Music Teacher on The ‘Rise’ With New Album
Texas native Emmeline Miles grew up memorizing words to Whitney Houston songs and singing to her parents from a kitchen chair stage.
Once she heard that people could create for a living, she knew that was the job for her.
(ABOVE: Emmeline Miles has students in Preston Hollow and the Park Cities. Courtesy photo)
The Highland Park High School graduate and SMU doctoral student teaches private music lessons to Park Cities and Preston Hollow clients while using her first name only in her singing and songwriting career.
Her new album, Rise, has been five years in the making, and like the journey she’s been on, is about trying to stay true to yourself above all else.
“Music is a constant reminder that, however different we may seem, there are lots of commonalities at the core of what it means to be human,” Emmeline said.
For the album, Emmeline co-wrote songs with other artists for the first time, and while complete strangers initially, they came to realize that a lot of their fears and hopes were the same.
“Music is a constant reminder that, however different we may seem, there are lots of commonalities at the core of what it means to be human.” -Emmeline Miles
“I’m beyond excited to finally bring it home to the people who have been kind enough to support these songs in every stage,” she said.
Through the experience, Emmeline has learned a lot about herself and the music business.
One of the biggest lessons: Everyone suffers setbacks and hears the word “no.”
“If you really love something, you should never stop working hard for it,” she said. “Quitting is not an option, because progress often happens when we least expect it.”
As a teacher, she enjoys seeing the transformations in other musicians.
“Students who began as really shy, reserved, and uncertain people have turned into bold, fearless performers who take the stage with a smile and have genuine confidence in their ability to move an audience,” she said.
Since the beginning of Emmeline’s journey, family, friends, her faith, and her rescue dog, Chloe, have been her support system.
Friends have been active in her career as well. One helped with the artwork for the album, another took the pictures, and another helped produce the tracks.
“I’ve also been blessed with an amazing group of incredible friends who are emotional superheroes with big, billowing capes,” she said. “They swoop down when I’m in distress and let me wrap their capes around me like a blanket. This record is proof of what love can accomplish.”
