Meet Emily E. Finke | Creative Entrepreneur & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily E. Finke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily E. Finke, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I felt called to the arts at a very early age when I began taking music lessons at six years old. Creativity was always a natural part of my life and the way that I thought and worked. In school, I excelled in hands-on projects that allowed me to apply my studies in artistic ways. While I have other interests that are not artistic, the majority of my interests and the work that makes me the happiest is anything artistic/creative in nature. Utilizing my innate passion for the arts allows me to express myself in unique ways and allows me to live out the calling that I feel God has put on my life. The times when I am creating are the times when I feel most connected to God. I feel in tune with His supernatural and perfect creativity, the same creativity that brought the world and everything and everyone in it into existence. An artistic and creative life is not an easy one, but it is extremely rewarding.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My main area of work is in music as a singer, composer, recording artist, and producer. I am an opera singer (a lyric coloratura mezzo-soprano), and my singing journey has taken me around the world to perform at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Atlanta, GA, for the International Singer-Songwriters Association (ISSA) Music Awards and more locally to record music at Echo Beach Studios in Jupiter, FL, and at my home in Lake Placid, FL. My projects are quite distinctive and unique as my creative style is heavily influenced by my classical music and opera training, my love of early twentieth-century entertainment and production methods, my Christian faith, and my independent spirit. I have been told that I possess a gift similar to Glenn Miller, an industriousness comparable to George M. Cohan, and a personality akin to Audrey Hepburn. I am just very dedicated to my art and expressing myself through creativity while not letting the world’s and industry’s standards define me or my music. In an effort to better define the sound of my music, I have created a new term that I hope will catch on in the industry to become a new genre. I call my music “Nouveau Classic.”

I am equally proud of all of my projects as they represent a distinctive time in my life and/or career. I am simultaneously excited about any and all ideas that I currently have including some very exciting projects in the works (that I can’t discuss at length) that could materialize any time between now and five years down the road. However, to answer the question, I would say that I am most proud of my independence. Being a recording artist requires much more work than just the music aspect. To successfully release music independently, I run a multi-faceted music business. On the music side of the business, not only am I the vocalist, composer, and lyricist, but I am also the arranger. On the recording side of my business, I am the producer, mixing engineer, publisher, and tracking engineer. My experiences as an actress, videographer, director, and editor are utilized in the creation of my music videos while my training as a model is utilized in creating album covers and promotional photos. I utilize my experience with writing, graphic design, and marketing to promote myself and my music and grow my fanbase. I also fill the traditional music business roles of manager and booking agent in my music business and fill miscellaneous roles with my skills in sewing/crafting, hair/makeup, styling, and many other things. I am very proud to be an indie creative and to have the opportunity to pour my life, heart, and soul into my craft, varied as it may be.

Creative entrepreneurism has always been a part of who I am. Being homeschooled allowed me the opportunity to explore and pursue my passions from a very young age so that everything I have done in my life has led me to where I am and given me the tools that I use today. As a child, I loved playing make-believe and putting on shows for my family or making “movies” with my cousins. My innate love of entertainment came from a desire to make people smile and spread joy. At age sixteen, I discovered my ultimate passion for singing and was cast in my first theatrical production. I also began training with renowned vocal coach Craig Wich in Jupiter, Florida, with whom I continue to train. When I was seventeen, I received training in acting and modeling to accompany my vocal training and love of the theatre and entertainment. At this same time, the love that I had possessed for writing poetry and stories since I was very young came back in the form of songwriting, and I wrote and arranged my first original song for voice and chamber orchestra. My song was neither classical, pop, or any genre that exists but a sound as unique as my voice and me. As I fully embraced the path that I felt God calling me down, I wrote and arranged song after song, creating the sounds that I heard in my head, and expressing myself through the poetic lyrics.

Having always been an independent and entrepreneurial person, I began blazing my own trail in the music industry. My musicality and training, interest in audio engineering, experience with ensembles, and prior business endeavors allowed me to produce, record, and release my first single at age twenty which culminated in the launch of my independent music business. In the past three years, I have released seven singles (four original songs and three covers) with accompanying music videos for five of the songs amongst many other projects. The skills I have developed and continue to develop through my life have been instrumental in the success of my music business and other associated endeavors as a creative entrepreneur.

Being an independent and somewhat unconventional creative simply amplifies any of the normal challenges faced with this type of career. I have had my fair share of challenges, but God has used those challenges to refine the direction of my career. Life in general is never smooth, and there are constantly challenges that must be overcome and to which we must adapt. Most of the time, we make these adaptations without even thinking because we are accustomed to the uncertainties of life. I try to take this same approach with my creative and business endeavors, so I do not view most challenges as a hinderance.

I have been offered practically instant fame and success by respected people in the industry if I did things “their way” or changed who I am and what I love. It is very tempting to consider a career path that promises success with considerably more ease than the one I am on, but I am unwilling to compromise myself or my passion. My work and I may not be “mainstream” or “popular” at this moment, but Glenn Miller and Elvis Presley (just to name a couple) were also considered unconventional and even crazy for their uniqueness and for pursuing their dreams. Being different is not easy, but to deny the individuality that God has given me would be the ultimate challenge.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Having lived in the same town my entire life, I take many of the unique aspects of my town for granted. The things I love the most about my town are the simple, ordinary things like quiet summer nights listening to the rain mixed with the sound of birds’ singing filling the air or a bike ride around a lake on an autumn morning when the sky is crystal clear and the wind smells light and fresh. These are the things I would want to share with someone. I would want to show them the best fishing spots and the rolling hills with a bird’s eye view of a lake. That being said, it would be a shame to visit my town of Lake Placid, FL, without seeing the things that make my small town a worldwide attraction. Being the Caladium Capital of the World, a trip to the caladium fields would definitely be on the itinerary as would be an afternoon spent touring the town which is known as “The Town of Murals” to visit the over forty-five beautiful murals scattered around town. For a fun afternoon, I would take my friend to Tropical Winery to taste some artisan wines and craft beers. If we’re lucky, my favorite local band, Double Trouble, (whom I play fiddle with) will be playing some great classic country and rock tunes.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My life has been extremely blessed in being filled with amazing people who have mentored and supported me. The most influential people in my life have been my parents. Being homeschooled, my parents sacrificed a lot to provide me with the best education and support that they could provide. To this day, they continue to give of themselves in unconditional support of me and my projects. I am so grateful for their love and for the Christ-like example that they set for me and that I aspire to achieve.

Website: https://www.emilyefinke.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily_e_finke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilyefinke

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/emilyefinke

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/173u0vyT12JMEiG8yRTr5q?si=pIzfY32OQIinjmJomV3lZA Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/emily-e-finke/1516515287

Image Credits
Ashley Finke