Indigo Girls Emily Saliers on Coming to Rehoboth
FJ: We’re looking forward to your show. Tell us a bit how your solo act (plus violinist) differs from the Indigo Girls show.
Emily: Well, there won’t be all the harmony. Lyris, my violinist, does sing some harmony, but my songs will be heard as they were written, before Amy and I arranged them. I think that’s kind of cool, because it’s just a different way of hearing a familiar song. Additionally, Lyris and I will be playing some new songs from my upcoming solo record; songs which haven’t been played live or in public before.
FJ: Ever been to Rehoboth Beach before?
Emily: I can’t recall ever being to Rehoboth Beach, although my memory of where we’ve played over all these years tends to blur a bit. Honestly, I hear the word “beach,” and I’m happy. I’m also looking forward to playing a festival event where I’ve never been.
FJ: Well we have both beach and FEST in one! We’re delighted that you will be bringing your wife and daughter along. Do they travel with you a lot?
Emily: They don’t travel with me a lot. My wife is a full-time grad school student, and my daughter is in pre-school and needs her rest! But we travel together when it’s a special event like this one, and it’s especially easy if we are staying in the same place and not having to get on the bus and go to town. I’m so excited they are coming with me. It’s a special treat for me, and I want Cleo to get to experience life as a musician on the road.
FJ: We can’t wait to host you and your family! Are you working on some new material and if so, will you be previewing anything for us? Doing some of your favorites?
Emily: I have just finished writing a bunch of songs for my solo record, which will either be released by the end of 2016 or early 2017. Lyris and I will be playing at least a couple of the new songs, although I like to wait for people to hear the new songs when they are released. I just thought it would be fun to let a few out of the bag. I will also be playing songs I’ve written that Indigo Girls have done over the years and maybe a couple of obscure ones that don’t get played and sung that often. Lyris Hung is producing my solo record, so she will be playing parts of hers that will end up on the record. We start rehearsals next week, so I’m excited to see how the arrangements come out. So, there will be a mix of things, and I’d like to take the opportunity to talk about why some of the songs were written and what the process of writing them was like.
FJ: What are the differences between an Indigo Girl concert and your single efforts?
Emily: I haven’t played very many solo concerts at all. In a sense, I am beginning a new chapter. Nothing can replace the energy and awesomeness of Amy Ray, so I won’t be trying to capture that. Eventually, when the solo songs are fleshed out live, there will be more of an emphasis on beats and rhythm, as I am heavily inspired by rap and R & B. There is a freedom in doing exactly what I want as I feel it, and there is also some nervousness and missing Amy.
FJ: We have a large-ish, but very intimate room for you to perform in. What’s the largest venue you have played? Smallest? What’s your favorite kind of space?
Emily: I’m looking forward to an intimate space for this solo performance. I want to encourage audience participation. Over the years, Amy and I have played in places as big as Madison Square Garden, and as small as a tiny club. The experiences are vastly different. But for this particular show, it will be fun to be able to talk casually and present the songs. For solo shows, I have only played smaller rooms and venues. I like the intimacy of that.
FJ: I know you do charity work and are concerned about the environment. What’s your passion and how do you help? How can others help?
Emily: Over 20 years ago, Amy and I started Honor the Earth with Native American activist Winona LaDuke. We realized that we couldn’t do environmental work unless we viewed it through the lens of the indigenous perspective, where things from the earth and sky are completely connected, and we are to protect the earth not only for us but for generations to come. Over the years we have worked with indigenous peoples across North America on issues like nuclear waste dumping, coal mining, fracking, and other devastating methods of extracting energy that put us all in danger of ruining the earth. We support initiatives for wind and solar power, and we work to support food sustainability and fighting pipelines for dirty oil.
We are also active in support of Queer rights, human, and civil rights. We support grass roots groups that work with queer youth and trans groups. We support Black Lives Matter, and we are active in gun control work.It’s really very easy to get involved these days, especially through the web where anyone can access grass roots groups and get involved by volunteering, donating, showing up to protests and gatherings. Amy and I also have a list of groups we have supported on our web site Indigogirls.com. It’s extremely important to vote. Many people feel a disconnect between the insanity of politics and our daily lives, but legislation affects all of us, and we have to vote with a conscience and support politicians that will help people who are suffering. And then we have to do the rest of the work ourselves.
FJ: What else would you like to tell your fans about the upcoming show in Rehoboth?
Emily: I’m really looking forward to this performance. As I say, I haven’t done many solo shows, and I’m excited to put out a solo record, produced by the amazing Lyris Hung. I’m excited to be part of Women’s FEST; I think women’s festivals are important and inspiring. I’m expecting everyone to sing at the top of their lungs for the songs they recognize, and I truly hope they will like the new songs I’m working on.
FJ: Feel free to drop some Indigo Girls trivia or Emily Saliers trivia on us!
Emily: Everybody knows everything about us! Amy likes football now and I like sweet potatoes. Those are the newest developments!
FJ: Thanks for talking with us. See you in April.