Meet Eggshell Emily

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eggshell Emily. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Eggshell, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Throughout my life, I’ve had family and friends that have helped keep me alive, safe and happy. I’m deeply grateful for this. However, finding my purpose amidst my upbringing has had its ups and downs because it is really an internal journey that might not always be apparent to others. Sifting through thoughts and messages that aren’t truly your own can be sometimes feel like an archeological dig—long and arduous, with unclear destinations. Finding my purpose has been closely related to finding my self-confidence. Every time I find a piece of my own voice, I become clearer and clearer on who I am and where I’m going, and my confidence builds.
These pieces of myself often come in the form of songs. It feels as though they forge through me and aren’t satisfied until I put them out into the world in one way or another. I’ve heard other musicians say that their songs write themselves and they are just vessels for them. I’m not sure if this is true, or if I keep choosing subconsciously to stick to this route, but I do think that music has a power that keeps me going. Life can feel like a chaotic and beautiful mess sometimes and fortunately, my family and close these provide a relatively comfortable environment for the magic to shine through.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a singer-songwriter, but I don’t stop at my beloved purple guitar and voice. I am enchanted by sound of all kinds. Synthesizers have been one way to explore the possibilities of sound. Having studied sculpture in college, I often relate sonic creation to the installations I made using materials such as plaster, metal, wood, paint, found objects, clay and beyond.
After graduating, my internal compass drew me to performing as my main mode of expression. Singing has always been a passion of mine. I work currently work at an eclectic music venue and I perform in shows with a variety of other musicians and acts. I have made my own music videos, sometimes with the help of my friends. I’m also gearing up to spend time in the studio, with the goal of putting together a creatively produced album.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three of the most impactful qualities of mine for how my journey has been unfolding are probably self-reflection, compassion and expression.

Self-reflection can be a double edged sword, because too much of it can sort of blind you to what’s going on outside of yourself and can also lead to a great deal of self-blame for things that might not necessarily be your fault. So, as with many traits, there are times where moderating them and making sure they are healthily balanced with other qualities is extremely important. All in all, however, my self-reflection has made for some great songs (if I do say so myself), the ability to communicate with my friends and loved ones in a productive manner, and has really helped forge and develop my sense of purpose.
Going to therapy has been crucial for sorting out how to use my inner thoughts for good, instead of getting caught in unhealthy mind spirals.

Compassion has been a trait I’ve tried my best to keep with every decision, interaction and journey I go on. It can be tough to hold compassion for others and for yourself in a world with so much turmoil and struggle. Life can sometimes feel like a competition for scarce resources, and it can feel like the only answer is to push people down to get to “the top.” Our internal worlds are all dynamic and full of many, often contradictory emotions. I believe it is best to keep compassion for the parts of ourselves that might feel intense jealousy, anger or self-doubt, and then also choose to keep kindness and understanding for each other and our community at the forefront of our lives.

Finally, EXPRESSION is a powerful and often FUN tool to sharpen at all stages of life. Of course being human means expressing ourselves in some form or fashion every day. However, the ways in which we express ourselves can vary greatly and when you find the ways that really get to the core of who you are, it can feel euphoric. Music and singing are amazingly empowering to me. I can almost say that I only truly feel like myself when I’m singing one of my songs. When you find the thing, or things, that make you feel like you’re singing (for me, it is actually singing…), lean into it. Distractions and obligations are everywhere, but carving out time and space to express yourself is essential to our personal freedom.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Collaboration is one of my favorite things! I’m always looking to find people who want to combine skills and see what can come of it. If you think about it, collaborating is kind of like performing a science experiment. Two or more elements combined can create something completely different and more exciting than what you started with.

My main element I’m putting out into the world right now is singing/playing guitar. Are you an artist? A poet? A musician? A publicist? If you are someone who likes my music (check it out at the links I’ve provided) and want to combine forces in some way, I’d love to hear from you! You can follow me on Instagram and DM me there.

Can’t wait to connect!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eggshell_emily/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eggshellemily
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eggshellemily
• Other: Bandcamp:
  https://eggshellemily.bandcamp.com

  Email:
  [email protected]