Live Forever (EP) - Emily Manuel (Folk Pop) We’ve got some impressive musicality on the blog today with Emily Manuel’s 5-track EP “Live Forever”, a dark and sumptuous project bursting at the seams with some serious talent. Poetic lyrics, complex and creative arrangements and a burning intensity, “Live Forever” captivates. Let’s dig in.

Based in Denver, Colorado, Emily focuses on the bittersweet, inviting listeners to join a visceral experience. Today, Emily plays rooftops, tavernas, open fields, theaters and wine cellars, and after listening to this EP, we think sold out concerts across the country are not too far away.

Emily’s sound centers on piano and strings, with features from the occasional horn, percussion and guitar in ways that help give each song its unique identity among the sonically cohesive set. Her classical and jazz training are evident within seconds of listening to the EP, as Emily incorporates impressively composed choral vocals, surprising dissonance and increasing musical complexity.

There is a weight and maturity to the project, with a fair amount of darkness. It showcases maturity and mastery of composition and form. It’s also fitting that a project called “Live Forever” has such a timeless sound. If we had to place it among peers, we’d put it in the late 90s/early 00s singer-songwriter era in the realm of Fiona Apple, but far more folk/blues imbued.

The album kicks off with title track, “Live Forever”, beginning with a miasma of strings that help set a foreboding tone. As is also evident throughout, Emily enjoys playing with dissonance, especially where you least expect it. She likes to touch it briefly before going back to what the ear expects. The song conjures images of dangerous waters, choppy waves and a threatening undertow. We were also impressed with the wall of vocal harmonies, a choral styling that will resurface throughout.

Album closer, “Arms of Mine”, is our favorite, possibly because we think of all the tracks it lends itself best to single treatment, sync licensing and playlisting. With the waves crashing behind the sound of a soulful guitar and rich, weighty lead vocal, you can almost hear the beach bonfire as Emily tells her tale to a late night audience.

Between these bookends we get “So Long,” a piano driven number that sounds like an experimentation in build. Emily starts us off with a piano driven number, only to add more and more instrumentation and complexity (including an absolutely stunning cello line), until we’ve got a full band taking us home. “Scrawl” strikes us with its texture. Scratchy violins claw at the sparkling piano all while a soothing horn introduces warmth. “When This Is Over” gives us a Spanish guitar flare with what we think is Emily’s strongest vocal performance on the project. Emotive and passionate, she uses different aspects of her instrument throughout to display her versatility. And THAT LOW NOTE. We skipped back to make sure we heard that correctly. That came from a fire in her chest.

The passion is evident when listening to this project, as Emily serves a tour de force of artistry. With its timeless sound, rich instrumentation and haunting beauty, we think “Live Forever” will stand the test of time.