"Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls your life." — Unknown

At a Glance:

• The Healing Power of Singing: Discover how singing regulates your breath, releases emotions, and builds resilience, transforming challenges into triumphs.
• Welcome to My Musical Journey: From writing my first song at 5 to chart-topping success, learn how music has shaped my life and why I'm passionate about helping others find their voice.
• Tonight: Be Part of the “Grieve” Music Video: Join me on set in Bethesda for the filming of my deeply personal song Grieve.
• Tomorrow: Opening for BETTY at Union Stage: Don’t miss this powerhouse girl group BETTY at one of the country’s top venues, Union Stage in Washington, DC - and I get to open for them!!
• Remixed: Fight the Fear EP: Check out fresh remixes of Grieve, Glitter, and more from my latest EP ONLY on BandCamp.
• Two Spots Left for Coaching: Secure your place in Emma’s teaching calendar for vocal and songwriting coaching and start turning your story into music.

Happy Monday, friends,

It might not have been a conscious decision, because I was so young, but did you know I decided to become a singer when I was just two years old? Even at that age, music wasn’t just something I loved — it was my safe space, my voice, and my way of processing the world around me. (It helped that I’d already survived at least one brain surgery by then!)

Since then, my life has been a journey of using music — not just for self-expression but for healing, growth, and connection. And now, I have the privilege of sharing that with you.

Singing has always been my anchor. It’s helped me navigate everything from the joys of chart-topping success [with my old band Static Era] to the challenges of personal loss and professional pivots. And here’s the thing: singing isn’t just about sounding good. It’s about feeling good — emotionally, physically, and mentally.

• Breathing for Balance: Singing regulates your breath, calming your nervous system and bringing your body back to center.
• Releasing Emotions: It’s a powerful way to process and release pent-up stress, sadness, or even joy.
• Finding Strength: Through song, you reclaim your voice — both literally and figuratively — which gives us the opportunity to transform our challenges into triumphs. Especially when singing victorious songs!

Yep. Whether you’re belting out a ballad or humming softly to yourself, singing is a tool for emotional regulation, healing and resilience.

From Two Years Old to Today

Let me give you the highlight reel of how music shaped my life—and why I’m so passionate about helping others discover their voice:

• At 5: I put pen to paper and physically wrote my first ever actual song [not just making stuff up on the fly. It was called "School is Cool", and - my bad - it wasn't pen to paper: it was actually written on Microsoft 95 during my 5th birthday party. Seriously.
• At 10: I released my first professionally produced single, Look Around.

• At 12: I was one of ten youth ambassadors for New Zealand at a worldwide youth symposium in Florida, and I had the chance to do my first ever middle school presentation in Pasadena, California: sharing the power of music and songwriting for my mental health, and talking about my story of surviving multiple brain surgeries. [And yes; those are pyjama pants I'm wearing in this pic. I loved wearing those pants as normal, every day clothes - but not because I was lazy. I just loved being weird].

ANYWAY,

• At 17: I graduated high school early and went straight into getting my teaching qualifications. My vocal teacher at the time told me I'd graduated her program, [finally!], and she handed me a bunch of students on her waitlist and told me to start my vocal coaching business. Which I did. This evolved into me running adult education classes, which led to me directing an adult choir — learning how to empower others through their own voices.

• At 21: I fronted the hard rock band Static Era, releasing music that charted in New Zealand’s Top 20.

• At 24: I left X Factor New Zealand because I refused to play into a narrow, stereotypical narrative.
• At 28: I moved to the United States to expand my pond, blending indigenous teaching practices with coaching, music, and empowerment.

Which brings us to now: with over 25 years of songwriting and recording experience and 15+ years of teaching, and I’m focusing not only on my own music, but more importantly: on helping others [like you!] use music to transform their lives.

What’s Happening This Week?

Tonight: Filming “Grieve” I’m filming the music video for Grieve tonight at a brand-new studio in Bethesda. This song is deeply personal — it’s about processing the broken relationship I have with my mother, as she navigates her own mental health, but trying to turn my pain into an opportunity for me to grow in spite of that struggle.

You can listen to the acoustic version of the song via the above YouTube lyric video, but I’ve actually just released Remixed: Fight the Fear EP on BandCamp, featuring fresh takes on tracks like Grieve. These remixes definitely breathe a new energy into some of the songs from my Fight the Fear album, and just might surprise you. Check it out here: Remixed: Fight the Fear EP.

Either way: if you’re in the Bethesda area tonight, and want to join me on set for the new music video, there’s still time! Text, call, or email me before 3pm, and I’ll send you the details.

Tomorrow Night: Opening for BETTY at Union Stage

I’m so pumped to be opening for the powerhouse girl group BETTY at Union Stage in DC — a venue Rolling Stone Magazine themselves named one of the best music venues in the country!

BETTY is known for their blend of music and activism (my kind of people!), and it’s going to be an unforgettable night. Grab your tickets and come be part of the magic!

Get your tickets here!

So yes; singing has been my lifeline for as long as I can remember, and now that I'm 25+ years in: I love helping others discover the same power within themselves. If you’ve been thinking about exploring your voice — whether for healing, confidence, or just plain fun — I’ve got TWO spots left in my teaching calendar, for either songwriting and vocal coaching.

Let’s work together to turn your story into music, and your voice into your superpower. Reply to this email to snag your spot before it’s too late.

Here’s to finding strength through song and transforming life’s challenges into something extraordinary.

With love and music, have an amazing day on purpose,

Emma G

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my blog, "What to Do When You're Stressed" for actionable tips on how singing and songwriting can help you reframe your stress story.

Want more? Book a call with me today!