Cindy Emch shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Cindy, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: When was the last time you felt true joy?
It’s funny you asked this because I was just talking with my wife recently about this random occurrence where we both found ourselves unexpectedly relaxed and happy, like completely, for the first time in years. It’s been a rough slog for us since the mid-20-teens when we lost a number of immediate family members in quick succession. Then just as we were getting back on our emotional feet I was laid off from my dayjob and started on a rollercoaster run of contract positions, and then Covid hit. We’re a few years past the crisis’ now, but between all of that and some high vet bills, we’ve been struggling pretty hard and under a lot of stress and pressure. In June we decided to treat ourselves to a bucket list concert and go see Grace Jones live out in Napa. It was an outdoor concert being held by Blue Note at a fancy resort and it sounded like just the ticket for a Friday night date. The only trouble in paradise being that traffic in the Bay Area on a Friday meant that the 75 min drive would likely be about 120+ minutes to get out there, add to that driving home late at night when my current day job starts at 5am, but what the heck right? We’re game for the adventure. So we left early and still got stuck in traffic, and I realized that if I was this tired driving out there – I wasn’t going to make it through the show and to the drive home. So we pulled into the resort parking lot, I turned to my wife and suggested we stay the night. Now – this is a ‘fancy’ place. The kind of place I’ve never stayed in because, well, I just have never had that kind of money. But it seemed like an expensive night at a hotel would be cheaper than getting in a wreck on the way home. So I grabbed a credit card with enough room on it, and we got the keys.
Now even upon checking in, this place was wild. Napa is known for wine, and there was a free wine tasting happening in the lobby, what felt like a million amenities being offered, and once we got to the room, complimentary wine, a balcony with a little lounge area set up, and the most comfortable bed I’ve ever laid in in my life.
We threw down our stuff, took a nap, went for a walk around the grounds, looked at each other and realized – we could just let go for the next 12 hours. Our neighbors were checking on our cats. Our dog was staying with his best friend down the street. We only needed to focus on us for a blissfully chill 12 hours.
Which we did. The concert could not have been better and we made new friends with the folks sitting near by. When we walked back to the hotel lobby we had a cocktail with a bunch of the other happy concert goers. Brunch in the morning was full of our kind of people (aka Grace Jones fans) and the laughter and smiles were everywhere. Packing up to head home we both realized, this is what folks want when they pay for resorts. It’s not about fancy spa treatments or swimming (both of which would have been great – but we were unprepared for that) – but it’s about giving yourself the freedom to just disconnect and relax. Something we’re trying to bring into our daily lives now that we’re home and trying to live within the budget to pay off our relaxing and unexpected joyful night out in Napa.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure – my name is Cindy Emch and I’m the frontperson / songwriter for the alt-country band Secret Emchy Society.
I grew up in rural Michigan about 75 mins outside of Detroit in a sundown town as the daughter of a teacher and an accountant. I would often help out on my friends farms, and we were the kind of family that would go to U-Pick farms and come home with bushels and bushels of vegetables or fruit for canning and deliciousness all winter long.
Where I grew up and the attitudes I was surrounded by (good and bad) empowered me early on to engage with the social justice, pro-union, and inclusivity movements and make community engagement a huge part of my personal values. Standing up for other folks, equality, and fairness has always been a huge part of my emotional makeup.
In my 20’s I moved to the SF Bay Area and started performing professionally as a spoken word artist / poet, which quickly morphed into forming bands and songwriting. Since 2015 I’ve fronted Secret Emchy Society – a rowdy collective of musicians informed by a heady mix of influences from Hazel Dickens, to Waylon Jennings, to Leonard Cohen, to Willie Dixon and beyond. When I’m not at band practice or my dayjob, I’ve also frequently moonlighted as a radio DJ, most recently for GimmeCountry radio and my show Emchy’s Outlaw Americana.
Currently the band is right smack in the middle of releasing our newest album Queen of Assholes – which is all about love, friendship, and self care. Ironically – the title track is actually about NOT being a jerk, but feeling like an a**hole if you ever try to enforce even the smallest boundary, and so it’s a reckoning or call to action song about standing up for yourself – even if it makes you feel like the ‘Queen of Assholes.’ I feel super blessed that we were able to have this one made at Third Man Pressing out of Detroit so I could put some money back into the city that supported and inspired me as I was growning up.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Growing up I had two grandfathers who were incredibly supportive. My mom’s father lived in the Upper Peninsula which was eight hours drive from our place downstate, and also I had a surrogate grandfather who lived down the street (from an older couple who used to care for me while my folks were at work). These two men had the patience of saints. Whenever I was in either of their presences I would put on shows, dress them in costumes for my theatrical melodramas, and always always always sing them songs. They always asked for more. They always loved my voice, applauded, cheered, and asked for more. There was always space to try, experiment, and just be me without having to apologize for it or try and take up less space. This love absolutely gave me a foundation to be comfortable in myself and reach for the stars.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would say “don’t wait until you’re ready.”
Folks always seem to put off the things they really want, the things their passionate about. Whether that’s having kids, buying a house, or even things that people think are impractical like starting a band, traveling, or going back to school.
There will never be a perfect time. None of us know the future and the only sure thing is death and taxes. So if you feel inspired, or have a dream – go for it. You will figure out how to make it work.
I’m a nerdy creative who has had a job (often more than one) since I was seven years old helping my Grandmother clean offices. There is always a way to keep the lights on AND pursue what you love. I only wish I had started sooner.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Hahah very much yes. I would say that I drink a bit less now than I used to – so some of those old drinking songs reflect more of a past me than a now me – but what you see if what you get. I do admit to having a hard time sharing the sad and vulnerable moments out publicly and so often try to put that more into song than into my day to day conversations and banter – but almost without exception – I’m an open book.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
I will absolutely regret it if I don’t live in more places. I love both the backwoods and the lights of Broadway and cannot wait to try my hand at living back in the country again someday (preferably on a lake) AND moving back to the East Coast to be closer to the music and theater of New York City. Plus fall colors and thunderstorms! I miss both so much. The West Coast has been great to me and I love all of the Pacific Northwest – but trying my hand at some new places is definitely on the ‘must do’ list.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emchy.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretemchysociety
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/emchymusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SecretEmchySociety
Image Credits
Dark Images – photographer Jeff Fasano
Live pic with rainbow flag – photographer Ed Scott
Additional Live pics – photographer Marco Baroz
