On March 6, Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner will release a new EP of songs written by Daryl Hall and John Oates.
Called "She's Gone: A Tribute to Hall & Oates" (Dead Daisy Records/Outside Music), the digital only release includes "She's Gone," "Adult Education," "Say It Isn't So," and "Method of Modern Love".
We asked Emm to talk about what inspired the release:
"I was initially inspired to make these recordings after I met the people who handle Hall & Oates' publishing. They thought I should do some covers. I figured, "Sure! Why not?" And then it turned into a labour of love. I realized these songs were ones that were close to my heart when I grew up, listening to Casey Kasem and Rick Dees' countdowns, all alone in my bedroom. The way these original recordings were produced were so masterful - the harmonies, the production. I think "Say it Isn't So" stands up to any modern song today, when it comes to sonics. The challenge was to make new, interesting versions that still embodied some of the spirit of those classic Hall & Oates melodies and ad-libs. Not quite a black person in a half-Asian person's body, I did my best and I'm quite thrilled to release them now. I never thought I would make more covers, after two albums and co-hosting a CBC show ABOUT cover songs, but as Ron Sexsmith says, you really learn a lot about your own writing by learning other people's music."
Listen to the album in full below: