EMMA-O -- Music -- Emma-O -- Bio

he has been called "the female Johnny Ramone", and rumour has it she channels the spirit of Jimi Hendrix for guitar instruction. Known for her blistering rhythm guitar and screeching licks, Emma-O has been shredding riffs in various musical projects for two decades. After performing in nearly every major club in Toronto and putting in time, sweat and energy hauling gear and promoting hers and other bands' shows, Emma-O left the hustle and bustle of big city life in 2008 to retreat to more natural settings, where the serenity and "greener pastures" were more conducive to songwriting and creativity. Always sticking true to her DIY punk roots and ethics, Emma-O writes, produces and promotes her own music (EMMA-O, THE GLOOM) without the assistance of a record label, and co-writes and produces the music for the experimental duo DRONICA, which she co-founded in 2005 with Cowboy Junkies' accordion player Jaroslaw Czerwinec. She is an accomplished and prolific songwriter, contributing material to various projects over the years, most recently with THE JOHNNYS and FIDGET, and in the past decade with PIMPINELLA, UNDERWIRE and TRANS LOVE AIRWAYS (all from Toronto).In 2002, her hard work paid off when her song "Phone Sex Girl" held the number one position on the punk charts at mp3.com Australia for seven consecutive weeks. In 2005 she repeated that same success with her project The Gloom, holding the number one position on the lo-fi charts for four weeks. In addition to this, several of her songs have held top positions at Soundclick.com, Amazon.com and various other sites around the world, and continue to remain steady on the charts year after year. Emma-O has been featured on APTN (Aboriginal People's Television Network), TVO (TV Ontario), Much Music, Spirit Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The Blue Envelope zine, the radio stations CFRB, CKLN, CIUT, THAT Radio (all from Toronto) and Banana Peel Radio (Vancouver). As well, she has showcased herself as a natural actor by appearing on Bravo Television and short indie films and projects by Toronto production company To Be Scene.

Believing in the philosophy of "Do what you love and love what you do", Emma-O works, lives and breathes music, art and expression. Emma-O grew up listening to The Clash, The Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols, X and Stiff Little Fingers, and knew at a very early age that punk rock meant much more than studded jackets and crazy haircuts. It's an attitude, a way of life, a life of freedom. To Emma-O, being "punk rock" means being who you want to be, and doing what makes you happy in life, and not stifling oneself with labels and stereotypes. Emma-O's free-spirited, unconventional attitude and thinking is a breath of fresh air in a world that is rife with mediocrity and conformity.

A diverse artist with a wealth of creativity to share, Emma-O is also a published writer and published photographer. She has been a visual artist her entire life. She is a beaded jewellery designer, and learned her craft working for haute-couture jewellery designers Erickson-Beamon (Toronto location). She was a self-employed jewellery designer from 2000 to 2003, and from 2003 to 2008, she ran her own business providing promotional services for bands and the arts scene in Toronto. She has been building, marketing and promoting her own web sites since 2000, and now runs her own Ebay shop.

But it is more than a musical calling that drives Emma-O. A long-time student of the Natural and Esoteric arts, Emma-O is a Truth-seeker finding her way to an enlightened path. She uses the arts as a way to connect herself and others to something more meaningful than a mere physical existence. A fierce defender of the Earth and its creatures, she believes in the power and beauty of the Natural world and its ability to transform and heal. Compelled by a fire that burns within, Emma-O is always sharing information, ideas, images and sounds that will hopefully educate, enlighten, uplift and inspire those that seek positive change within themselves and the outside world.

Punk, hippie, goth, or all of the above? Emma-O can't be placed into a box with a neat label attached. You can try to figure out what category she fits into, but you probably won't succeed. And that's exactly how Emma-O prefers it! She likes to keep people guessing. With her unique persona blended with a touch of mystery, magic and spirit, Emma-O piques the curiosities of those who encounter her diverse world, and is sure to keep them coming back for more.

Emma-O -- 2004-present -- all guitars, all vocals, percussion, organ, keys, songwriting and arranging, recording, production, engineering

The Gloom -- 2003-present -- all guitars, all vocals, percussion, songwriting and arranging except for collaborations with The Futz's Edgar LeBel, recording, production, engineering

Dronica -- 2005-present -- all guitars, effects, vocals, organ, keys, percussion, co-songwriting and arranging with Jaroslaw Czerwinec, recording, production, engineering

The Impatiens -- 2005-2007 -- all guitars, lead and back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Johnny Vine, production, engineering

The Johnnys -- 2006-2007 -- lead and rhythm guitar, back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Dave and Veronica Johnny

Fidget -- 2006-2007 -- rhythm guitar, back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Nicole LeGault and Teresa Hart

Pimpinella -- 2003-2004 -- all guitars, all vocals, songwriting and arranging, recording, production, engineering

Underwire -- 2000-2003 -- lead and rhythm guitar, lead and back-up vocals, bass, percussion, songwriting and arranging, recording, production, engineering

Trans Love Airways -- 1998-2000 -- rhythm guitar, back-up vocals, co-songwriting and arranging with Trans Love Airways