By now, you probably know the story of EMA — co-founder of Gowns who launched a solo project, kicked ass, took names, etc. With the end of the year approaching, music fools everywhere have begun to compile their best of 2011 lists, and EMA’s debut, Past Life Martyred Saints, has already appeared at #27 on The Quietus’ list, #20 on the BBC Music Writers list, #7 on Stereogum’s list, and #3 on Spin’s. The Sunday Times has named her #1 New Artist of 2011, and “California” has wound up on year-end “best track” lists for Consequence of Sound, Rolling Stone, and Spin. (PLMS also made its way onto our own mid-year list, hint hint.)
A deluxe edition of Past Life Martyred Saints will see an exclusive iTunes release on February 7 and will feature a bonus track entitled “To Leave With Love” and videos for “California,” “Milkman,” and “Marked,” as well as a cover of Nirvana’s “Endless, Nameless” with an accompanying video. Her recent single, “Angelo”/”Marked” is currently available as a limited-edition 7-inch via Insound and digitally via other major retailers.
Hold your horses, kids: there’s still more EMA news. After spending most of the year on tour as both a headliner and supporting the likes of CSS, MEN, Wild Beasts, Kurt Vile, Zola Jesus, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., EMA has announced the first dates of her spring 2012 headlining tour. More dates to be announced (hopefully soon, because none of these are within convenient distance from where I reside).
Tourdates:
03.01.12 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
03.02.12 - Los Angeles, CA - Natural History Museum
03.06.12 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
03.08.12 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
03.09.12 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
03.10.12 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
03.11.12 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern
03.13.12 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison
03.14.12 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore
03.15.12 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
03.16.12 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
• EMA: http://www.emaemaema.net
• Souterrain Transmissions: http://www.souterraintransmissions.com
[Photo: Keith Nealy]