Happy Holidays from My Isolation Chamber to Yours.

Hello, dear and distant friends.

To say that I miss performing for live human beings would be an understated estimation of a hyperbolic and rhetorical boring-ass question.

I’m so starved for live banter that I’ve started stringing words together that have no business being in the same room.

Speaking of! That’s what I miss most. Have I mentioned that yet? I miss being in your personal space. I don’t care how creepy that sounds.

Speaking of sounds! I’ve recorded some for you here! In this vid, I’ve repurposed some old Christmas lyrics into something a bit more……2020 forward. The vintage is shit and there is basically NO nose (thanks COVID!), but it’s got heart and sentiment and a bit of clunk, which is a true representation of my current state. So, please enjoy as much as you can.

I so hope to see you in the not too distant future.

Oh, and please get the GD vaccine, so we can get there ASAP.

Thank youuuuuuuuuuuu! <3

Turn The Mirror

The story of Medusa, retold and reclaimed for a new generation. This may not the happiest of endings, but it is the more realistic and warrior worthy ending.

Click the image below and you will see all the magic created by Kevin Shipp, May Yang, and Kenny Schick of Basement 3 Productions.

You can purchase the song on my bandcamp site at https://emilyzisman.bandcamp.com/

Thank you for listening.

Enjoy <3

EmZis

The Myth Will Be Told Anew.

The final Bandcamp Friday is coming up on December 4th. That’s a special day when Bandcamp waves all fees and all of the money spent to purchase music goes directly to the artists. But the reason I’M excited about this date is that I’m releasing a piece I’ve been working on since 2017. So, please come back and see what we’ve done. It’s exactly as I intended it, and that is not always how things work out. Stay tuned! <3

A Bit of Background: Turn The Mirror

I was inspired to write my forthcoming release, Turn The Mirror, after stumbling upon this lecture by scholar and Dame Mary Beard, professor at Cambridge University and Dame Commander of the British Arts (thank you VERY fucking much).

Long story short, at the end of her lecture Professor Beard expresses surprise at the fact that Medusa’s story hadn’t been explored or unpacked as one of the most powerful and prodigious pieces of patriarchal propaganda as deeply or commonly as it probably should have been by now. Especially after she shows how commonly it shows up in political media these days. I mean, she has a point. It’s just a story, and story is art. The arts should be exploring and unpacking the arts!! That’s what art is FOR! To quote Nina Simone “An artist’s duty is to reflect the times.” And the story of Medusa is still deeply ingrained in our times.

I invite you to take professor Beard’s lecture. I know, I KNOW a lecture isn’t what you signed up for, and you don’t have to watch it. But I promise you will gain so much insight into our current, collective psyche.

Her deep unpacking of this classic, almost invisible mythical lore blew my mind and her reserved, hobbit like humor just makes the listening so much more inviting.

I hope it informs how you experience the song and how you see the video.

I truly cannot wait to share it with you.

Hi. How Are you? I’m losing my mind.

New Music On The Way (photo by Kala Minko)

How are you, friends? It’s been….a minute.

I’ve just made an announcement that I am quitting Facebook, on Facebook. It turns out that it is a LOT harder to do than just deleting an account. I’m a product of Facebook, so they make it very difficult to become NOT a product anymore. I’m their source of income in the form of access to my eyes and wallet for their ad buyers. I don’t remember signing up for it, but there it is, every time I see an ad for shapewear or mascara or a new cleanse that is sweeping Hollywood, I’m being shown my value. The thing is, I’ve been on it for so long, and now am in a pandemic with limited access to real facetime with loved ones, that it’s become a, sort-of, indispensable resource for connection.

Unfortunately I was a bit tipsy when I made the post and didn’t realize how much of a tool I’d look like until I actually tried deleting my account. Also, it’s attached to Instagram. Ugh…..

I came to the conclusion that I would keep the account and ONLY log on a post when it was about music or to respond directly to a friend when addressed. We will see how this pans out. But I’m getting out in one way or another.

All this to say, I will be engaging here more often, so if you find yourself here, you’ll see things change more frequently. Also, I’m releasing some new music soon and this is where I’ll be sharing it first. WELL…..Second to Patreon. If you’d like to be first, hop on over to Patreon and become a Patron! It’s already a tight little group of awesome, supportive folks and I’d love to have you join them!

I’ve been sitting on a few finished tunes, one of which I am currently working with Kevin Shipp (of MNOP) to turn into my second ever music video which will be released in the next couple of months. I’m VERY excited to share it with you as it’s a bit of a departure from what I’ve done in the past.

I hope you enjoy it. Stay tuned, stay safe, stay sane.

I love you.

<3

EZ

Book Me For A Private, Outside, Socially-Distanced Gig!!

Photo by Marianne Etlinger

Want to book me for a private concert in your driveway/backyard/farm/private woodland/campsite/outside space?

You’re in luck! can book me here: https://emilyzisman.curbsideconcerts.rocks/

$100 per hour and I bring all the gear! All YOU have to do is provide me a place to plug in and obey all social distancing protocol.

Feel free to message me about scheduling as I know some of us have jobs/kids/personal shudder and cry time….

Deal? See you outside! 

Next Facebook Livestream to Benefit Dancers For Musicians Fund

Tune in this Friday, May 1st at 5:30pm to hear some of the songs you’ve requested as well as a brand-spakin’ new original tune all about WTF is going down in my mind during this Shelter In Place. I’ve had some CA-RAYZY dreams yo. Some old daemons have been paying me frequent visits and insisting I greet them as a sniveling ball on the floor.

The virtual tip jar will be out in support of our local music makers who would typically be spending their evenings playing their hearts out while the lindy hoppers, balboa bouncers, shag shimmiers, and blues dancers shake their things.

Our last fundraiser was on par at about $500 for our friends at Blush! Wine Bar! SO MUCH GRATITUDE for all who donated and turned out to support.

Of course, there is no obligation to contribute, but please do come to enjoy and share. See you there!

Livestream Acoustic Postcards from the Pandemic Apocalypse

Friday 5:30-6pm PST I will sing to you from my place. All donations will be sent to @directrelief to help provide relief to underserved communities worldwide. Please join, bring a beverage of choice, and consider donating if you can.

Log in to Facebook and check out my second Facebook live post ever! Friday, 5:30-6pm PST. Looking forward to it ?