Emily Pinkerton “unites the traditional and the modern in a stunning, beautiful fashion” (PopMatters).
Over subtle, shifting textures, she merges the depth of American history with stories of today in intimate chamber-folk compositions.
She is a founding member of The Early Mays, an old-time, vocal harmony trio that topped the National Folk-DJ charts and was featured twice on NPR’s Mountain Stage. Their latest release, “Prettiest Blue” is a “restoratively vintage” album with “a warmth that is often missed in raucous contemporary releases” (For Folk’s Sake).
Emily is currently creating a set of piano ballads that explore voice, gender, and breaking silence. These powerful themes are also at the heart of new chamber music project —Ephemera Ballads—for voice, banjo, flute, clarinet, electric guitar, piano and bass. (premiere: March 2025).
PROJECTS
Ephemera Ballads
Chamber-folk piece that gives voice to ghosts of the Hudson Valley. For voice, banjo, flute, clarinet, electric guitar, piano and bass.
Rounder Songs
Appalachian song cycle by Emily Pinkerton & Patrick Burke (New Amsterdam Records).
LoOKING For Violeta
Original score for dramatic work about Chilean artists Violeta and Nicanor Parra with Quantum Theatre