INTERVIEW: You Can't Take the Queer OR the Country Out of Emmy Woods
Emmy Woods’ “million miles per hour” finds the sweet spot between Dolly Parton country vibes and the world weariness I tend to associate with Americana. Emmy has been writing songs for over 20 years, but her first collection of songs, tristia bella, as well as her albums The Manifold and Delirium were not released until 2020. In spring of 2022 she accepted one of her first performances in nearly ten years at Mojo Coffee in Northeast Minneapolis.
In a serendipitous twist of fate, Woodzen frontman Jake Johnson (violin & guitar) stopped in for coffee accompanied by bandmates Bob Delage (bass) and Brody Kucera (percussion). Dazzled by her unique yet accessible sound and songs, they invited Emmy to collaborate and the Red Pine Ramblers were born. Just over a year later, the group has grown to include Lydia Lecher (keyboard), and continues to gain momentum with their genre bending sound.
How do you feel your queer identity ties into your performance style or music?
This is such a fun question to explore.
I think a line from my song “Salinger” pretty much sums it up for me. “They’ll never take the country anymore than the queer out of me.”
I am queer and I am country and I can’t really leave either of those behind… though I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t tried.
I spent the first 18 years of my life on a gravel road in rural North Dakota. You don’t get a whole lot more country than that…
And yet, I used to hate the idea of being a ‘country’ musician, I think in large part because I couldn’t really relate to the folks who were singing/writing the music I heard on Top 40 radio when I was growing up. For one, a lot of those songs were written by rich folks who were just boiling down and co-opting rural culture to make money… so I had a hard time enjoying or relating to it I guess. Plus… there weren’t many queer country artists making radio waves back then… so country music wasn’t a space I necessarily felt welcome in. At the same time… I grew up listening to my mom and dad sing and play us Willie Nelson, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie and all these old classic country/folk songs that very much felt/feel a part of who I am.
I also remember having a similar sort of experience when I moved to the city and came out as queer. In some ways, coming out was like… “oh sweet, I don’t have to hide who I am anymore.” But there was this other side to it… I came out during the Obama administration when there was a lot of political backlash to “liberal” ideas like equal rights… We were, and still are, constantly bombarded with these maps that show country folks as “red” and city folks as “blue”… as a result sometimes it felt like embracing country as part of my identity meant embracing a whole suite of political views that I couldn’t get behind.
I remember kind of feeling like these two core aspects of my identity were at odds. Like I had to express myself as one or the other, never both. I think that’s why “Salinger” is perhaps, of all the songs I’ve released, the song that means the most to me personally. It’s certainly not the best lyrically or musically, but I wrote it when I’d finally reconciled all of that. I finally felt like… I was, and could be, unapologetically both country and queer.
Tell us about the first song you wrote.
The first song I remember writing was called “the vegetarian song.” I was 13. The song was my first (and only) attempt at comedic political commentary… I had just discovered the horrors of corporate farming and decided to become a vegetarian and wanted to write a song suggesting a vegetarian diet was a better/kinder way to eat and live. I rarely play the song these days, but I appreciate the perspective it gives me when I do. In America we sort of expect/condition people to grow out of their idealism and just accept that things are the way they are. Remembering what the world looked like through the eyes of my ferociously idealistic inner child helps me stay awake to the things we still need to change (and still can!).
How do you manage having a good time at shows, but also trying to stay mentally and physically fit?
Sobriety has been an important part of my journey as a performing musician. I made the commitment to quit drinking just over two years ago. Which is also around the time I started sharing my music and performing regularly. I haven’t been perfect and have slipped a few times since then, but every time I do I’m pretty quick to realize I’m happier, healthier, and better at what I do as a writer and musician without alcohol in my life. And honestly, shows are so much more fun when I’m truly and fully present for them.
I’m also very intentional about creating space in my life to be alone and in nature. There’s something really special and wonderful about performance, but most of my songs come from a pretty deep and personal place. Sharing them can feel overwhelming and I find it’s been really important to allow myself time to pull back, recenter, and just… be for the sake of being.
The physical fitness part… well that’s never been my forte (lol). I am working on developing an exercise routine, though. I think it’s so important! I want to get back into yoga and maybe start running again.
Tell us about your favorite show you’ve ever played.
Oh gosh, I couldn’t possibly pick just one. From the country dive bars and breweries to the festivals and quiet living rooms full of friends, I have loved almost every show I’ve ever played for different reasons. I just performed at the Turf Club in St Paul, MN, though, and that felt really special. I’ve seen several of my musical heroes perform on that stage and it was freakin magical to share my songs up there.
Who would you love to collaborate with? why?
I have always adored and admired Lori McKenna’s songwriting. She writes with a beautiful authenticity that I really appreciate and she’s responsible for some of the best country music out there.
In all honesty though, I’m pretty down to collaborate with anyone. It’s one of my favorite parts of being a musician. I love supporting other musicians in bringing their vision to life as much as I love having folks bring themselves to my projects! It’s such a beautiful way to be in community with folks.
