Wed, Apr 21 at 7:00 PM

Emily Rowed & Marielle Kraft in Bishop Hill!

Free

Join us for an intimate concert!

Doors at 6PM, Music starts at 7PM.

Suggested donation is $10-20 per person.

All ages

We will be following safety guidelines regarding the pandemic, if any, at the time of the concert.

We are foregoing potlucks during the pandemic; however, guests are invited to bring their own food and drink.

Live stream will be available at https://facebook.com/HeartlandConnections/live

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Emily Rowed

https://emilyrowed.squarespace.com/

https://youtu.be/jyaOQrZT2js

When Emily Rowed enrolled in acting school, she knew that she would go on to spend her life on stage. “I
spent all my time at acting school writing songs when I probably should have been working on acting,” the
Vancouver-based musician admits with a laugh. The songwriter is quickly carving out an infectious musical
style that blends the sparkle of electronic pop with the intimacy of deeply personal lyrics.

She initially gravitated towards a quiet, acoustic-centered sound, which she showcased on a self-released
(and now sold-out) album in 2012. Her style took an unexpected turn in 2014, when dance superstar Tiësto
selected her as the voice of his track “Say Something.” Since signing with 604 Records, she has ventured
into a new direction that utilizes a lush palette of beats and keyboards while still retaining the introspective
storytelling of her folk roots.

It’s Rowed’s sense of vulnerability that allows her hook-filled pop songs to pack such an emotional punch.

“I tend to write about 10-second moments. The sound is definitely bigger and busier, but the stories are still
the same.”

Emily released her debut EP ‘Electric Heart’ in July 2017 which saw Arrows peak at #9 in the Canadian
Viral Chart on Spotify. Since the release of Electric Heart, her streams have amounted to over 1.5 million.

Emily now pours her heart out over 10 emotion-filled tracks on her latest release, “April”. April was written
- "about the year [she] gave almost everything away and fell in love". “Pinball” was the first single off of
her sophomore album. The video, directed by Adrien Vieni, was premiered on popular blog EarMilk. April
is available now on all platforms via 604 Records.

Marielle Kraft

https://www.mariellekraft.com/

https://youtu.be/BwEeSghtk-w

When you hear Marielle Kraft’s music or experience her candid live shows, you feel as though you already know her. The indie pop singer/songwriter, now based in Nashville, displays craftsmanship beyond her years, following suit to artists like Shawn Mendes, Maisie Peters, and Taylor Swift.

Self-taught, the Rhode Island native began playing guitar at 16 and soon writing songs that strike chords with listeners everywhere. Her gift for storytelling is evident through her use of salient detail, raw emotion, and poignant word choice to describe moments “exactly as they feel.”

Over the past few years, Marielle Kraft has self-released one original EP, five singles, and four official music videos.

Kraft’s 2017 debut single, "How Far You Feel," has collected nearly half a million streams across platforms. The indie pop breakout track seeks to understand the dichotomy of physical vs. emotional distance in relationships, brilliantly expressing “what many feel but cannot find the right words to say.”

Marielle’s 2018 single, “Test Drive,” was the first on her debut EP, followed by a second release in February 2019: “Toothbrush.” This fan-favorite soft pop tune was coupled with a brilliantly creative lyric video comprised of 50 fans singing along to her lyrics using custom Marielle Kraft toothbrushes.

Kraft’s third EP single, “Better Without You,” arrived on May 17th across platforms. This “standout track” reaches new heights in pop production and lyrical construction. Premiering on GroundSounds, the bicoastal music blog raves of the sparkling single, “The song shows Kraft’s big-time pop sensibilities. It’s addicting, charming, and shows why she’s a name to watch this year.”

Each of these three singles culminated as Marielle Kraft’s debut studio EP, “The Deep End.” Officially released on July 12th, Kraft’s first effort is notably strong both lyrically and sonically, described by The Music Mermaid as “song after song of mini pop addictions.”

Kraft’s EP release was directly followed by her first headlining east coast tour. Her “winning personality,” “genuine connection",” and “gift for story telling” on stage have fueled the ever-growing crowds at each of her shows, with no signs of slowing down.

In February 2020, Marielle Kraft co-released an “anthemic” and “heart-filled” single with Joshua Howard entitled “In It Together”, which has quickly gained traction across platforms.

Marielle Kraft regularly plays at venues across the Mid-Atlantic, sharing stages with names as big as Jon McLaughlin, Ava Max, and Betty Who. She presents her live shows as a seamless narrative: evocative yet encouraging, deeply reflective yet refreshing. The raw authenticity with which Marielle invites listeners into her story cultivates a relationship with them beyond the song, as she is known to “bring together a room full of strangers.”

In spring 2018, she was crowned Grand Champion of the Mid-Atlantic Singer-Songwriter Competition, and the following June she delivered a Tedx Talk at Firefly 2018, discussing the importance of honesty rooted in her songwriting process.

Marielle Kraft’s latest single, “Portland” (Oct. 23rd), breathtakingly captures the moment we find ourselves in, and speaks volumes of the young artist’s songwriting abilities. With more releases on the way, Kraft is on track for an even bigger 2021.

Since leaving her full-time teaching career to pursue a life committed to creating music, Marielle Kraft has promise to follow suit to artists like Julia Michaels and Maggie Rogers as the young songwriter makes a growing impact in the indie pop scene.

+ + +

“Marielle has this admirable ability to translate the world’s unique, and shared, experiences into sweet, profound little tracks that are somehow always exactly what we need at the time.” - The Music Mermaid

“If you like indie-pop with singer/songwriter flair then it’s a must-hear. The songs from the EP sounded even better performed with a whole band in the live setting…they sounded fuller and had an extra dose of vibrancy.” - Love Is Pop

“‘Better Without You’ stands out on the EP and is the perfect breakup / female empowerment song.” - Rock On Philly

“Marielle Kraft finds vulnerability as the avenue to joy, light, and truth, as is rooted in each of her indie-pop songs. Marielle knows who she is, and that comes across so strongly in her music.” - The Narrative Now Podcast

“With each passing second, we allow ourselves to fall more deeply into this incredible soundscape.” - Imperfect Fifth

“Marielle showed a clever intensity in her material that, when coupled with her wonderful voice, pulled the listener into her story.” - Joe Trainor, Gable Music Ventures

"Marielle’s songs tap into young women and millennials’ romantic angst and euphoria in a way that feels flavored by Alanis Morissette and Taylor Swift." - Cheryl Squandrito, Philadelphia Inquirer




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