INTERVIEW: Louis Emory and The Reckless Few

Louis Emory and The Reckless Few‘s new EP Love Italy is a heartfelt ode to a place that’s ignited frontman Louis Emory’s creative passion. Emory, a singer-songwriter based in Troy, New York, who draws inspiration from the classic rock band, The Band, who wrote their debut album Music from Big Pink in Woodstock, just an hour south of his hometown, got to work with one of the album’s legendary engineers Shelly Yakus on the EP. Louis’ band features multi-instrumentalists Bob Boyer and Tim Lynch, both members of The Recording Company, who each bring their own instrumental flair to the project, perfectly complimenting Emory’s charming sonic vision.

The EP artfully melds Italian references with Americana-infused rock, creating a unique sound that’s both familiar and refreshing. Emory’s emotive vocals blend seamlessly with the beautiful guitar leads and steady drumbeats, evoking feelings of longing and nostalgia. Opening the EP with “Roma,” they capture a wistful and heartwarming sound instilled with a deep love and appreciation for the country that inspired Emory to make this record, sentiments that shine throughout the release and its location-linked songs.

The production is polished, with each instrument and vocal track given its own space to shine, thanks in no small part to the renowned abilities of producer Shelly Yakus. The guitar tracks are particularly impressive, seamlessly blending together to create a textured, layered sound, while the vocal leads and backings are also noteworthy, adding depth and emotion to the music.

As the world continues to face uncertain times, Love Italy serves as a reminder of the power of music to transport us to a different time and place. Emory and The Reckless Few have created a release that’s at once timeless and forward-looking, capturing the essence of what it means to be a musician in the modern era. With its catchy choruses, lightly grooving rhythms, infectious guitar performances and stunning vocal delivery, Love Italy is sure to be a hit with fans of alternative country rock and anyone who appreciates enduring songwriting.

Overall, Louis Emory and The Reckless Few’s Love Italy is an elegantly crafted EP that showcases the band’s talent for weaving emotive, memorable songs, and it’s sure to win over new fans and solidify Emory’s place as one of the most promising singer-songwriters on the New York music scene and beyond.

We caught up with Louis to find out more about his musical journey so far, his new EP Love Italy and what him and his band have lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Louis Emory below.

Hey Louis, how’s things?

Hi 🙂 Thanks for giving us the opportunity to chat. Things are going well. We are currently at The Recording Company working on our followup EP and hoping to have it out by Fall!

What was your biggest highlight in 2022 as an artist?

2022 was a pretty incredible year! I was able to work with Shelly Yakus, release the Love Italy EP, and travel to Italy to promote it.

How did you first get into making your own music?

My parents bought me my first guitar around 14 and I started writing songs fairly soon after. I aspired to be a “rockstar”. There was something challenging about writing a good song that kept me working at it.

Which artist first made a lasting impression on you?

The Beatles have always been the band that made the biggest impression on me. Growing up and driving around with my mom, they would come on the radio and I felt such joy at hearing their songs and voices. I remember when Anthologies came out I had the tape with “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” and would play it over and over again. I was so happy with new Beatles music and it sounded great. Later on in life – after I had been playing for a while – my cousin Ray who loved The Beatles, too, and I were working at Dante’s Pizza shop in Troy and would have many conversations about The Beatles – interpreting lyrics, talking about their lives or experiences. He turned me on to John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band and that had a real impact on me at the time. I still love that record.

What do you love about the New York music scene?

Honestly, I’m not a part of any scene, so I couldn’t tell you! I know there is a lot of diverse music and talented artists here like anywhere else in the world. Most days are spent with my family which I’m extremely grateful for. It makes it hard to get out.

Which artists do you draw the most inspiration from today?

George Harrison and Keith Richards. Both have changed my life in so many ways. Studying them, their life experiences, and understanding how it shaped their philosophies, spirituality, and music, really helped me grow as a person.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I find inspiration in life, love, travel, books, and my family.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

Wherever the listener wants to! In the car, by the pool, while they are walking around doing errands… Hopefully when they are preparing to travel to Italy they turn it on. Or, maybe if they’re cooking a nice meal with a little Querceto di Castellina Chianti on Sunday night 😉

How has your sound evolved since you started out?

My songwriting has improved. I think I have a clearer picture in my head these days and can communicate that more effectively with the people I’m playing with. It changed from writing songs with more distortion and a basic understanding of the craft to allowing more space and every instrument to have its own place. It’s also changed lyrically from teenage angst and young love to my own personal experiences and real love.

How did you find making your new EP ‘Love Italy’?

We kind of stumbled into it in a way. I was working on another album with about twelve tracks and I had written a new song – “Firenze” – which was about Cosimo Medici and his exile to Venice after his enemies tried to assassinate him and take over the Florentine government. At the time, I was listening to a lot of Bob Dylan’s demos. One of them “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts” was just so good. He wrote a western in a song; It blew my mind. So I was inspired by that to try to write a longer form song – which these days we’ve lost our attention span due to technology. I missed longer form songs and the escapism that comes with them and wanted to take a crack at it and honour Cosimo de Medici who had become an inspiration for me. So we started working on that song and then a few weeks later I brought in “Roma” and everything just clicked. Tim and Bob instantly got it and the song came together fairly quickly. It was then that I decided to abandon the album and pursue these songs inspired by Italy.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

The message with this release was to share my inspiration from my travels, studies, and experiences with the listeners. I saw COVID had shut down the country and the feeling there which quickly spread across the world was one of uncertainty, fear, anxiety. So, in a small way I wanted to write these songs to the Italians, world travellers, dreamers, artists and say, “Thank you so very much for reigniting my creativity and I appreciate your culture so much.” To the people that haven’t visited yet, “Book the ticket.” To the people that haven’t been there in years, “Go.” I also wanted to raise awareness towards climate change, specifically in regard to Venice and the problems they are facing. I feel it’s important to support them because all other major cities on the water will have to face a similar battle against nature. They are adapting and engineering their way through it which is really amazing. I highly recommend people visit Venice while they can.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Bill Withers. Just incredible. Al Green – the sound of his voice with that band was pure fire! Curtis Mayfield, The Staples, Freddie King, Fruit Bats. Eric (Fruit Bats) is a really good singer and songwriter. Bob Dylan is always on. Lucio Dalla. I jump around a lot and kind of go with the mood or energy of the day. If I need a little boost I throw on The Rolling Stones!

On Sundays, and if we are making our family sauce, we listen to my Love Italy playlist while cooking and dream and chat about our next trip to Italy. It includes the songs from the Love Italy EP as well as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Lucio Dalla, Jovanotti, Mina, and Zucchero – to name a few.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

I just hope it connects with them in some way. Maybe they learn something from it or read some of the books by Ross King or Stephanie Storey that have been so enlightening to me. I hope that they travel. I get that not everybody has the time or money to do it – but don’t let that stop you. Do it on the cheap. You will grow because of it. A lot of people wait until later in life but depending on where you go, traveling while you are young has an advantage because sometimes it takes a toll on your body. In my experience, it’s been harder for my older family members to keep up the same pace as my wife and I when we travel together. Some people won’t travel with their kids and – no judgment – I get it. We’ve been traveling with our son since he was ten months old to Italy! I know it’s helping him on many levels and I want to give him opportunities that I didn’t have as a kid. When I was little, we went camping at Paradox Lake in the Adirondacks during the summer. It was so beautiful but it’s nothing like traveling to Europe. I think if you have kids who show any signs of artistry, take them to see the masters while we can all enjoy safe travel abroad. It’s incredible for our souls.

What’s been your favourite live show so far?

I have a bunch, lol. Last year… “It was a very good year…” (Sinatra), I was able to go with my son, mother, aunt and wife with her family to see Paul McCartney in Syracuse, NY – it meant a lot to share that moment with all of them. My son’s first show at age three was Paul McCartney!!! My wife and I were also in the “pit” in the front row for the first time at The Rolling Stones show in Pittsburgh in 2021! It was such a fun experience andI’d love to do it again with our son if they go back on tour. So those were like bucket list shows. The sleeper show of the year by far was Fruit Bats at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. It was one of the first real intimate shows we were at in a few years (the place only holds a few hundred people) and Eric and the band did not disappoint! It’s our favorite place to see a show in upstate NY and I highly recommend it. The room sounds amazing.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and Led Zeppelin at the Roman Colosseum! Who do we talk to to make this a reality? Haha. Do they need an opener? 😉

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. It’s a lot of hard work and an investment of time and money. I’ve been writing my whole life so I don’t want to dissuade anyone from it. I’ve also felt pulled to do it my whole life. Music is such a beautiful thing that connects us all.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

Right now I’m in the process of finishing up another six-song EP with Bob, Tim, and Shelly. We are hoping to have it out by fall – fingers crossed. After that I’m thinking of exiling myself to Italy for a bit to write the next album.

Listen to Love Italy below