She has been called "the female Johnny Ramone", and rumour has it she channels the spirit of Jimi Hendrix for guitar instruction. Known for her blistering rhythm guitar and screeching licks, Emma-O has been shredding riffs on the Toronto music scene for nearly a decade. When not performing on stage at various venues around the city, she's out promoting shows as Da Fabulous Poster Babe . Sticking true to her DIY punk roots and ethics, Emma-O writes, records and promotes her own music ( EMMA-O ), ( THE GLOOM ), and contributes feedback and noise to the experimental duo DRONICA , which she co-founded with Cowboy Junkies' accordion player Jaroslaw Czerwinec. She is an accomplished and prolific songwriter, contributing material to various projects over the years, most recently with Toronto's THE JOHNNYS and FIDGET . In 2003, her song "Phone Sex Girl" held the number 1 position on the Punk Charts at mp3.com Australia for 7 consecutive weeks, and in 2005 her song "The Gloom" was number 1 on the Lo-Fi Charts for 4 weeks. In addition to this, several of her songs have held top positions at Soundclick.com, Amazon.com and various other sites around the world, and continue to remain steady on the charts. Emma-O has also been seen with The Johnnys on APTN (Aboriginal People's Television Network), TVO (TV Ontario) and in the summer of 2007, she appeared in Spirit Magazine's annual music issue, in which The Johnnys were the featured band.
Believing in the philosophy of "Do what you love and love what you do", Emma-O works, lives and breathes music, art and expression. Emma-O grew up listening to The Clash, The Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols, X and Stiff Little Fingers, and knew at a very early age that punk rock meant much more than studded jackets and crazy haircuts. It's an attitude, a way of life, a life of freedom. To Emma-O, being "punk rock" means being who you want to be, and doing what makes you happy in life, and not letting anyone or anything get in the way of it. To Emma-O, life, art and punk rock are inseparable. Creativity and music is just as much a part of her vitality as is the hot blood that courses through her veins.
Emma-O knows that creativity has no limits, and proves it by being a published writer and photographer, as well a visual artist who creates collages, paintings, drawings and other artwork. She is a beaded jewellery designer, and was trained by haute-couture jewellery designers Ericson-Beamon. Always productive, she has run her own business for the past 5 years, helping bands and the arts scene promote their works ( www.dafabulousposterbabe.com ). She designs posters, CD inserts, web sites, brochures, business cards and more. She is a whiz at internet marketing. She has been featured in a handful of indie films and TV commercials, and has made several radio appearances (CFRB 1010, CKLN, CIUT, Banana Peel Radio, THAT Radio, etc). In 2004, she received national and worldwide attention by being featured in a Globe and Mail article about postering. Her love of creativity extends to gardening and floral arranging (where she has professional training), as well as the culinary arts. You ain't had banana muffins until you've had Emma-O's banana muffins!
To Emma-O, life is meant to be lived to the fullest. All aspects of the human experience should be embraced, good or bad. Deeply spiritual, Emma-O is a Truth-seeker on the way to an enlightened path. She uses the arts as a way to connect herself and others to a Higher Power. She hopes to not only heal herself, but also the world through art, information, music, beauty, sounds and colours. The Earth and animals are very dear to this sensitive artist, who knows that the state of the planet is simply a reflection of our own inner selves.
Though punk rock has been the main influence on her music and lifestyle, Emma-O embraces all forms of music and appreciates all the things that make everything and everyone different. Don't try to label her, because you can't. People have always tried to figure out Emma-O, and they don't know which box to put her in--hippy, punk, goth, whatever. Emma-O doesn't explain--she prefers to lead by example. She is living proof that anyone can do anything they set their mind to, and be anything they want to be, if they desire it enough.
EMMA-O'S BANDS/PROJECTS:
Emma-O -- 2004-present -- all guitars, all vocals, percussion, organ, keys, songwriting and arranging, recording, production, engineering
The Gloom -- 2003-present -- all guitars, all vocals, percussion, songwriting and arranging except for collaborations with The Futz's Edgar LeBel, recording, production, engineering
Dronica -- 2005-present -- all guitars, effects, vocals, organ, keys, percussion, co-songwriting and arranging with Jaroslaw Czerwinec, recording, production, engineering
The Impatiens -- 2005-2007 -- all guitars, lead and back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Johnny Vine, production, engineering
The Johnnys -- 2006-2007 -- lead and rhythm guitar, back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Dave and Veronica Johnny
Fidget -- 2006-2007 -- rhythm guitar, back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Nicole LeGault and Teresa Hart
Pimpinella -- 2003-2004 -- all guitars, all vocals, songwriting and arranging, recording, production, engineering
Underwire -- 2000-2003 -- lead and rhythm guitar, lead and back-up vocals, bass, percussion, songwriting and arranging, recording, production, engineering
Trans Love Airways -- 1998-2000 -- rhythm guitar, back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Trans Love Airways
CLICK HERE FOR ALL AVAILABLE EMMA-O MP3'S
PLEASE ALSO VISIT EMMA-O'S OTHER MUSICAL PROJECTS:
DRONICA: http://www.myspace.com/dronica
THE GLOOM: http://www.myspace.com/thegloom
THE IMPATIENS (now defunct):
http://www.myspace.com/theimpatiens
Here is a sampling of a live video shoot of Emma-O with The Johnnys, January 2007. Video by To Be Scene ( www.tobescene.com )
DRONICA ON YOU TUBE!! Video recorded and produced by To Be Scene ( www.tobescene.com )
To see some of Ericson-Beamon's masterpieces, go here:
http://www.bluebee.com/shopbycategorygrid.aspx?l=00100119032
700000000
NOTE: Emma-O did not design or create any of these pieces! Emma-O designs jewellery that is similar to these examples. Look for photos of Emma-O's original designs coming in the future.
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