present form of the toy piano was invented in Philadelphia by a 17-year-old German immigrant named Albert Schoenhut. He worked as a repairman at Wanamaker's department store, repairing broken glass...
s and other toy instruments. In live performances, she does not use any pre-recorded loops, rather she creates her loops while performing. Her first violin was a "plastic violin from Michael's."
Biography and Musical Career
Emily Wells was born in Amarillo, TexasAmarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
to a French horn teacher. In 1990 she moved with her family to Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, where she lived until she began traveling in 2000. While traveling, she made her "home base" primarily in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where she now once again resides, after an 8-year residence in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
She began playing the violin at age 4 and began releasing albums on her own. In 2000, she "took up" with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
but did not actually sign with them.
She has released numerous unofficial releases, starting at age 13 with a cassette tape (producing 100 copies), but her "official" releases are Symphonies, Sleepyhead, and Dirty.
Television and Media
On September 17, 2009, Wells was interviewed and performed “Symphony 1 in the Barrel of a Gun” on Last Call with Carson Daly.Collaborations
- Dirtbike 1/3, Buck 65Buck 65Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...
(August 2008) - "Symphony #3" from Sympanies, Dwight Farrell (AKA Count Bass DCount Bass DDwight Conroy Farrell , better known by the stage name Count Bass D, is an American rapper, record producer and multi-instrumentalist from Nashville, Tennessee...
)
Discography
| Name | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Midori Sour | Self-Released | 1999 |
| Shadow Box | 2001 | |
| Music for Geek Love | 2004 | |
| Making Static | 2005 | |
| Beautiful Sleepyhead & the Laughing Yaks | Edub Productions | 2007 |
| The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties | Creative Control Records | 2008 |
| Dirty (EP) | 2009 |