Lee Emi - DESTROY EVERYTHING Album Review
Happy Halloween WIDR listeners!
This Thursday on October 29th, I conducted an interview with Lee Emi of The Crane Wives, a Grand Rapids band. On November 21st, Lee Emi is going to perform at Bell’s Backroom on an album release tour. Earlier this month, she released her first ever solo album, titled DESTROY EVERYTHING. I listened to this album in preparation for the interview.
I did not know what to expect of this record because I’m largely unfamiliar with The Crane Wives’ sound. What I came to discover was that this record was earnest and humble. The mixing feels DIY and very much WIDR-coded. Lee’s writing carries weight and the compositions make some cool movements. I think of the song Empty Spaces, which speeds up nearing the song's conclusion only to stop just as quickly as it began.
I really do mess with the soundscape of this album as a whole. I love the harmonies, horns, guitars, drums, and it all works out great. I also found that the performance and writing here are sincere. She really does feel like a local artist in the best way possible, without coming across as amateur.
With regards to this album’s scope and aim, she focused on creative expression in a way that prioritized what matters to her when making music.
“I really wanted to make songs that felt personal to me and produce them in a way that resonated with the things that I really gravitate towards when I listen to music,” Emi Lee said. “I think being a part of the Crane Wives has given me a lot of really useful skills when it comes to collaboration and group songwriting, but this was my first experience in trying to sit behind the driver’s seat and kind of control where everythings go and kind of take that leadership role in terms of directing how I wanted the album to sound.”
In many ways, songs such as Spinning Plates and the title track feel like a “stomp clap hey” artist’s take on darker music. Which is appropriate, considering that’s kind of what it is. But if I’m being honest, I don’t even hate that. Some people out there may not be interested in checking out what so many would call “millennial burger joint” music, but what we see in this record is proof that music of this style can use intentional thought and real creativity. The track Margaret for instance has creative and impressive production, including an improvised instrument made of chains being dropped on a wooden box. This imitates the sound shackles dragging along the ground and it builds the song’s world. There’s no possible word you can use to describe this album if you can’t call it authentic. Emi expressed that this is an attribute she places a lot of value on.
“That’s why I think that Ho Hey music feels so cheesy, because it started with something that was very genuine and real,” Emi said.
To see the full zoom interview I conducted with Lee Emi, you can check it out on our Youtube. WIDR staff were gifted two tickets to this show, so look forward to a concert review from us in about three weeks.
Have a safe and fun night everyone!
