Emily Wells played a private show at NeueHouse on Thursday night before embarking on a tour to introduce her new EP. Wells, a violinist who dabbles in hip-hop, spent two years in the studio crafting “Promise.” Like the album, her performance wove classical instruments with vivid projections to create a surrealist experience for those in attendance.
Emily Wells
EW
“Promise” combines deep drum beats, synthesizers and breathy vocals to create a sublimely dark and complex album. The opening track, “Los Angeles” speaks of a dream that will never be realized. Wells laments, “we were always dreaming of a day that would never come, Los Angeles.” It is the acknowledgment of one lover’s lost dream and the plea of the other not to be left that makes the song so deep and sorrowful.
EW
EW
Equally as haunting is “Fallin in on it.” The genius of the song is in the way that Wells both subtly confesses to transgressions and relays a cautionary tale. The song echoes a warning to those who may think about breaking trust and promises that if you go down that path you will lose yourself and “forget your name.”
EW
EW
EW
The listening experience is spiritual and transfixes you so you fall into a state somewhere between sleeping and waking. It is not an EP for those seeking instant gratification, but one that rewards the patient listeners. The more you listen, the more you unearth the layers of the album.
EW
Emily Wells
Wells’ tour kicks off in Washington, DC on Tuesday, February 2nd and she will play a New York show at Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, February 4th.
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Article: Alx Bear
