Today we have an incredibly talented musician and the leader of The Reckless Few – Louis Emory – as our guest. He will share his thoughts with us about his new EP “The Siege,” which promises to be an important step in his musical career. The lead single from this release, “Prophets Said,” has already attracted the attention of listeners and generated great interest thanks to the combination of rock, sincere lyrics, and epic choruses. The music video for “Prophets Said” was filmed in Troy, Louis’ hometown. And the video for the title track was shot in the legendary ruins of Ostia Antica in Italy – a historic place filled with atmosphere and grandeur. Louis will definitely talk about how this visual concept resonates with his music and creativity! And, of course, we couldn’t help but ask what inspires him to conquer new musical horizons and how he himself views this important step in his career!
Hi, Louis! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. We want to congratulate you on the upcoming release of your new EP, The Siege, which you recorded with your studio band, The Reckless Few. That brings us to our first question – why did you choose “Prophets Said” as the second single ahead of the full release?
Thank you. We chose “Do What I Want To Do” as the first single followed by “Prophets Said” because we all felt those two songs were the strongest on The Siege EP.
When listening to “Prophets Said”, it feels like if the song had been recorded in the ’70s, it would have been played on every rock station of that time. Did you consciously aim for that sound, or did it naturally emerge from your musical DNA?
The sound is the sum of Bob Boyer, Tim Lynch, Georgia Jones, Shelly Yakus, Pete Doell and myself. For my part of the equation, I’m the son of Baby Boomers and therefore grew up listening to some of the greatest music ever made. I had been searching for that warmth in my own music for a long time and was very happy when I finally heard it in a modern recording. You can try to recreate it but I haven’t heard anyone actually pull it off. Maybe The Rolling Stones did with “Scarlet”, but a lot of those tracks were recorded during the 70’s. Shelly – with his experience and ears – is the keystone.
I was really intrigued by the lyrics of the single: “Flames dancing in eternal vibes / Soul supernovas bursting through the afterlife.” They struck me as quite dark – philosophical, even. Are these reflections based on real experiences?
Yes, based on my own personal experiences. I was looking back on some of my own relationships prior to falling madly in love with my soulmate, my beautiful wife, Rae. As Tom Petty wrote, “the waiting is the hardest part,” and at one point I felt I had to wait a lifetime before meeting my wife and feeling like my soul was in union – that if I didn’t go through all the experiences prior then I wouldn’t have been mature enough or prepared for that coup de foudre. I feel I knew my wife in a previous life. It’s in her eyes, heart, and soul. That line just came one day and I loved it and was glad it worked for the chorus. I think a lot of people can relate to it and maybe find some hope in it.
“Prophets Said” was recorded with your longtime collaborators Tim Lynch and Bob Boyer and mixed by Shelly Yakus. I’m curious – when such legends come together for a session, does it feel more like a reunion of old friends or a strategic mission to conquer the musical Olympus?
It feels a little of both. I’m happiest when I’m in the studio working with them, creating my songs, and with my family. I always think of John saying to the rest of the Beatles, “Where are we going boys?” and their reply, “To the toppermost of the poppermost.” I’ve always wanted to be a great songwriter and maybe one day I’ll be able to feel that I accomplished that goal for my life. I’ve been chasing GOATs and ghosts for a long time. Studying the masters and their craft. If that’s where the bar is, that’s where I’m aiming.
The cover photos for “Prophets Said” and the unreleased music video for “The Siege” were filmed among the ruins of Ostia Antica in Italy. And I can’t help but notice that this location, with its ancient ruins, almost seems to serve as a metaphor for the music you create. Was this setting a natural fit because Italy has always been close to you, or do you seek out unconventional locations for your projects to give them a deeper meaning?
During the COVID lockdown we watched a lot of Rick Steves’ Italy and European travels to add to the growing list of places we wanted to see and experience with our kids. Being students of history, when we saw the episode that highlighted the ruins and beauty of Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman port, we knew we were being called there on the next trip. We both thought that shooting “The Siege” video there would be perfect because it’s a gritty song that speaks about a long struggle, destiny and freewill. When we finally arrived we were amazed; It’s a really incredible site and I highly recommend visiting and experiencing it yourself. It’s like Pompeii but with less tourists.
We just released a video for “Prophets Said” because we didn’t know it would be the 2nd single when we were filming in Italy, so we had to come up with something quickly. It was shot and directed in only a few hours by my wife, Raeanne Wright-Emory. We decided to visit places from my past – a visual nod and goodbye to the place I’ve called home most of my life. We focused on the Sycaway area of Troy, NY where I grew up. My house is gone and I’m standing where it stood, walking down my old street. We went to a place behind the old Our Lady of Victory church called “The Rocks”, along with the path down to the basketball courts at “Little Frear” – both of which are also no longer what they once were. We also captured the infamous 5th hole at Frear Park Golf Course (where parties were thrown in the days of old) and the water tower – which sticks out in the Troy skyline. We also went downtown quickly to show off the waterfront and beautiful Victorian architecture which can be seen in HBO’s “The Gilded Age”.
It’s interesting how your journey from the debut “Love Italy” to “The Siege” feels like a kind of musical novel – going from a passion for Italian culture to a return to classic American roots. Was this a conscious shift, or simply the natural course of inspiration, with different parts of the world shaping different styles?
The Love Italy EP was written because we had just gotten back from getting married at our friends’ winery, Querceto di Castellina in Chianti, and everything shut down because of COVID. I was worried about our friends there as well as the uncertainty of what we collectively went through. I was so inspired by our trip and the history and that’s just what came out; When I’m writing, I am in the moment and it’s kinda like jumping down the rabbit hole.
“The Siege” is a transitional EP. We wanted to build on the success of the Love Italy EP and offer even stronger songs that people could really relate to. I also didn’t want to be painted into any corners. I’ve been recording original songs since I was 16 – I don’t write in genres, I just write what’s coming in at the time and the rest of the team supports that.
Sometimes, a song seems to resist – whether it’s the lyrics getting stuck, the melody not coming together, or everything in the studio going wrong. I’m curious… If you had to pick one song from “The Siege” and say, “This one nearly broke me,” which would it be?
Ha, I’m pretty persistent. We are at the stage where if it feels good then we know we are on the path. If it doesn’t then we may try to work it a little but most likely will go back and recut it. There’s always a little bit of friction because you need the divine spark to set it off. I’m just lucky that the friends I’m working with are positive and supportive. One song that was left off because it needed more time was “Waiting for the Weekends.” We’ll finish it and release it down the line!
They say history moves in cycles, and prophets and oracles are those who try to see around the next bend. I know you’re interested in this theme – are you more drawn to their mystical side or to the influence they had on people and events?
I’m interested in both and really looking forward to visiting the ancient oracle / sibyl sites in the next few years. In “The Siege” chorus I write, “It’s not in our stars but in our hearts.” I believe that there is a divine hand guiding us but I also believe in our own free choice. The brave citizens of Ukraine, like the Revolutionary Americans, are facing a superior invasion force and not giving up. My heart and prayers go out to all the people who are being affected by this senseless war. I’m with John and Yoko… “Give Peace A Chance.”
Imagine you have an unlimited budget, any venues you want, and your choice of opening acts – what would your ideal tour for “The Siege” look like? And, most importantly, where would you absolutely refuse to play, no matter how much money they offered?
I really would love to play some ancient theatres or amphitheaters. I’ve played the local bars and theaters regionally in my late teens and early 20’s. The Ideal tour? I’m not sure, but I would love to open for The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, or The Foo Fighters! There are so many greats we would be honored to work with. Not really sure what venue we would refuse.
What’s the next chapter in the story of Louis Emory and The Reckless Few after the release of “The Siege”?
We are focused on finishing and releasing The Siege EP this year. I have about 30 songs written for the next project! I’d like to start tomorrow but we’re still working our schedules out. If the stars align we will record our debut album this year for release sometime next year.
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