Stage Talk with Rick Koster
Where every show has something to say.
The Garde’s Emma Willer brings her band Lazy Trail to the Oasis Room
Here at the Garde, we’ve always embraced a nurturing artistic environment in the community, and that extends to our own staff.
Which is why it’s so cool that Emma Willer, a seasoned Garde stagehand and a terrific singer/songwriter, takes the stage Sunday, May 10, in our Oasis Room with her band, Lazy Trail. They’re an excellent bedroom pop outfit opening for Wes Parker in an ideal “take Mom to a concert” performance.
Now 29, Emma grew up in Rochester, NY, went to college in Nashville, spent a year in Memphis and toured in the indie rock band BoyScott. A keyboardist and guitarist, she decided to focus on her own songwriting and, with a group of like-minded friends, settled in New London, drawn by the city’s aesthetic reputation.
Lazy Trail’s debut album, The Sound, came out last fall from Happen Twice Records, and it includes 10 of Emma’s wistful, dreamy and yearningly melodic tunes. Lazy Trail also includes guitarist Tom Bora, bassist Emma Corbin and drummer Conor Breen.
Early this week, Emma answered questions in anticipation of Sunday’s performance.
The Garde: You’ve been in New London four years now. Is the community everything y’all hoped it would be when you relocated here?
Emma: I love it here. It’s such a diverse city, and I just think the arts scene and the music scene are really awesome. All my friends here are musicians and/or artists and people are so accepting. In addition to the Garde, I work at Red Square Gallery, and New London has been very accepting.
Garde: The songs on The Sound are emblematic of a style of indie rock called Bedroom Pop — which is a pretty apt description of your voice and songs. Is that a fair assessment?
Emma: I think that’s very fair. Bedroom pop is very DIY in terms of recording and sound. Very dreamy. I mean, I literally recorded The Sound in my living room. So, in that aspect, it kind of fits with that simple aesthetic. And there were only about 4 of us working on the album, so I’m not offended to be in the bedroom pop genre. (laughs) Actually, the first band I was ever in was called Slumbers, so that’s also very fitting.
Garde: You have a very hypnotic and lulling, melodic vocal style. The first thing I thought of when I heard your songs was that you were singing through clouds — and I mean that in a positive sense. Very atmospheric. What I’m wondering is if you naturally just started writing and singing that way and then discovered there was something similar out there called bedroom pop? Or were you trying to find a direction, got exposed to bedroom pop and then sort of consciously aimed for that sound?
Emma: It took me until I was about 18 to start writing songs. I didn’t really think I was capable of doing that. And then I started listening to indie music. Very DIY music, and I was like, “Oh, wow, like, you know, these are pretty simple songs, and maybe I can give it a try.”
There’s this one artist in particular called Frankie Cosmos. It’s not that her songs are super simple, but they appealed to me and I thought maybe I should try writing songs like that. I mean, I try not to copy people’s styles, but it’s hard not to be influenced by artists you admire, and there are so many out there. But she was important to me because I love her music and it inspired me to believe I could do it.
Garde: There’s a decided minor chord characteristic to your songs. Do you find songwriting therapeutic?
Emma: Definitely. Songwriting is like a type of therapy. I’m sure a lot of people say that, but it kind of is. It’s not like I’m sad all the time, but I feel like I write my best songs when I’m feeling a certain way, and it’s almost hard to write a song when you’re feeling happy and, you know, totally good to go (laughs).
Garde: You work here at the Garde, so you obviously know the exalted history. What’s it like to actually perform here?
Emma: Well, it’s very exciting. I mean, I love the place and the people, so it’s fun to get to play for my co-workers, and some of them will be running sound and things like that. I’ve played some pretty big venues when I was in other bands, but the Garde is special.
Garde: Can I assume you feel comfortable asking Charlotte Fields, the Garde’s superb director of hospitality, for a true rock star’s exorbitant backstage rider? She makes terrific ice cream, you know. Wait, did I let the (frozen) cat out of the bag?
Emma: The show’s on Mother’s Day. Charlotte’s wonderful. Maybe I should bring her some ice cream!