Conversations with Emily Hope

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Hope.  

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Lincoln, IL in 1995 into a loving, Christian home. As I grew up, I became a shy pre-teen who secretly loved to sing and write songs. Eventually, I felt led by God to take a step of faith and sing in front of people for the first time. So (even as frightened as I was) I went for it and sang a Taylor Swift song in my 8th-grade talent show back in 2009. I received a standing ovation, countless compliments, and even a word of encouragement from my principal, which really helped solidify the belief that I was actually good at this music stuff. 🙂 

Fast forward to high school and I continued to write my own songs, push myself out of my comfort zone to perform in talent shows, and even joined the school choir. By junior year, I had already written an album’s worth of songs. I was asked by an aspiring rap artist at my school to sing on one of his tracks, and that was the first time I ever walked into a recording studio. After that introduction to the studio, I began recording my own pop songs, which were written to instrumental beats, and eventually released the album as a physical CD under the name “Emily Johnson,” which was my maiden name at the time (before I changed my stage name to “Emily Hope”). 

After entering my college years in 2013, I picked up ukulele and guitar so I could begin accompanying myself. 2016 (my junior year of college) was when I started being asked to perform at a variety of coffee shops, restaurants, bars, community events, weddings, music festivals, etc. across the Midwest. Between 2016 and 2020, I had the opportunity to open for famous artists, including country star, Eric Paslay (2016), Christian rock band, Stars Go Dim (2018), Christian duo, Love & The Outcome (2018), and singer-songwriter/mandolin prodigy, Sierra Hull (2020). 

In 2017, I changed my stage name to “Emily Hope” (Hope is my middle name) and released a folksy/pop, 5-song, self-titled EP. Since then, I’ve released 7 singles that could be categorized within the indie pop, folk, and country genres, “Father’s Song,” “Lovely Thoughts,” “Can’t,” “Better,” “Got It From My Mama,” “Anyway,” and “Rearview.” 

In 2020, one of my dreams became a reality when I started a four-piece band (Shawn Reischauer on bass/keys, Alec Troemel on electric guitar/keys, & Will Alexander on drums). Although it was fairly short-lived, it was one of the best musical experiences in my career thus far. We played shows up until July 2021, when I moved to Nashville, TN, after my husband (who I married in June 2021) got a job offer he just couldn’t pass up. 

Since then, I’ve played occasional shows in the Nashville area and am working on recording more original songs to share with the world. 🙂 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve definitely encountered many obstacles throughout my musical journey. As an independent artist, I’ve had to put extra effort into making a name for myself and promoting my music. It’s always been difficult to make good money, from minimal earnings from streaming platforms to low pay at certain venues. It’s harder to succeed in music than many people think, especially for us independents. I don’t have a record label, booking agent, or manager to help me get shows, pay for recording, or promote me. I’m a one-woman-show at this point. I hope someday that can change, but for now, I’m just trying my best and forgetting the rest! 

I will say, though, that all the credit goes to God for providing me with the amazing musical experiences I’ve had so far. Yes, I had to do some work in between, but overall, I didn’t really have to search for opportunities. They always seemed to find me. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I sing, write my own songs, and play ukulele, acoustic guitar, and piano. I offer live performances, wedding music, and personalized songwriting. 

Writing personalized songs is one of my favorite things to do for people! Basically, I write songs for special occasions in people’s lives (proposals, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc.) and add a personal touch using the information they give me about the person receiving the song. 

I’m most proud of how I haven’t let society lead me away from my Christian morals. In this industry, it’s easy to just go along with the crowd and do what everyone else is doing. However, by God’s grace, I believe I’ve been able to stay true to who I am as an artist and a person. 

I also have a wide range of music taste, which definitely impacts the songs I write. I love the fact that I haven’t boxed myself into one specific genre, as I feel that can limit creativity to some degree. Although I know it’s beneficial to categorize oneself, I still love the freedom of being able to do anything! 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
It all goes back to my 8th-grade talent show when I sang in front of a crowd for the very first time. I still remember how my hands were shaking uncontrollably while holding the mic! I remember ending the song unsure of how people would react and thinking, “oh my goodness, what have I done?!” But when I saw my peers and teachers stand up, cheer, and clap for me, I felt such triumph. I truly believe that day was the start of my music career. 

Contact Info:

• Email: booking@emilyhopemusic.com
• Website: https://www.emilyhopemusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyhopestosing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilyhopemusic1995
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/emhopestosing
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EMiLyHoPe1995
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MZJ8zjxHMEtrGdghg6KnN

Image Credits
Erin B
Jeremy Bassett
Monica Zoss