EMILY CAVANAGH

emily cavanagh music

Singer, Songwriter, Activist, Artist

Born to a large Irish American family in Chicago, Emily Cavanagh is an independent artist based in NYC. Singer/Songwriter, Founder & Performer in places like New York, Chicago and Dublin, Emily has made a career for herself as a singer, often working at the intersection of music & service--gigging, writing, & bringing music to marginalized communities. To date, she has performed or written for refugee communities, individuals facing homelessness & HIV, & seniors with memory loss. In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, Emily launched a music initiative called "A Song for You".... writing, recording & sending original personalized songs to first responders, patients & families hit hardest by the pandemic, primarily those at the end of life. This project has recently grown into its own non-profit & features songs of local, touring, & grammy award winning songwriters.

As a writer, Emily's music reflects a throwback sound of the 30's, 40's,& 50's while maintaining a great folk & pop sensibility. Her work can be found in commercial placements & the instrumental of her song "Treehouse" was featured in the 2017 trailer for Woody Harrelson's film "Wilson." As a performer, venues of note in New York include Blue Note, City Winery, Highline Ballroom, Living Room, Irish Arts Center and Rockwood Music Hall-(stages 2 &3)....in Chicago include Schubas & Uncommon Ground, and in Dublin, Whelans & Sugar Club. In the states, Emily writes with & for other bands. Abroad in Ireland, she has played alongside multi-platinum Irish artists such as Mundy, Paddy Casey and on bills with acts like Niall Connolly, Saoirse Casey and others. On the festival circuit she has enjoyed playing with her trio (Nir Sadovnik & Frank Wagner) on bills featuring acts like Bruce Hornsby, Chris Trapper & Gregory Porter. With a background in both Social Work & Music, Emily remains passionate about causes close to her heart. Her original song "Dark Was the Night" written on behalf of Genocide Survivors, has played at numerous events at the United Nations, where she has performed live for the UN at the Commemoration for Rwanda.

Emily's music can be found on all major streaming sites. Her "A Song for You" music initiative can be found at https://hereisasongforyou.org and in feature stories from NBC to Medium to Upworthy to People Magazine. 

To reach Emily: emilycavanaghmusic@gmail.com

“A Song For You” Initiative

https://hereisasongforyou.org

Initiative organized & coordinated by emilycavanaghmusic

ACTIVISM

MUSIC AS A MEANS OF HEALING

For more than ten years, Emily has worked at the intersection of servic & the arts— both as a singer/songwriter and a social worker, combining her two passions—music and activism. She has worked with individuals living with HIV/AIDS, medically frail children, seniors with memory loss, and refugee women. She continues to be dedicated to the work of using her voice to help others find their own. In 2020, she launched “A Song For You” for patients and families hit hardest by Covid-19. Read/learn about this latest project at NBC, ABC, NY1, & Medium (or at our “Media” tab)

EMILY AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Emily's song "Dark was the Night," inspired by Rwandan Genocide Survivor, Consolee Nishimwe, has been featured in a number of performances at the UN. Sundance Filmmaker, Shilpi Gupta, collaborated with the women on this first music video. The second video below features the story of Consolee set to Emily's music, and is produced by "Rwanda Next."

SHOWS

past venues of note

• Blue Note — NYC

• Schubas — Chicago

• Whelan's — Dublin

• Hotel Cafe — LA

• The Basement — Nashville

• Lafayette's — Memphis

• Rockwood Music Hall — NYC

• Hiro Ballroom — NYC

• Pete's Candy Store — Brooklyn

• Living Room — NYC

• Red Room — NYC

• The Monocle — St. Louis

• Rockwood Stage 2& 3 — NYC

• Sugar Club — Dublin, Ireland

Videos

Seeing Me Home

(A Song for Idaho)

you're Gonna Make ME Lonesome when you go

Live rooftop session with Emily covering Bob Dylan classic

Coming Home