You can actually buy a t-shirt that reads ‘Emily Scott Robinson Made Me Cry’ and I can testify that her ability to reduce to a crowd to tears is unmatched. Her new album ‘Appalachia’ is another stunning collection of songs that showcase her angelic voice and sensitive heart.
‘Hymn for the Unholy’ is an uplifting sequel to her devastating divorce song ‘Let Em Burn’. That song was about a woman who wants sets fire to her ‘perfect’ family life. ‘Hymn for the Unholy’ shows the aftermath of the decision – the freeing feeling of taking tentative steps into a new world.
Title track ‘Appalachia’ was written after the devastating hurricane that destroyed much of her home state of North Carolina. It has a suitably folky mountain feel to the musical arrangement. Despite the darkness plaguing the state she uses the song to celebrate her emotional connection to the history of the place. Her voice is as crisp and clear as the river she sings of.
The love songs on this album range from the haunting ‘Sea of Ghosts’ to the sweet duet ‘Cast Iron Heart’ with John Paul White and the gently lovely ‘The Water is Wide’ with Duncan Wickel.
Emily wrote ‘Time Traveler’ for her grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer’s, and she has a compassionate understanding of her struggle. ‘Bless it All’ similarly looks to find the good in everything, even the difficult moments.
‘Dirtbag Saloon’ offers us the most ‘country’ sounding song on the album, and takes us into the dive bar of dreams. It’s a cash only business where everyone knows your name and drinks are cheap. Here the working class agree that the gentrification of their communities is the problem. This song is a pointed, political statement that ‘the rich folks are squeezing us right out of room’ and makes for the most engaging and evocative song on the album.
The song ‘Time for Flowers’ was released during the pandemic and has gone on to be one of her most popular songs, so it is nice to see it given a place on this album since it has such a beautiful sentiment of enduring through darkness.
She finishes the album with her friend Lizzy Ross, singing ‘The Fairest View’ a kind of campfire song celebrating the joy of music, faith, nature and love.
Some cynics may find Emily’s voice too nice, her songs too genuine, her heart too much. But not every singer needs to have grit in their voice to convey their message. We need sweet voices like Emily’s to carry the truth to those cynical hearts, singing so high that she shows us all the light. ‘Appalachia’ proves that the time to give this songwriter her flowers is now.
BUY: https://emilyscottrobinson.bandcamp.com/album/appalachia
Highway Queens 
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