Singer-songwriter Elizabeth Young may only be 16 years old, but her wisdom and natural accessibility goes far beyond her years and translate beautifully into her music. Young has a remarkable ability to transform the life of a teenage girl into a universal experience. This sophisticated vocalist has spent years developing her musicality and playing local live shows outside of Washington D.C. where she grew up, but at last she’s ready to show the world her talent with her debut EP in September of 2020.
We had the honor of speaking to Elizabeth briefly leading up to this release.
Your new single, “I Won’t Fall,” is about anxiety. Could you give us some more insight into what inspired the song, and what you hope that people listening to it take away from it?
I Won’t Fall talks about how I can stand up to the difficulties of anxiety. Sometimes my anxiety can try to get the best of me and it can be hard to fight it, but I have learned that I can overcome, persevere, and not fall into the trap of my anxiety. My producer Chris Keup and I thought of factors in my life that help support me such as my family. My friends and family can help serve as a shield during inner battles with worries or anxiety. I Won’t Fall portrays an important message that means so much to me and I hope has an impact on others to help them feel stronger when fighting against inner worries or anxiety. With this song, I want to encourage others to stand tall and not to fear of being knocked down by their anxiety or have it stop them.
What is the Washington, DC music scene like? Do you have a favorite venue in that area that you loved to play or see shows at and why?
In Washington DC, I’ve been to the Kennedy Center several times where I have seen Lea Michele sing and other productions. I have played at multiple venues around my town one of which is the open mic night at The Old Brogue. I love playing at the Old Brogue because my family and I have been going there since I was little so it is a very comforting place. Since COVID-19, I haven’t been able to play at local restaurants which is sad!
You have a lovely voice, with a strong command over both soft and belted vocals. Did you have vocal lessons growing up? How did you cultivate your voice into what it is today?
I first found a love for singing when I auditioned for the musicals at my elementary and middle schools. I discovered how much I loved singing and I began taking voice lessons to grow and learn more about singing. I brought my guitar that my parents gave me to my voice teacher on a spree, and from there I learned how to sing songs with my guitar. I would practice all the time on my own, helping me to improve my guitar skills. I started performing at small live events and quickly discovered how much I loved performing and I wanted to get better at my music. I began to turn my interest away from musicals and found what I loved the most- singing songs with my guitar and creating music. From there I began jotting down some lyrics to some chords on my guitar. I began taking vocal lessons with Katie Talbot from Nashville over Skype where she helped me safely improve my voice. I also love to sing all around the house which can sometimes bug my family! I linked up with the amazing Chris Keup where we wrote songs together and created the EP.
Your upcoming EP deals with topics ranging from narcissism to toxic relationships. How does it feel to be sharing such intimate parts of yourself with the world? Do you feel nervous about revealing yourself or is it freeing?
It is difficult to open up and share yourself to the world. It’s important to me for my songs to be authentic and real therefore making me a little nervous to feel vulnerable. However, it is freeing to express myself and exciting for others to hear my thoughts through music and I hope people like them and can relate to them.
Was this your first time recording in a studio? How was that experience for you? Was it time-consuming and a lot of hard work? Did everything go smoothly? Give those of us on the outside a look into the studio life.
It was the first time I ever professionally recorded in a studio so everything was very new and exciting for me. I was so eager to learn how a song was created from an artist’s point of view. I discovered so many new things and working in the studio opened up a new world for me and I want to keep learning and improving. Chris is a talented producer and was very easy to work with especially for a developing artist like me. Working in the studio was hard work but very fun! I went down to Chris’s studio in Louisa VA on school days, after soccer tournaments, and on weekends to create the EP. The vibes in Chris’s studio made me feel creative and like a real professional! We spent hours each day recording, correcting, and adding to perfect the EP. Before my experience in the studio, I thought it would be quick and easy to record the vocals, but it took lots of time and hardwork to put them together. Creating the songs did go smoothly and I can’t wait to keep working in the studio in the future.
“I Won’t Fall” is a deeply moving song with personal lyrics that make the listener feel like they know you. What is your go-to method of writing songs? Do you have any advice for any budding songwriters out there?
Songwriting is all about authenticity and how the lyrics flow to the beat of the music. I love bringing out thoughts or worries on my mind into the songs to make them more relatable and personal. I really want to discover how to become my own artist and find my unique style to put into my music. I want to keep learning and growing! My go-to method is to take a regular idea on my mind or a topic that may be bothering me and string lyrics together. I use my guitar to find chords that fit my lyrics and the feel of the song.
What is your favorite song or album to listen to when you’ve had a hard week and you want to unwind and why?
The way I escape through music is to visit playlists I make on my phone. My playlist is made up of country and pop music. I really enjoy almost any music and I have a lot of variety in my playlists. Olivia O’Brien is an artist I love to listen to because I love the way she writes the lyrics in her songs. Taylor Swift is a classic artist but I love listening to her songs because I know most of the lyrics so it helps me to unwind by singing along.
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Pulling from the blues, R&B, and powerhouse female artists she grew up surrounded by outside Washington, D.C., as well as female artists and songwriters like Bonnie Raitt, Alicia Keys, and Taylor Swift, this EP deals with wide-reaching topics in a cathartic and carefree way. Young’s forthcoming single off the EP, “I Won’t Fall”, is a tender anthem about anxiety. It’s filled with rich guitar chords that embrace silence with warmth. Young’s skilled vocals earnestly sing on top of a strong, slow beat that feeds into the anthemic sound. Her sailing melody line on the words “I won’t fall” sweep you off your feet and lift you up, instilling a sense of hope within you. Young’s resolve and softness recall the feminine power that her female influences channel, and hint at what you can look for in the rest of her soon-to-come EP.
In the meantime, check out her latest single, “Ricochet” here.
Pop songs tend to be made for the purpose of going viral or just to get plays on the radio. Sometimes it makes you wonder if the process of making good or authentic music is even a goal anymore. If you look in the right places though, you will be able to find the diamond in the rough. “God Save The Queen” is Cali Rodi’s power move to pioneer pop back to its original feel-good roots. This empowering, punchy pop anthem is a breath of fresh air. The inspiration behind the song came after Rodi being physically assaulted in broad daylight, but no one jumped in to help her. It made her think about how hard it is to be a woman in this crazy world.
After being discovered by country music star Keith Urban, Rodi moved from Nashville to Los Angeles and has been working hard to create an arsenal of unapologetic pop songs. She even teamed up with powerhouse producer Lindgren (Dua Lipa, BTS) and vocal producer Emily Wright (Britney Spears, Katy Perry) for the track. She calls out to protect women through the lyrics, “angels on our shoulders ain’t enough anymore / all they do is keep me between love and war / so God save the queen”. From a bad situation to a positive song for all, Rodi definitely has some tricks up her sleeve and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
July honestly passed in the blink of an eye, and I bet if you speak to anyone they would agree. This timeless vortex we are all in might not feel consistent, but it is keeping some of us empathic for each other in a heightened way. Why not continue in that vein, and share our favorite new tracks of August 2020? Goth Babe, The Happy Fits, Saya Gray, Manu Grace, Claire Frazier, Narrow Head, and more make an appearance, and we will be adding to this feature all month as submissions roll in!
Music doesn’t just appear from thin air, it comes from experience. After touring over 40 states, Roderick August was inspired to create his debut album, Forever the Far the Closer the Near. The singer-songwriter constantly gigged and made music to gain experience and get closer to making a name for himself. His folky music is reminiscent of the sound of The Lumineers and Bob Dylan.
As you listen to the 11 tracks, you can tell the writing was seasoned by traveling and his personal experiences along the way. “More Easily” is August going to a place, whether that is mentally or physically, where he can lean back and relax. The transition between this track and “Better Slowly” flows beautifully. “Lightning Bolt” reminds you of how quickly things can strike, and then disappear. Around the chorus, the track picks up and gains more power. The best example of his vocal ability is on “Sonoma”. With plenty of high notes and some rasp in his voice, it’s a showcase of his vocal ability. You can almost envision how this song would sound live at a concert hall. “Run with the Horses” is overflowing with imagery about places on fire, blue skies, and the woods growing rotten. The lyrics, “she cares too much what other people think / ‘cause when you’re living in the city trends become a big thing” seem to flow off his tongue so easily. It is one of the best on the album.
Forever the Far the Closer the Near is August’s take on American life. His goal is to tell his story, and he is doing exactly that. The songs focus on his voice and aren’t heavy on production for a clean sound. These are stories he crafted with a guitar in hand and an open mind. The album cover even tells a story, taken by August himself one morning in the deserts of New Mexico. For his debut album, August was able to put together a strong collection and we can’t wait to see what he does next!
Grief and trauma can cause enormous pain that will affect the rest of your life. It can change you as a person and make you weaker or stronger. Samantha Crain has taken control of her life and tackled her grief head on with her new release, A Small Death. Her sixth studio LP will leave you in awe of her talents and inspired by her journey. Crain explains , “I didn’t completely die, but I feel like I died a little bit and that allowed me this new beginning…What I was trying to capture with this record, really, was a sense of reconstruction.”
The Oklahoma-based artist starts off strong with “An Echo” which highlights complex relationships and makes you feel the pain behind her voice. If one track had to sum up the feeling of the record, “An Echo” takes the cake. Not every song is as serious, “Pastime” is a look into Crain’s start of a new romance, but learning more about herself in the process. She took to Instagram to speak about the track, saying, “when I was writing this song I felt like I was getting to know myself from scratch, peeling off a costume that I was put in as a child and allowing myself, for the first time, to dress myself and fully lean into my curiosities and sensitivities.” This theme seems to follow through to most of the tracks, experimenting and digging deep into her soul. Raw emotions are present in “High Horse” with the feelings of fleeting memories. In the lyrics, “I know the shape of the great heartache / and I know the weight of a big mistake / and I know the feel of a magical moment,” you can hear the strain accompanied by the steel guitar.
Her alluring vocals pull you in on tracks like “Reunion” and “Joey”. They are soft, yet powerful, similar to artist Brandi Carlile, who she has previously toured with. Crain, who is of Indigenous descent, connects with her roots in “When We Remain”. The track is sung in Choctaw and accompanied by a light instrumental. “Little Bits” closes the record out, by being herself and owning who she is. It’s short, upbeat and to the point, almost as if she was wrapping everything up with a red bow on top. A Small Death follows the 2017 release of You Had Me At Goodbye and is the first release under Real Kind Records, founded by UK-based artist Lucy Rose. It is the beginning of a new chapter for Crain and her music, something that is uniquely her and her experiences.
Here’s a little playlist of some of my favorite songs over the years. These are the type of songs I can listen over and over on repeat (and I have) and all of them just pull you in from the very beginning. They all evoke a certain strong emotion and are all driven by strong melodies and strong guitar parts. Each one of these songs have been an obsession of mine at some point during my career.
On June 24th, Imperfect Fifth hosted our first official variety show with the indelible Cat Call. An idea sparked by Cat Call founder Brittany Brave, we were more than happen to collaborate it into existence with a badass lineup of incredible female voices. We started the evening with some awkward banter from Imperfect Fifth’s Meredith Schneider, followed by a bangin’ comedy set from Brittany Brave. Jillian Riscoe, Kamber, Jessie Hyde, and Lauren LoGrasso followed, with a night of compliments and good feelings all-around. But, truly, we were there for the talent. And not a single beautiful human disappointed.
Keep your eyes on the scroll for everyone’s tip jars. Remember, we’re all out of work to one degree or another right now, so every little bit helps. Feel free to donate to the Imperfect Fifth Tip Jar, and leave a note for which writer/intern/performer you’d like to support. Enjoy the entertainment, and remember to be kind to yourself and others!
P.S. Please take a moment to adore Brittany Brave, who is the object of our featured photo.
Songs to resonate with you on heavy days, to remind you you’re not alone. With many artists coming from the gray sky capital of the world, my musical hometown, Seattle. Shoutout to some of my local favorites and friends, “Lemolo”, “Abby Gundersen”, “Deep Sea Diver”, “Racoma”, “Temple Canyon” and more…
