Ainjel Emme
Ainjel Emme (born September 28, 1978) is an American musician, producer, songwriter, and recording engineer.
Ainjel Emme | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, musician, producer, recording engineer |
| Associated acts | Puscifer |
| Website | http://ainjelemme.net |
Background
Born in Martinez, California, Ainjel Emme (pronounced "angel em") spent her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Venice, California before landing in Austin, Texas in 1991. Though she initially came to prominence as a singer-songwriter, Ainjel is also an established multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and audio engineer.
Solo career
In the early 2000s, Ainjel began releasing music as an independent singer-songwriter. Her style lies somewhere between roots rock and indie, but she often ventures into pop, alternative music, folk, and even metal. She is a mezzo-soprano and plays acoustic and electric guitar, bass, piano, keys, and drums. Though she abandoned her artistic career in favor of working in production and engineering, she still occasionally releases original songs and even less occasionally performs (both solo and as an accompanist). She has admitted to having severe stage fright and social anxiety, citing these for her change of trajectory despite being a respected and propitious artist.
Heartache Is Boring (Album)
In 2003, Ainjel independently released her debut album, Heartache is Boring. Recorded at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Country Club studio and co-produced with Mat Mitchell (Puscifer, Nine Inch Nails) and Kyle Ellison (Meat Puppets, Butthole Surfers), Heartache received positive critical acclaim and was named as one of the Top 10 CDs of the Year at Austin's KUT 90.5 FM. The album features Gabriel Garza on bass and Kyle Schneider on drums, with the exception of the single "Long As It's Sweet," on which Ainjel performed all instrumental duties. The album was mastered by Jim Wilson and Brian Gardner. BUST Magazine proclaimed the debut record "shimmered with art and soul," while The Austin Chronicle noted that it "hit the mark right out of the chute."
Everyone Is Beautiful (Album)
Everyone is Beautiful was written and recorded in Los Angeles. After leaving Austin in 2004, Ainjel found a job waiting tables in Venice and began tracking new material with her friend, Rob Black, then an aspiring recording engineer who worked in the kitchen. Musical guests on this record include Steve Postell (resonator), Chris Joyner (keys), Alex Balderston (bass), Ray Prim (vocals), Richard Sherwood (drums), Terence Leclere (harmonium), and April Stephens (violin). The album was mixed by Todd Bergman and mastered by Gil Tamazyan. While mixing the record at Threshold Sound + Vision in Santa Monica, Ainjel was offered an opportunity to apprentice at the studio and began the shift toward full-time record production.
"The Down Song" was featured during the opening sequence of R. Ellis Frazier's feature, "Dead Drop" (2013). "Straight To Hell" and "The Priest" were featured on episodes of MTV's Teen Mom.
Solo Discography
Albums
- Everyone Is Beautiful (2011 - out of print) - Producer, songwriter, recording engineer, vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, bass, piano, keys, programming.
- Heartache is Boring (2003) - Producer, songwriter, recording engineer, vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, bass, piano, keys.
EPs
- They Promised You America: Quiet Hour Demos Vol. 1 (2005 - out of print) - Producer, songwriter, recording engineer, mixer, vocals, guitar, keys, percussion.
Singles
- Damn The Moon (2014) - Producer, songwriter, assistant engineer, vocals, electric guitar, bass. Recording and Mixing Engineer: Todd Bergman. Additional musicians: Anthony P. Lopez (drums), Michael S. Pozzi (lead guitar).
- This Business Will Break Your Heart (2017) - Producer, songwriter, recording engineer, acoustic guitar, bass. Recording and Mixing Engineer: Anthony Paul Lopez. Additional musicians: Anthony Paul Lopez (drums), Aubrey Richmond (violin), Keith Snow (cello), Jon Titterington (trumpet), Charles D. Lopez (violin).
Cover Songs
In 2011-2012, Ainjel published a live series of cover songs on YouTube. Her version of "Disarm" by Smashing Pumpkins was selected in 2013 to lead the playlist of covers on the band's official YouTube page, where it is still #1. Her performance of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" was licensed by Lifetime to promote their 2016 movie adaptation of My Sweet Audrina.
As a Session Musician, Music Producer, and Recording Engineer
After releasing her second album, Ainjel stepped back from her efforts as a singer-songwriter to pursue a studio career. She found work as a production assistant at Threshold Sound + Vision (formerly Scotti Brothers Records), which led to a job in the studio at Interscope Geffen A&M in Los Angeles, where she worked as an engineering and studio assistant for three years. In 2015, she co-founded Block of Joy, a multimedia production house and private recording studio. She has since become a reputable vocal and record producer.
Discography
| Artist | Project | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasty Cherry | "Just The Way You Like It" (Single) | Additional Engineering | 2020 |
| Lawrence Rothman feat. Ian Isiah and Dullboy | "Judas Kiss (REMIX)" (Single) | Vocal Production | 2020 |
| Flyte | "Easy Tiger" (Single) | Additional Engineering | 2020 |
| Blu DeTiger | "Figure It Out" (Single) | Vocal Editor | 2020 |
| Yves Tumor | "Heaven To A Tortured Mind" (LP) | Vocal Editor | 2020 |
| Stephanie Poetri | "Touch" (Single) | Vocal Production, Additional Engineering, Keys, Bass Guitar | 2020 |
| THE TURNING: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | "Judas Kiss" (Lawrence Rothman Ft. MUNA) "Take No Prisoners" (Living Things Ft. Sunflower Bean) "SkindeepSkyhighHeartwide" (Lawrence Rothman Ft. Pale Waves) |
Additional Engineering | 2020 |
| Hazel English | "Wake UP" (LP) | Vocal Production, Additional Engineering | 2020 |
| The Mastersons | "No Time For Love Songs" (LP) | Recording Engineer, Additional Engineering | 2020 |
| Mustangs of The West | Time (LP) | Recording Engineer, Production Assistant | 2020 |
| Alfa | "Dragonfly (Alindahaw)" (Single) | Producer, Recording Engineer, Melodica, Wurlitzer, Additional Engineering | 2020 |
| Joji | "Sanctuary" (Single) | Additional Engineering | 2019 |
| Ekali, Ft. Wafia | "Be Fine" (Single) | Additional Engineering | 2019 |
| Nasty Cherry | "Win" (Single) "Live Forever" (Single) |
Editor, Additional Engineering Additional Engineering, Bass |
2019 |
| Kills Birds | "Kills Birds" (LP) | Vocal Production, Additional Engineering | 2019 |
| Tommy Genesis | "Cinderelly" (Single) | Vocal Production | 2019 |
| Liily | "Wash" (Single) | Assistant Recording Engineer, Additional Engineering | 2019 |
| Overcoats | "Keep The Faith" (Single) | Additional Engineering | 2019 |
| Jelani Aryeh | "Helvetica" (LP) "Decide" (Single) |
Vocal Production, Additional Engineering | 2019 |
| Tom Meny | "Bend Over Backwards" (Single) | Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer | 2019 |
| Harrison Moulton | "Be The One" (Single) "Cotton Candy" (Single) |
Producer, Recording Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Synth/Keys, Drum Programming | 2019 |
| Pozzi | "This Perfect Storm" (Single) "On Your Level" (Single) "Like A Child" (Live Video) |
Vocal Producer, Recording Engineer, Editor, Bass, Backing Vocals Vocal Production, Recording Engineer, Bass, Vocals Assistant Engineer |
2019 |
| Julia Paymer | "No Right" (Single) | Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixer | 2019 |
| King's Prophet | "Give It Time" (Single) | Vocal Production, Recording Engineer | 2019 |
| Dan Navarro | "Shed My Skin" (LP) | Assistant Engineer | 2019 |
| Deborah Anderson (Director) | "Women of the White Buffalo" (Documentary Feature) | Recording Engineer, VO Editor | 2019 |
| Inch Chua | "Done For Me" (Charlie Puth cover) | Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixer | 2018 |
| BuzzFeed | "See Something, Say Something" (Podcast) | Recording Engineer | 2018 |
| Taylor James | "Most Of All" (Single) | Assistant Engineer | 2018 |
| Alfa | "Fool's Gold" (Single) "Spark and Fury" (LP) |
Vocal Producer, Editor, Recording Engineer, Organ, Piano, Mellotron Vocal Producer, Recording Engineer, Songwriter, Electric Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Additional Vocals |
2018 |
| Leslie Nuss | "V" (LP) | Producer, Recording Engineer, Editor, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Piano, Keys, Programming, Additional Vocals | 2018 |
| Rie Daisies | "Monstress" (LP) | Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixer, Synth/Keys, Programming, Acoustic Guitar, Additional Vocals | 2018 |
| The Absolute | "Time Will Tell" (EP) | Assistant Engineer | 2016 |
| Cameron Daddo | "Songs From The Shed" (LP) | Vocals on "Steve McQueen" and "Wrestling with Angels" | 2015 |
| Dio | "Live In London: Hammersmith Apollo" (DVD) | Mix Assistant (Tape Transfers) | 2014 |
| KISS | "Love Gun (Deluxe): 40th Anniversary Edition" (LP) | Mix Assistant (Tape Transfers) | 2014 |
| Deborah Falconer | "Lift Your Gaze" (LP) | Vocals on "Lift Your Gaze" and "Color Your World," Graphic Design | 2014 |
| Nakia | "Make Up With A Gun" (Single) | Vocals | 2013 |
| The Seems | "Buysexual" (Single) | Producer, Assistant Engineer | 2012 |
| Karlis | "Without A Stain" (Single) | Producer, Songwriter, Keys, Bass, Vocals | 2012 |
| Akaylah | "You Never Let Me Down" (Single) | Producer, Songwriter, Piano, Vocals | 2012 |
| Jessarae | "Pilot" (LP) | Bass, Piano | 2011 |
| Rochelle Diamante | "Breaking Free" (Single) | Producer, Songwriter, Keys, Programming, Assistant Engineer, Vocals | 2011 |
| Puscifer | "V" is for Viagra: The Remixes | Acoustic Guitar and Vocals on "Momma Sed (Tandemonium Remix)" | 2008 |
| Puscifer | "V" Is for Vagina (LP) | Acoustic Guitar and Vocals on "Momma Sed", Vocals on "The Undertaker" | 2007 |
| Shandon Sahm | "Knock Yourself Out" (LP) | Lead Guitar, Vocals | 2006 |
| Tony Scalzo | "I Only Remember The Good" (Single) | Vocals | 2004 |
