Emily Pennington shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Emily, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I feel like Oliver and I are BOTH learning oodles from Adrianne Lenker and her band, Big Thief. She isn’t afraid to pair silly quips with heartfelt or intellectual lyrics, and her band is a delicious blend of traditional Americana and grunge music. I took er songwriting workshop last year from a music nonprofit, School of Song, and I absolutely adored it. It gave me permission to write nonlinear songs in surprising and new ways.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Emily Pennington, and my partner Oliver and I are in a busily gigging Colorado folk rock band called Trouble’s Braids. We just released our first-ever EP, called The Big Tourist, on BandCamp and Spotify this summer, and we’ve played bars, theaters, and festivals across the Front Range. We’re both huge word nerds, and though we love to throw down a special set of rowdy folk music, we’re also very lyrics-focused and political, at our core.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was a weirdly outgoing and loquatious kid, and my mom noticed that right away. Even though we lived in suburban Houston, thousands of miles from Broadway, she decided to put me into musical theater classes at age 5. Standing on stage and getting to belt my heart out in productions of Annie and On the Razzle totally changed my life.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I think that, as a professional creative, it is my duty to transform my pain into that which makes other people feel less alone. The best songs, essays, and books come from a place of deep specificity and insight. Both help us connect on a human level.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think that too many of us have abandoned our connection to nature. Not just driving through it on a quick summer road trip, but really getting into the guts of a place. You learn a lot about who you are in your soul when you throw away creature comforts and lose cell phone reception.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Oh gosh… Learning lead guitar! My partner, Oliver, is a spectacular guitar player, and I sometimes feel like I’m sprinting just to keep up with him. But I practice my scales and jamming over chords or with a metronome, because it’ll make me a better performer and songwriter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://troublesbraidsmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troublesbraidsmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@troublesbraidsmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1nN66NEHxiYwSeLGB2t3tF?si=C_aF6rBbROSKWaW5UdWXLw
Image Credits
Emily Pennington
