Emily Zuzik – Trouble

ArtistRack brings to you ‘Trouble’ by the talented Emily Zuzik.

Emily Zuzik is an L.A. based Americana singer-songwriter who has planted her musical roots in a unique eclectic blend of alt-country, modern, rhythm & blues and rock music. She brings to her songs a woman’s vulnerability and strength in the tradition of Patsy Cline and Madonna.  As a singer-songwriter, her music captures the film-noir essence of Los Angeles’ haunted past infused with the soul of the Memphis Stax sound. Her songs compel and engage as they call to mind her musical kinship with Carole King and Rickie Lee Jones. Her voice is warm as she seduces the listener in a way reminiscent of Sheryl Crow and Liz Phair.  She is currently celebrating the release of her latest single Trouble, co-written and produced by Grammy winning bassist Ted Russell Kamp (Tanya Tucker), coming out Feb. 7. Her full album, Torch & Trouble, comes out in May 2020.

Over the last two decades as a solo artist from San Francisco to New York to LA, Emily has released 14 solo and collaborative albums, EPs and singles. Most recently, her 2017 three-song EP Tender, cowritten and produced with Geoff Pearlman (Echo in the Canyon, Shelby Lynne, Jakob Dylan) includes the blue-eyed soul of the title song, met with critical acclaim.

Past Credits 

Emily Zuzik’s musical odyssey over the last two decades has moved through a variety of genres including soul, rock, country, blues, electronica and folk. From this she has developed a unique signature style that provides her own brand of roots music that is simultaneously urban and earthy.

In the 1990s she was vocalist and writer in the successful San Francisco alt-country band, Sexfresh, who released two critically acclaimed albums, The Fainting Room (2000) and Vacancy (2003).

In 2016, Emily re-teamed with Tim Lefebvre (Tedeschi Trucks Band, David Bowie’s Blackstar) to create an experimental EP titled, Angelenos. The duo released an eclectic electro-pop album, Domestic Blitz, in 2010.

In 2011, Emily was a featured singer and cowriter of “The Low Hum” on Moby’s Destroyed album. She has worked with several other downtempo artists over the years including South London’s Sizzlax, Toronto’s Solid Stone, and Los Angeles’ Acacia Downs and Will Pharaoh

2003 Emily released her debut solo album, The Way it’s Got to Be, in February 2003, which received praises from NYC’s The Village Voice and Time Out, as well as on of Performing Songwriter Magazine’s Top Picks.

Emily sang the theme song to the NBC rom com Love Bites (2010-11). Additionally, Emily sang songs for the Aimee Teagarden character in the WB series Aim High. Her music has been licensed for the MTV show Catfish, Bravo!’s Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, the El Rey Network’s Matador (episode directed by Robert Rodriguez), Sundance Selects film Free the Nipple, films The Endless and Spring, CW show Smallville and The Nate Berkus Show among others.

Reviews about Emily Zuzik:

 “I’ve known Emily for a while from her days in NYC, and I’ve always admired her work very much. This new record is her best batch of songs yet. Totally truthful, organic rock and roll with a lot of great styles mixed in that all work well together.  A truly gorgeous, honest voice that never sounds like she’s trying too hard. It reminds me a bit of one of my favorite artists Aimee Mann but Emily totally has her own thing.  It’s hard to pick a favorite out of so many great songs, but if I had to, I’d say “Trouble” as it rocks hard. This is a great record from top to bottom with plenty of variety to keep you interested.”

-Aaron Comess

Drummer/Songwriter, The Spin Doctors, Joan Osborne

“How do you make a record that is simultaneously gutsy, atmospheric, rootsy and melodic and make it all seem effortless? It’s not easy to do, but Emily has done it.

“Trouble” kicks you in the ass, “Shadows” could set the stage for a Tarantino scene, “All That Love” could be in a Tedeschi & Trucks set, and my fave, “Magic,” is a soulful earworm that has made it to my Favorites playlist.

The playing is both forward and tasteful, even cinematic at times. A fine collection that covers a lot of territory and easily sits well together with Emily’s voice and songwriting holding it all together beautifully.”

-Rob Shrock

Producer and Arranger for Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach and Rumer

“The song [Ernst Kirchner] is sandwiched between a soul-filled pop tune, “Tender,” in which saxes and organ drive a light Stax-oriented song which, while having the beat, is more pleasant than raucous, and a semi-rocking country song titled “Winter In California,” end pieces which show three sides of a very talented musician.”  – No Depression

“Emily Zuzik’s voice ranges from a sweet and alluring croon to a low growl that would charm even the most world-weary.” – Time Out New York

“Zuzik mixes the urgent intensity of Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos with the easy cool of Kim Gordon.” – Performing Songwriter Magazine

The Alternate Root, On the Radar featured Tender in its October 18, 2017 issue

Winter in California was KCSN 88.5 FM’s Out on a Limb’s Local Anesthetic Feature.

“Elements of blues, jazz trip-hop and psychedelia come into play on Sexfresh’s debut release. The Bay Area quintet composes dark, often trance-inducing arrangements littered with accordion, banjo and upright bass. What stands out most, however, is Emily Zuzik’s deep soulful alto that croons, wails and whispers with understated power. On the rocked out “Bitterroot” and their tripped-out cover of the blues classic (sic) “Baby Please Don’t Go,” Zuzik’s vocal presence elevates to an unabashed growl. “Two Dimes in One Shoe” has the lazy character of Mazzy Star, while other tracks resemble a less-processed Portishead.”

– Sexfresh: “The Fainting Room” review – Performing Songwriter Magazine

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