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Arts & Entertainment

Q&A with Singer/Songwriter Emily Grove

Preparing for a show in Riverside Park on July 15th and a release party on August 8th, Emily Grove, one of the harder working local performers, took time out for a talk and a song.

Chances are you've seen or heard Emily Grove somewhere around Monmouth County. The singer/songwriter from Wall has seemingly played everywhere and with everyone. In fact, ask local troubedours for a short list of some of their favorites and Emily Grove is a common demoninator.

Her sound has been described as alternative folk, but it's really human music, both in the emotional depth of the lyrics and the pure sound of her vocal cords. "I am mainly a vocalist, a singer," she said.  And she is indeed. Listen for the little magical nuances in her delivery...just like everything about Grove, there is something of a throwback to her quality, an old grain, an antique lilly lace, but with an equal measure of something new and young and fresh.

Among the many gigs Grove has through out the summer, she will be playing in the Songwriters in the Park series at Riverside Park in Red Bank this Friday, July 15th, opening for Ari Hest. On the heels of that show, Grove will be celebrating her CD (or EP) release party at the Watermark in Asbury Park on August 8th. 

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Patch Producer Steve Rogers caught up with Grove in between her many gigs and asked her about life, lyrics and locals.

Steve Rogers: What's your story?

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Emily Grove: My story...well in 6th grade I was kind of a shy kid...not overwhelmingly, but I wasn't by any means the kid saying, 'hey look at me, look at me!' I was the one over in the corner minding my own business. And my mom would look at me and say, 'hey, she's kinda cool...she likes to sing...' And she asked me, 'would you like to learn an instrument or something?' I thought that sounded like a good idea, so I did and just fell in love with it and I decided I wanted to make it a career, so after high school I applied to go to Berklee College of Music and got in.

S.R.: So you were in 6th grade when you first picked up an instrument?

E.G.: Well...I went to catholic grammar school and I used to think, 'I wanna be like Lisa Simpson...I want to play the saxophone' but it was the worst decision of my life so when my mom suggested I try something else I decided on guitar and singing and that was just my thing to do...I'm mainly a singer and my vocal coach suggested I play guitar because then I could accompany myself and make a living at this and my parents agreed. My parents are just so supportive. They just ask me, what do you want to do and they help me do it.

S.R.: What do your parents do? Are they in the arts?

E.G.: My mom works on taxes.  She used to work for the IRS and my dad is an electrician and when people ask them, 'what's up with your daughter and her musical talent?' They're just like, 'we have no clue where that came from.' They just enjoy the ride.

S.R.: You grow up in Monmouth County?

E.G.: I did.  I grew up in Wall and I still live there.

S.R.: What was your childhood like there?

E.G.: When I was growing up...everyone in the neighborhood knew each other and we just had great friendships.  In high school everyone kind of respected me and left me alone and at the end of my time there they nominated me for a superlative, so apparently they knew me, apparently they liked me.

S.R.: What music influenced you growing up?

E.G.: My parents listened to a lot Johnny Cash…they watched a lot of CMT, so there was a lot of Americana and my mom loved Paul Simon…I was named after the song For Emily Whenever I May Find Her. And my dad was a big Stones and Beatles fan. I was born on Jerry Garcia birthday, so I have that whole Grateful Dead thing.  I listen to some new stuff, but for the most part I feel like an old soul.

S.R.: How does being from New Jersey effect your music?

E.G.: I guess more like the community of musicians more than anything.  And it’s not just Asbury.  You have Asbury and Manasquan and Point Pleasant and Red Bank and it’s all within 20 minutes and it makes me want to write more and play more and be as good as all these people who are playing locally.

S.R.: Having played with so many local folks, do you have a favorite to play with?

E.G.: Everyone whom I have had the opportunity to play with has just afforded me wonderful experiences all around, from Paul Marino’s band to Glen Burtnick.

S.R.: Do you have a favorite place to play?

E.G.: You know that’s hard to say because every where I go, everyone is just so welcoming.  I love playing on the boardwalk.  I love playing at The Saint.  I love playing at Espresso Joes.  Here in Red Bank I loved playing in the gazebo at Riverfest.  It was just awesome.

S.R.: What’s playing on your iPod these days?

E.G.: On my way over here I was listening to Paul Simon and Sarah McLaughlin.  I put those two in a mix and just drove here listening to them.

S.R.: What makes you happy?

E.G.: As soon as I have a really stressful day I just lock myself up in a room and I start playing.  I like to play covers because it’s soothing to me.  Music has always calmed me down and just taken me to a different place.

S.R.: What song is doing that for you now?

E.G.: Kathy’s Song by Simon and Garfunkle.  Even the beginning guitar...it just…it makes me feel like ahhh.  And I also like to do other things.  I like to garden.  I like to hike.  I like to bike ride and go to the beach.  I like to learn things.

S.R.: What’s your secret?

E.G.: My secret? I’m an observer.  I may not talk a lot, but I like to watch.  Oh, my EP release party…I was keeping that a secret.

S.R.: You were keeping it a secret? Why?

E.G.: I was keeping it a secret at first, but then I was like 'you know what, just tell everyone now...don't wait till it's too late...' And I was keeping it a secret because I wanted to wait till I had everything down.  And I got everything done on the 4th of July and now I'm picking them up on the 12th. So now everything is ready and I still have a month.

S.R.: So, what does the future look like?

E.G.: You know, I’m at that weird age.  I’m turning 21 soon, so I don’t know where I’m going, but I know…I hope…I know I’m going to be happy…cause I’m always happy. I know that music is going to be there somewhere.  I don’t care about the fame.  I just want to be able to make a living with my music.  I just want to be able to play gigs and live in a little house and just be comfortable…and not have a day job.  That’s all I ask.

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