Singer/songwriter Emily Hearn is a talented, honey-voiced, acoustic guitar playing phenomenon. Beginning her career in 2009, at the young age of nineteen, the Griffin, Georgia native released her debut album Red Balloon in 2012. Spending two years to work on the follow-up, her second studio album, Hourglass, hit the shelves on March 10, 2015, debuting at #15 on the iTunes charts. With her efforts truly showing in the end result,she brings together a fresh mix of Jazz, Folk, Pop, Indie and Bluegrass, creating a sound all her own. Her pure, crystalline vocals and a talent for natural storytelling make Hearn a refreshing addition to the singer/songwriter genre, reminding one of the sounds of an early Carrie Underwood, Alison Krause or the Shook Twins. Hearn paints a picture with broad strokes and tiny details, creating a tight, cohesive album full of songs that stand well on their own, yet flow together naturally, forming a big picture and offering the listener into a peek of her world.
Hourglass is produced by Chad Copelin through Old Prince Records, featuring not only Hearn but also her bassist, husband, and co-songwriter, Michael Harrison. Her music may sound familiar already, with songs having recently been featured on over thirty television shows, movies and commercials, including MTV’s Finding Carter, ABC Family’s Switched At Birth, the Hub Network’s Kid President, the Gyft mobile gift card app and a Ben & Jerry’s commercial, among others. Even her single “Rooftop” from her 2012 EP Paper Heart featured a dancing, drum playing Bill Murray in the video.
Beginning with a delicate, acoustic guitar, “Waking Up Again” is an uplifting track, carried along by Hearn’s bright, clear and airy alto that could have come straight from Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir from Of Monsters and Men. Sprinkled with tinkling chimes and a catchy beat, this was the perfect choice to debut as the first single, showing what this Southern gal has up her musical sleeve. Bringing in a bit of Pop, Hearn kicks up the pace with “Can’t Help Myself,” breezily crooning along to a plunking piano with a toe-tapping beat. “The Oak Tree” is a reminder that the lightening in a bottle time of youth is easily forgotten and only appreciated once it is gone. Channeling Sinead O’Connor, Hearn stretches her vocal talent over “Please Don’t Take My Love,” producing a slow, melancholy anthem. “Save Me” starts with an electronic Techno beat and, combined with Hearn’s warbling melody, finishes as an inspirational, jazzy Pop song. With haunting background vocals and steady, crystalline keys, “Thank God You’re Holding Me” is one of the best songs on the album. Hearn hits every mark during a heartwarming number that builds emotionally to a classical climax. The mood drops during “Volcano,” another piano-driven piece that is swept along by raw, agonizing lyrics reminiscent of Dolores O’Riordan from The Cranberries. “Give It Up” reminds listeners that some love may work in the heart but the head knows better. Hearn brings a little Country and Indie Pop in “Without You,” a tickling, toe-tapping tune layered with the sandy sounds of egg shakers and honeyed violins. The powerful yet gentle “Annie” breaks the heart as Hearn pleads with a friend to be strong as she struggles in a suffocating relationship. A sweet, humming guitar carries “Long Summer” along on a nostalgic trip back to the golden, lulling times of the past. The closer, “Worth Waiting For,” has a stronger drum beat and wistful, melancholy guitars that build upon Hearn’s beautifully fluctuating vocals, taking the album to a satisfying climax.
Hourglass is an album for the twenty-something in all of us, waxing nostalgic for the days of childhood while staring ahead at an unsure future. Although her more subdued, introspective outlook may not be for everyone, one cannot deny that her musical stylings work beautifully. Hearn’s music reminds everyone to appreciate the present without forgetting the past. With her wide vocal range and ability to choose perfect instrumentation to flatter her lyrics and engage the listener, Hearn has created a timeless album with Hourglass that would sound right at home on any genre fan’s rotation. As the USA finally thaws out, after a rough winter, Hearn and her band are beginning a US tour with singer/songwriter Tyrone Wells starting in San Francisco, California on March 18, 2015, and continuing throughout the country to circle back to Anaheim, California on May 30th. Those who are looking for some therapeutic, heartfelt, uplifting music that is sure to make the spirits soar, grab a ticket this spring for a show when she comes to town. CrypticRock gives Hourglass a 4.5 out of 5 stars
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