Emily Haavik’s new album, Wingspan, is coming out with a release show on October 3 at The Icehouse. She breathes a bravery into women with the songs she sings. It’s empowering and endearing. Lucky to get a few answer from her on the new album.
Please tell us about yourself and how you first (or most meaningfully) connected to music.
My parents put me in piano lessons when I was a little kid (so grateful!), and my dad taught me guitar. I think singing old James Taylor and Eagles songs with him were the moments where I really started to love making music with just an acoustic guitar and a couple of voices. I’ve added a little bit of rock n roll to the mix on this new album, but that’s definitely where the love began! I also sang in church throughout my life, and you’ll hear some of that influence in some of my songs (see: Saving Grace, the final track with the tiny backing choir!)
I love the new album Wingspan. The lyrics of Drive caught my attention. It feels like casting off and picking moods and emotions like outfits as passing towns on a road trip. And the power of grabbing your own steering wheel. What is the origin or inspiration of the song?
Thank you so much! I love that song and I love that imagery you used to describe it. Especially when you’re doing something brave and scary – for the woman in the song, it’s leaving home and leaving a relationship – you really do go through so many different emotions and phases of grief, joy, and empowerment. I like your image of a new outfit for every town. I wrote that song as part of my songwriting group. The word prompt was “shed” – so I started by thinking about shedding toxicity or unwanted control. I actually wrote it while looking at a painting I have by an amazing Denver artist named A.L. Lummus. It’s a painting of a woman driving a car with a look of pure joy on her face. The greater context of the painting in the exhibit is that women are more likely to die in car crashes than men, because crash test dummies are based on the male body. I thought about the courage it takes for a woman to get behind the wheel of a machine that’s not built to keep her safe, and that perhaps lots of people are trying to keep her away from – but there she is driving anyway, and on top of that she’s claiming all the joy and freedom that comes with it!
Saving Grace is right up my alley. The sassiness of the sound, the lyrics, the redemption. What has the response to the song been in front of a live audience?
Ha! I just played a lunchtime show in downtown Minneapolis today, and I decided to play the “clean” version because it was a family show. It’s not quite as fun but I do my best. I think people still got the point! I have gotten a great live reception to this song – people sometimes get really into it, clapping and chuckling. I have noticed that the people who like it the most are often wise and wonderful women in their 50s-60s. I assume they all have a “son of a bitch” who’s gone – and they’re singing “hallelujah,” thankful to be rid of them! Sometimes on the count of three, I make everyone shout the name of the person the song reminds them of. I love it when people actually do it (I do it, too!)
I know we really want to talk about the new album, but as a board member of Women’s March MN, can I ask you to talk about your powerful song and video, Do You Think You Protect Me?Thank you for what you do as part of that board! Safety for women is something that’s really important to me (and should be for all of us!) When I wrote this song I was alone in a cabin. It felt like something I had to get off my chest, and I didn’t know if I’d ever release it. I started slowly sharing it with other women who connected so strongly with it that I felt I had to do something more with it. The video project was a collaboration with dear friends, a choreographer (Brianna Hall-Nelson) and director (Michelle Truax). Jillian Rae produced the musical side. As we started thinking about making a statement about violence against women, we were grappling with the fact that while we were white women, Black and Indigenous women are so disproportionately impacted by this issue. We got connected with MNCASA and Native Lives Matter so that we could use the project to raise awareness and funds, hoping it could be more than just a song. I met so many amazing people through this project. The coolest part was having all those women out in the cold for several hours to shoot the video. I kept thinking someone would go home early, but every time I met someone’s eyes, there was fire there! No one left until we were done. I am amazed every day by the women around me. They are powerful and they deserve the simple human right to live without fear.
Please tell us about the upcoming release and party for the new album.
Eeeeee! I’m so excited! The release party for Wingspan is Thursday, Oct. 3 at Icehouse MPLS. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Haley E Rydell and her full band are on at 7 p.m., and my band is on at 8 p.m. You can still get home by 10! (Maaaaybe 10:30?)
This will just be a big ol’ party, a celebration of the music we get to make together! My band is Dave Mehling on keys and guitars – he also produced the album! – Beau Jeffrey on bass, Sheldon Way on drums, Eric Carlson on more keys and guitars, and I’ll have some special guests including Haley, and the tiny choir that performed on the album – Mwago Kuria, Maria Coyne, and Nikki Lemire. I’m so honored to be surrounded by these great musicians who are even better friends and people! Come celebrate with us! You’ll be able to get dinner, drinks, etc., and just hang out. We’ll be selling the new album and the SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION WINGSPAN BALLCAP! If you haven’t heard Haley, she’s truly one of the best songwriters and Americana performers in the Midwest. I adore her and I can’t wait to watch her set. I recommend getting tickets in advance, especially if you want a table!
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