By Jamie Collins
Guitarist Emily Springsteen is on a mission, one that involves two hot topics heard around the world right now – garbage, for the most part, and recycling.
“I like to promote environmental issues,” the former Key-West based musician said of her new song titled “The Ten Cent Bottle Law.”
It refers to Michigan’s 10-cent refund for most every can and bottle returned to a recycling facility. This means there is less garbage in public places, and less winding up in landfills, because recyclables are worth actual money.
Any northerner will shamelessly explain how they turned in dozens of cans and bottles from a wild night of playing party host, just to take the $10 to McDonalds and cure their hangover. And in the end, there was less garbage in public places and landfills.
“It really works,” said Springsteen, a Michigan native. And no, she’s not related to Bruce Springsteen.
She lived in Key West for nearly a decade before a recent move to the Panhandle. Not to worry, she’ll be back for performances in Marathon Feb. 13-15, 2020, at venues she has played regularly since 2017: Lighthouse Grille at Faro Blanco and Courtyard by Marriott. She also plays twice a year with Key West musician Gary Hempsy. You can take the girl out of the Keys…
“I also played the Sunset Grille and Pinchers in Key West forever. It was the most kicked-back experimental place to break in my new material,” she said. “I have had a lot of help from a lot of people and I’ve learned a lot from the musicians in Key West.”
She plays an acoustic variety of covers centering around music from the 60s and 70s on top of her own work. Her music has been inspired by Janis Joplin, The Beatles and Neil Young.
Springsteen comes from a musical background and has been playing music her entire life. She credits her piano talent to Grandma Springsteen and her vocal talent to a man named Martin Bell of St. Ignace, Michigan. Bell was a nationally known author, educator, lecturer, preacher and musician who passed away in 2009. Springsteen would make her Keys move and score a solo act in 2014, at which time she began playing the Hogfish Grille on Stock Island.
What are her plans for the future?
“I have a lot of things I want to accomplish, like promoting environmental respect,” Springsteen said. “I feel like my purpose is… I want to be in cooperation with God and I’m hopeful that the message is that I’m passionate and it shines through in the songs I’m performing that are either my own, or other people’s songs.”
“The Ten Cent Bottle Law,” can be heard on YouTube and is available for purchase at CDBaby. Follow her on Facebook at Emily Springsteen-Music to find upcoming tour dates and more.
Learn more at http://www.emilyspringsteen.com/
