Hello, this is EmiSunshine, and I’m scheduled to do an interview with you?”
I knew from the moment she opened her mouth and spoke with such confidence and ease that I was speaking with someone remarkable. With the grace of Loretta, the wit of June, and a singing prowess that matches the likes of country music’s greatest stars, EmiSunshine is not an artist to be overlooked. In fact, you couldn’t overlook that young woman if you tried. Simply put: her talent, work ethic, and stunning creativity defy her age. Yes, she’s thirteen, but that isn’t what is remarkable about EmiSunshine. Perhaps what is most remarkable about her is her heart, which shines through in every word she speaks and every song she sings. After a long conversation about art, the history of our industry, and the meaning of family, I had run the gamut of emotions. Rarely do I struggle to find the appropriate words to describe an artist, but Emilia Sunshine Hamilton’s nature is hard to capture on paper. She is vibrant, kind hearted, wickedly intelligent, wise beyond her years, and genuinely joyful and funny. I was more than honored to catch up with her between a couple of her impressive one hundred and fifty plus shows she performs every year. If you didn’t know she was remarkable before, take a look at her calendar. You’ll change your mind.
A life on the road is the only life EmiSunshine has known. “I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve been on the road for so long now-I started when I was five and we’ve been on the road, consistently, for about four years. We’re on the bus with seven or eight people and it’s crazy, but we love it. I love it so much, and I’m very thankful for my gift and my family. I really don’t know what I’d do without all this; it’s my entire life. Getting to be a part of this and music is an honor for me.” Sunshine, however, is not blinded by a life on the road and gained the understanding early on that touring takes compromise and sacrifice- a piece of advice she’d like to pass off to other artists looking to break into the industry. “I do really miss being home with my family sometimes. We as a band miss out on a lot – we miss out on weddings; we miss out on funerals. We miss out on “life” and life with our families sometimes. They all know, though, that being on the road is my passion and they are so supportive; so, I just go for it all the time. There’s definitely challenges to it, it’s not as easy as some people think. You don’t get to just go out on the road and play a few shows and come home. You’ve got logistics you’ve got to work before you even get on the road. Bus payments and routes and where to get gas and go here and go there and by the end of the day, you’re worn out- and then…it’s time to perform. One time I was on stage playing and an amp started smoking right next to us- that’s actually happened before! There’s going to be hurdles that try to hold you back, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to push forward and be who you are and do what you love.”
Read the whole article at Lula 1892 by Jasmine Rochelle: Ragged Dreams: Backstage with EmiSunshine
