While most 15-year-olds are meeting at soda parlors and sharing baskets of French Fries, (it is the 1950s, right?) discussing semi-formals, biology quizzes, and soccer practice, EmiSunshine is touring the world, appearing on TV shows, and releasing records. No big deal.
Emi is a prodigious singer, songwriter, guitar, and ukulele sensation already establishing a name for herself. At just nine-years-old, she garnered viral attention with her YouTube videos displaying her inherent musicianship, and has hit the ground running since.
Her old-timey style and classic country, Americana, and roots inspirations are truly impressive among someone who wasn’t even around in the booming boy band era of the late 90s and early 2000s. Emi is a testament that music defies time, age, and era, and always will.
In her young, blossoming career, she has appeared on The Today Show, NBC’s Little Big Shots, Pickler and Ben, and has performed at The Grand Ole Opry, just to name a few accolades.
EmiSunshine and The Rain recently released their latest album Family Wars, which is available on all streaming services as well as CD and vinyl.
We had the chance to ask Emi more questions (22) than she is years old, so without further adieu…
What’s your real name? Emilie Sunshine Hamilton
How old are you? 15 1/2
When did you first pick up an instrument? Five for piano seven for ukulele.
Who or what got you into old time country music? My mom got me interested by giving me a Louvin Brothers CD.
Describe yourself in three words: Meticulous, determined and argumentative.
You’ve just cashed a check for $1 million. The first thing you do is: Save my money.
If you could open for any current artist, it’d be: The Dixie Chicks.
If you could record a duet with any artist alive or dead, it’d be: Janice Joplin.
Favorite thing about Tennessee: The Mountains.
Favorite TV Show: Z Nation.
Favorite Movie: Burlesque.
One skill you wish you had: Dancing.
If you could have one super power, it’d be: To alter time.
Three albums on a desert island: Flood– They Might Be Giants
By The Way I Forgive You -Brandi Carlile
Forever For Now -LP
Favorite thing about touring: Meeting new Sound Engineers lol! I am a sound geek!
Hobbies outside of music: Bicycling.
Dream vacation: I have always wanted to go to Pig Beach in the Bahamas.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it’d be: Tomatoes.
Something people might not know about you: I carry a porcupine fetus in a jar to most co-writes.
One tangible item you can’t live without (other than an instrument): A tiny urn I carry everywhere that I bought at a thrift store ( I don’t know who’s inside)
Your proudest moment as a musician so far: Singing with Loretta Lynn.
Lastly, tell the folks what EmiSunshine has going on in 2020: I am writing, recording and touring… that’s all I ever wanted for my life, so to be doing that full time continually is my 2020 plan!
