emily cavanagh music

Singer, Songwriter, Activist, Artist

Music as a means of healing is an idea that permeates and informs most of Emily Cavanagh’s life. A working musician in New York City, Cavanagh has recorded four records to date, and played with some of the city’s finest musicians. Cavanagh, a graduate of New York University, has spent nearly ten years combining two passions-music and service- playing music, while helping underserved and homeless find their voice through the arts. 

Cavanagh —born to a large Irish American family in Chicago, and living amongst the doers and dreamers of NYC — has an ebullient vocal style influenced by the singers of the forty’s and fifty’s, while maintaining a great pop sensibility. Cavanagh, an independent artist, is a published songwriter, and regular performer in cities like NYC, Chicago, Nashville and Dublin.

Cavanagh’s latest EP, "Paper Moon," written entirely in Ireland and produced by grammy nominated Leo Sidran was released to acclaim in late 2017 both in the states and abroad, and plays on major music platforms like Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Apple Music, and Dublin Radio. Her prior full length record, Keep It With Mine, (also produced by Sidran) features all original songs in collaboration with jazz guitarist & pianist Jeremy Zmuda and Nir Sadovnik. USA Today tweeted about that project calling the record “a little gem.” Her live covers project, "Bootlegs from the Continental" was released in early 2018. This record features some of her favorite musicians, capturing original spins on timeless classics.

Since the release of her first full length record, Cavanagh has found success playing notable venues like NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall, Blue Note, Chicago’s Schubas, LA’s Hotel Cafe, Nashville’s The Basement, and Dublin’s Whelans to sold out crowds. She often plays abroad in Ireland alongside acts like multi-platinum selling Irish singer/songwriters, Paddy Casey and Mundy. She has provided back up vocals for musicians like James Apollo (in his opening act for Lord Huron) and written for international acts like the band, Neeskens.

In 2017, the instrumental of Emily's song "Treehouse" was featured in the trailer for Woody Harrelson's film "Wilson," a Fox Searchlight Picture. Her music can be heard in indie soundtracks & record shops, NY Tech events, and Garance Dore’s video "Can Anybody be a Photographer." Her song “Dark was the Night” has been highlighted as a song honoring Rwandan Genocide survivors, and has played at The United Nations, Georgetown University, and The Jewish Museum of Heritage. Her story has been featured in publications like The Guardian, AXS, American Songwriter, The Regional, Blindfold Magazine, Medium, Ditty TV, Joe Rooney, and Little Things.

In addition to music, Cavanagh continues to work freelance for arts non-profits where she lends her voice to causes close to heart such as Musical Director, Mary Mitchell Campbell’s “Artists Striving to End Poverty," working alongside other artists to bring music to youth living in poverty in places like South Africa. Cavanagh remains passionate about using music to help people find their voice while sharing her own with all of us.

All music available on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, and other streaming sites.