🎙 Album Review: Miss Emily Channels Truth, Soul, and Survival on The Medicine

Photo Credit: Suzy Lamont Photography.

There are voices that stir the soul, and then there are voices that stop you in your tracks, voices that carry the weight of lived experience, the scars and the triumphs, and somehow turn them into something redemptive. Miss Emily’s upcoming studio album, The Medicine (out November 7th on Gypsy Soul Records), is one of those rare works that reminds us why we turn to music in the first place: to heal, to connect, and to believe again.

Produced by the legendary Colin Linden, a Grammy and multiple JUNO Award winner whose work with Keb’ Mo’, Lucinda Williams, and Bob Dylan has set the gold standard for roots and Americana production, The Medicine is a masterclass in authenticity. Every note feels intentional, every lyric rings true. This is an album built from real life, lived hard and sung honestly.

From the opening funk-driven groove of “My Freedom” to the stirring soul anthem “Stand Together, Band Together,” Miss Emily sets the tone for what’s to come, a record steeped in truth, compassion, and community. She’s not afraid to bare her heart, and in doing so, she gives permission for the rest of us to do the same.

Her latest single, “Solid Ground,” is a standout, a deeply personal letter to her young daughter written during a time of profound vulnerability. “We were very poor; I had no financial support and no close family living nearby,” Emily shares. “There was so much I couldn’t give my daughter during that time, but I knew I had all the love in the world for her.” That love radiates through every word, carried by a voice that can shift from delicate tenderness to “big velvet thunder", as the Globe and Mail’s Brad Wheeler so aptly put it.

The title track, “The Medicine,” captures Emily’s empathy at its most potent. Written after a family member of an overdose victim reached out to her, it’s a heartfelt plea for understanding and compassion, a reminder that music can be both mirror and remedy. Elsewhere, “Maybe,” co-written with The Tragically Hip’s Rob Baker, glows with 1960s warmth and the quiet strength of a love that refuses to fade. And on “Smith’s Bay Drowning,” Emily pays tribute to her Prince Edward County roots with haunting grace, retelling a local tragedy in song and story.

Backing her is an extraordinary cast of musicians curated by Linden himself: drummer George Recile (Bob Dylan, Keith Richards), bassist David Santos (John Fogerty, Melissa Etheridge), and Hammond B3 wizard Michael Hicks (Keb’ Mo’). Together, they form a rhythm section that grooves with effortless precision, leaving space for Emily’s voice to soar. Linden’s slide and electric guitar work are equally sublime, understated when needed, electrifying when the emotion demands it.

Colin Linden describes Miss Emily as “a tremendously passionate and supple singer, with a deep well of emotion. She is a truth teller.” And that’s exactly what The Medicine is, a testament to the power of truth in a world that desperately needs it. There’s a palpable sense of renewal here, of choosing joy over bitterness, hope over anger.

Miss Emily’s story is one of grit and grace. Over two decades, she’s earned her place as one of Canada’s most formidable voices in blues and soul. A multiple Maple Blues Award winner and a JUNO nominee, she’s shared her journey openly, the road-warrior grind, the challenges of single motherhood, and the personal battles that shaped her. But above all, she’s built a community around her music, one that listens, feels, and sings back.

When Gene Simmons of KISS called her “the best pipes we’ve ever heard in an unsigned artist,” he wasn’t exaggerating. And Rob Baker’s words ring equally true: “When she sings, she is unafraid to dig deep.” That fearless honesty courses through The Medicine like a pulse.

Gypsy Soul Records, home to kindred spirits like Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar and Bywater Call’s Meghan Parnell, couldn’t be a better fit. Together, they’re carving out a space for soulful, truth-driven artistry that celebrates resilience and humanity.

In a time when the world feels increasingly fractured, The Medicine arrives as an antidote, not as escapism, but as connection. Every chorus, every gospel-tinged harmony, every Hammond swell feels like an embrace. It’s an album that doesn’t just entertain; it restores.

Miss Emily once said she wanted to record music that makes people feel better. With The Medicine, she’s done exactly that, and then some. This is an album that not only heals the heart but strengthens the spirit.

The Medicine is available November 7th via Gypsy Soul Records. Do yourself a favour, take the dose.

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About the Writer:

Stevie Connor is a Scottish-born polymath of the music scene, known for his work as a musician, composer, journalist, and radio pioneer.

He is the founder of Blues & Roots Radio and The Sound Cafe Magazine, platforms that have become global hubs for blues, roots, folk, Americana, and world music.

A juror for national music awards including the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Stevie’s deep passion for music and storytelling continues to connect artists and audiences across cultures and continents.

Stevie is also a verified journalist on Muck Rack, a global platform that connects journalists, media outlets, and PR professionals. Being verified on Muck Rack signifies that Stevie’s professional work is recognized, trusted, and publicly credited, helping ensure transparency, credibility, and a direct connection between him and the worldwide media and music community.