From the first notes of the lead-off track to Secret Emchy Society’s new album, «Gold Country» / «Country Gold», , you realise that you’re not in Kansas anymore.
It’s a gothy, spaghetti western version of «Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond Of Each Other», written by Latin country musician Ned Sublette but popularised by Willie Nelson. It’s also widely recognised as the first LGBTQ-themed mainstream country song by a major artist. Par for the course if you know Cindy Emch’s previous work. As the First Lady of Queer Country, she is known for her distinct voice and ability to blend Americana, California Country, Hellbilly, Goth, and Honky Tonk, spinning radically distinctive tales from her singular perspective.
Emchy’s not only a highly regarded musician in the Bay Area—nominated three times for Best Local LGBT Band by Bay Area Reporter—but she’s also a seasoned student of the history of LGBTQA musicians dipping their toes in genres that have always been «off-limits» for non-hetero participants. She was the founding editor of Country Queer and still hosts Gimme Country’s popular Emchy’s Outlaw Americana show. She’s also worked with the original queer country cowboy Lavender Country, the award-winning singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah (from the all-women-of-color supergroup Our Native Daughters), out transwoman folk-punker Shawna Virago, and Haitian-born / UK based Alt-Americana Country-Noire singer DeLila Black when Emchy produced the 2021 National Queer Arts Festival Showcase. Her previous albums have landed her on the road with some of the most popular acts in the genre: Mercy Bell, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, and Karen & The Sorrows, led by the originator of the Gay Ole Opry herself, Karen Pittleman. Needless to say, Cindy Emch has become well-known to anyone paying attention to the increasing popularity of turning old tropes on their ear by melding classic twang with a punk ethos.
Secret Emchy Society’s «Gold Country» / «Country Gold» will be out 20th May 2022.
Luckily Secret Emchy Society let me pre-listen to the album «Gold Country» / «Country Gold» it’s 12 different songs that will feed every country music fan out there with many different genres within country music – from rocky country to classical country. My favourite song are «Think I Do», but the 20th May you’ll pick your own favourite. You defiantly have something to look forward to !
While you wait you can listen to previously released music, below.
