new single and music video out now!

It has my first guitar solo. So like, let me know how I did?

But seriously, this is the climax of our newest album, due out on 3/29. I am incredibly proud of the whole album, and this song in particular. If you’ve liked our singles, be sure to share them with someone you think may enjoy them, and pre-save the whole album.

We also made this beautiful music video with our generous friend Kyle Lowry. We hit it off after he heard our song “Ohio” and we made this video together. I think it walks the line between mundane and magical — which is essentially our brand more often than not. I hope you enjoy.

Special thanks to the Greater Columbus Arts Council!

We were generously awarded a grant last year to help us produce and support this release. If you’re an artist, you know the strange space that this work can take up — always existing somewhere between vocation, hobby, career, passion, small business, frustration, joy, life-purpose, and productive distraction from day-to-day life. It takes money and time to make any kind of art and still live a balanced and sustainable life. We are so thankful for their support — and encourage you to apply for their 2024 Funds for Artists. They have rolling applications awarding up to $500 per artist. Please check them out if you are in Central Ohio.

Ok that’s all! Thanks for listening!

Sam & Hello Emerson

new single (+ my favorite music video ever)

Hey there. I won’t waste your time.

We have a new single out — you can find it on your favorite streamer here. I’m incredibly proud of it.

But I’m most excited about sharing this music video that we made with our friends Kim and Jerry. They’ve been married and ballroom dancing for 47 years. From songwriting to collaborating with our pals on the film crew, it’s my absolute favorite piece of art I’ve ever made. I really want you to see it.

Wishing you well,

Sam & Hello Emerson

Listen to “Tupperware for Glass” today!

Our newest album starts with these two tracks. The whole album focuses on an event in 2017 that landed my father in the hospital for nine days, without any memory to explain why. This is about first hearing the news.

I remember that I got a call from Mom at work on a Wednesday. In a little office with a little window that looked out at the parking lot. And she didn’t really have any information. Just that she was on the highway driving up to the University of Michigan hospital. She called me to let me know, and to prepare me for when she called back later – either to tell me to stay home or to drive up.

Part of the difficulty of everything is that the event that led to his injury was a random accident while he was doing a random act of kindness. There’s nothing that anyone could do to prevent it. There’s no one to blame. We can do everything we can to avoid carcinogens, keep ourselves healthy, work out, eat well, and it is worth doing. But it also means nothing at the same time, because that’s just how the world works.

I hope you listen, reflect, and maybe share it with someone who’s been in a similar situation.

Be well,

Sam & Hello Emerson

this song is the collective effort of eleven people who decided that songs are important.

sam emerson bodary | songs, guitars, vocals, synths, production

daniel lawrence seibert | percussion, synths, arrangements, production

jack keating doran | keyboards, production

with chamber contributions from Knisely

evan lynch | clarinet

helen cates | violin

shine robison | piano

zach koors | vibraphone

and these thoughtful collaborators

benjamin ahlteen | bass guitar

tony rice | recording, mixing, production

glenn davis | mastering

featuring the voice of david lawrence bodary

recorded by StoryCorps

on july 14th, 2019

Two shows next weekend, a November retreat, and a cover video

I am looking forward to teaching writing & songwriting at Words in the Hills 
(and you should come join me!)

Megan Bee has organized a three day writing retreat for creative writers across all genres and experience levels. I’ll be there leading a class on songwriting. There will be meals and lodging and hikes and yoga and everything you want in a fall weekend. I’m really looking forward to being there and spending some dedicated focused time with people who want to make things. You can find more information at their website and consider joining us!

I am looking forward to playing a trio show at the Vanderelli Room on Saturday 9/9

The 9/9 show is a benefit for the Bee Collective. We like them and met them at the Indie Go-Go fest organized by Left Out. I am looking forward to the show. Feel free to shoot us a message if you’re curious about what we’re playing that night. We hit the stage at 6:30, but the day will be happening for hours before that. Wish me luck as I get off at work and try to make it there in time for a 6:30 downbeat! Tickets here.

I am looking forward to playing a solo show at Double Happiness on Sunday 9/10

The solo show is with Melanie MacLaren and Coralilly — amazing songwriters both of them. Don’t miss out on that goodness. I recorded a cover of on of Melanie’s songs — you can find it in full on youtube. Tickets here.


4-Track Cover | "Hide" by The Cordial Sins

The Cordial Sins just put out their debut album called Small Talk.

It is good! I recorded a cover of one of the songs, called “Hide.” You can watch it below.

Support their crowdfunding campaign!

They are running a pre-order sale to press their new record on vinyl. I love pressing things on vinyl, and I’ve already made my pre-order. I think you should do that to. Click this link to learn more, or go to www.thecordialsins.com.

Listen to a brand new song for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest!

Hey there. Sam here with a new song for you. If you think someone else might like it, then it’s for them too!

a few notes

NPR runs their Tiny Desk Contest every year. They invite bands like us to record a video in front of a tiny desk, then invite a lucky winner to their offices to perform. This is a song from my 28-in-28-days challenge last August/September. I hope you like it.

Performed and written by Hello Emerson Daniel Seibert on percussion Jack Doran on keys Sam Emerson Bodary on voice and guitar Video by King Productions (https://portfolio.kingedits.com/) thanks to a generous skill swap from David at Yellow Weld (https://www.yellowweld.com/)

lyrics

When I wake up I reach for my coffee cup
Not full but just full enough
To raise a toast
To ambition to big plans
To booking some shows
Where we play to more than just the band
That played before us
And the one next up
Would that feel like enough?

Cause I might not be In love with this honestly
All the promo and content
And the hustle and bustle
And the Siren calls To NYC

Would it be enough to just do this kind of stuff
On work nights and weekends
With family and work friends
To build a community and tour inconsistently
Hopscotching on PTO
And say no no

No competition
No PR
No good distribution
So the vinyl we press can go far
To find strangers like me
Browsing aimlessly
Stack by stack
Do we deserve that?

My ambition is small plans
It’s writing some songs
That won’t ever be covered again
And playing with friends for
Friends of friends
And if something happens
Something happens

But when I wake up
I reach for my darling love
Awake but not quite woken up