by Matt Bower
YOUNG TALENT: Emma Joy Galvin, 13, has been writing her own music since age 11 and is an active member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the Rhode Island Songwriters Association and is the youngest member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame based in New York.
Emma Joy Galvin’s name may not be uttered in the same breath as Keith Urban and Taylor Swift, but the young talent hailing from Warwick is only 13 years old and has plenty of time to change that.
Galvin has already performed off-Broadway, in television and in film, but her real passion is writing and performing music and she hasn’t wasted any time. She’s already an active member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International and the Rhode Island Songwriters Association, and is currently the youngest member to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame based in New York, where the next oldest member is at least 17. The accolades don’t stop there; Galvin was the winner of the Mix 104.1 National Anthem contest and performed at Boston Garden for the Harlem Globetrotters when she was 9 as well as sang the National Anthem at McCoy Stadium for the Paw Sox the past three summers.
“I did a lot of acting when I was younger, but I’ve always loved being on stage and singing,” Galvin said.
Galvin said she started off performing in community theater as a hobby when she was 7, beginning with a stint with the Trinity Reperatory Company as a young Belle with a small solo part in “A Christmas Carol.” It wasn’t long before she started attending auditions in New York City for roles in film and theater.
“I did off-Broadway acting until I was 11 and then I moved away from theater and got more into songwriting,” she said. “Between acting in film and theater and singing, I found I was the most interested in singing so I’ve continued to pursue that.”
Galvin said she was 11 when she began writing her own songs and since then has penned roughly 50 songs, 15 of which she considers full-fledged quality songs.
“This one’s called ‘Speechless,’” Galvin said as she strapped on her acoustic guitar and played her latest creation, written about a month ago. The song is an up-tempo, energetic piece full of colorful melodies and catchy hooks, with an breakaway slowdown introducing the explosive chorus, “Why can’t I find/A way to have you here/ What’s been burning in my mind/ I want you mine/I can’t find any words to go along with this/ I’m speechless.”
Not only can Galvin play, but she can sing. She describes her music as country with poppy chords and melodies mixed in.
“I like to write about relationships because I find that to be a universal topic,” she said.
Choosing to write radio friendly songs, Galvin said she learned from her influences such as Keith Urban and Taylor Swift. Her songwriting ability and dedication coupled with her energy and enthusiasm for creating music should give her a bright future.
“I can’t put my guitar down,” she said with a big smile. “Even if I’m just at home, I’m always playing, learning and writing.”
Galvin said before she got into writing music, her acting schedule was so busy that she had to be home-schooled while she was in fifth grade in order to allow her to further explore the acting realm.
“It was a tight schedule, but it’s not as much of a challenge now because for the most part I set my own schedule and I can work around school,” she said.
Even though her schedule continues to keep her busy with a trip to Nashville for a songwriters workshop and live performances opening for the Plain White T’s, Collective Soul and The Temptations, Galvin is back in the classroom at St. Peter’s School.
In a time of budget constraints and cutting programs in hopes of saving money, Galvin is proud to say the music program at St. Peter’s is still intact.
“We kept music in our school and it’s a great program,” she said. “I’m learning about [music] theory, which helps a lot with guitar.”
In addition to opening for some big names, Galvin also has some solo gigs under her belt, including a writer’s night showcase at the hotel hosting the songwriters workshop in Nashville, an appearance on the Buddy Cianci radio show, multiple performances at the Newport Yachting Center and a two-hour set at T.F. Green Airport.
When asked what performances, if any, really jump out at her or are memorable for her, Galvin stopped to think for a minute before saying, “The first time I performed at the Yachting Center when I opened for the Plain White T’s two summers ago was special because that was the first time I performed live, but every time I perform jumps out at me.”
“It would be great to play with people that inspire me, but my dream is to do what I’m doing now and continue it. I’m doing exactly what I want to do,” she said. “Whether I’m performing in front of two people or 2 million people, it’s the same for me; I just really enjoy it.”
Galvin said while she enjoys performing, her real love is writing the songs.
“I get so excited about it. It has to come naturally to me first. I always have ideas for a song, but I have to be in the mood and let it come naturally, whether it’s melodies or lyrics,” she said. “If I play it a few times and it’s in my head the next day, then I know I have something.”
Galvin said one of the songs she finished last summer was one of the first songs she began working on, but in order to complete it, she had to set it aside for a while. She said the songwriters workshop she attended in Nashville has been a big help.
“The workshop lasted three days and it was awesome because I got to talk to amazing songwriters. It was great to talk to them and I learned a lot from the lectures too,” she said.
Galvin said she plans to record a demo either this winter or this spring, which she’ll send out to Nashville and New York. In the meantime, she has a couple more performances lined up, including another appearance at T.F. Green in February (date to be determined).
“It’s been so much fun,” she said of her experiences. “I’m doing exactly what I want to do.”
For more information on Emma Galvin or to join her e-mail list, visit her Web site at www.emmajoy.com. To hear “Speechless” and more of Galvin’s music, visit her myspace page at www.myspace.com/emmajoygalvin.
