emily cavanagh music
Singer, Songwriter, founder of “song for you” foundation
Born to a large Irish American family in Chicago, Emily Cavanagh is an independent artist based in NYC. Singer/Songwriter & Performer in places like NYC, Chicago, Nashville, and Dublin, Emily has made a career for herself as a Singer, often working at the intersection of music & service--In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, Emily launched a music initiative called "A Song for You"....now a 501c3 Charity “ Song For You Foundation” in NYC, featuring songs of local, touring, & Grammy award winning Songwriters.
As a writer, Emily's music reflects a throwback sound of the 30's, 40's,& 50's while maintaining a great folk & pop sensibility. Her work can be found in commercial placements & the instrumental of her song "Treehouse" was featured in the 2017 trailer for Fox Searchlight & Woody Harrelson's film "Wilson." Her latest EP “New York to Chicago” was released last month and is a collection of 3 songs, the only 3 songs she wrote in the pandemic not for “A Song For You.”
As a performer, Emily has played with some of the most regarded musicians on the New York scene.... Venues of note in New York include Blue Note, City Winery, Highline Ballroom, The Bitter End, Irish Arts Center, and Rockwood Music Hall....in Chicago, stages include Schubas and UnCommon Ground, in Nashville the Grand Ole Opry House. On the festival circuit she’s enjoyed playing with her Trio alongside headlining acts like Bruce Hornsby, Diana Krall, Lord Huron, & KebMo. Abroad in Ireland,Emily plays as an opening act for beloved Irish (& multi-platinum selling artists), Mundy & Paddy Casey.
Emily remains connected to causes closest to her heart-- her original song "Dark Was the Night" written on behalf of Genocide Survivors, has played at numerous events at the United Nations. Her music can be found on all major streaming sites. Her Charity can be found in PEOPLE magazine, Upworthy, NBC, ABC, Medium, Chicago Tribune, and in hospitals across the states.
To reach Emily: emilycavanaghmusic@gmail.com
“Song For You” charity
Born in the pandemic, Song for You is a unique grassroots arts not-for-profit that provides healing and comfort to patients (and their loved ones) at the end of their lives. Through personalized recorded songs, we honor the legacies patients leave behind while bringing the healing power of music to those in need whether in hospice, hospital, or home.
Songs are also written for first responders & the health care workers who look after these very patients.
n the pandemic, over a time span of 18 months, our artists wrote, recorded, and shared over 175 songs--some covers, some originals of the Artists, but many of which were personalized recorded songs, written from scratch, based on the stories of each individual patient as told through their families. Songs were also written to honor first responders--including a staff as small as 100 Nurses in a hospice in NYC, to a song written for a healthcare system of 15,000 Nurses in Idaho at Christmas two years back. In April of 2024, we performed at the Grand Ole Opry House, in a private event honoring 1500 First Responders.
Following a most generous response from the community at large, A Song For You initiative has expanded beyond the pandemic and grown into "Song For You" Foundation,a 501c3 charity in NYC, writing for families, patients, & first responders across the country. In a few years time, we have attracted Grammy award-winning artists & nominees, along with local, touring, and internationally awarded artists both here and abroad to our simple mission of celebrating a person's life & legacy in song.
This year as we go forward with our mission of keeping songs free to families, we hope to grow our Artist Network, build our Executive Board, and spread our mission even further to deepen our impact.
ACTIVISM
MUSIC AS A MEANS OF HEALING
For more than ten years, Emily has worked at the intersection of service & the arts— as a Singer/Songwriter and as a Founder, combining her two passions—music and service. She has worked with individuals living with HIV/AIDS, medically frail children, seniors with memory loss, and refugee women. In 2020, she launched “A Song For You” for patients, families, & first responders hit hardest by Covid-19. Read/learn about this latest project at NBC, ABC, People Magazine NY1, & Medium
EMILY AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Emily's song "Dark was the Night," inspired by Rwandan Genocide Survivor, Consolee Nishimwe, has been featured in a number of performances at the UN. Sundance award winning Filmmaker, Shilpi Gupta, collaborated with the women on this first music video. The second video below features the story of Consolee set to Emily's music, and is produced by "Rwanda Next."
In the news
Singer Writes Original Songs for People Who Are Dying to Celebrate Their Lives and Offer 'Little Bit of Peace'
Source: People.com
Comfort Through Music: ‘A Song for You’ Offers Healing Melodies to Those in Need
Source: WLS 890 AM
This Singer Writes Original Songs for People Who Are Dying: ‘Comfort in Such a Hard Time’ Read More: Songwriter Writes Original Songs for People Who Are Dying.
Source: Popcrush.com
Compassionate musician writes original songs for people who are dying to help celebrate their lives.
Source: majically.com
This inspiring singer-songwriter helps ease families' pain by writing custom songs for dying loved ones.
Source: News24.com
A Song For You founder writes songs to cheer and comfort people living out their final moments.
Source: upworthy.com
A Song For You: Emily Cavanagh
NBC New York Live
Source: nbcnewyork.com
Emily Cavanagh wants to sing ‘A Song for You’
Source: medium.com
SHOWS
2026 GIGS— to be announced soon…
(Joining MUNDY on February 23rd, 2026 for MUNDY & Friends at NYC’s Bitter End, 7:30 pm)
2025 GIGS
December 4-7:00 pm- Bitter End, NYC- Benefit Concert for Song For You Foundation SOLD OUT (featuring Grammy Award Winners Jesse Harris, Scott Sharrard, Grammy Nominee, Leo Sidran, & featuring Carl Banks, Gretchen Norwood, Deni Bonet, Chris Flynn, Nir Sadovnik, Frank Wagner, and the Gospel Choir of High Bridge Voices)
November 12-7:00 pm- Brit Box BBC Special Event- Dead Rabbit, NYC
October 15-8:30 pm- House Concert, Chicago
June 18-7:00 pm— Bitter End-NYC, NY - Double Headliner with MUNDY—SOLD OUT
June 21-7:00 pm-Elkhart Jazz Festival—Elkhart, IN (Diana Krall- Headliner)—SOLD OUT
June 29-7:00 pm- Schubas-Chicago, IL- Double Headliner with MUNDY—-SOLD OUT
May 1-7:00 pm- Bitter End, NYC— Low ticket alert
past venues of note
The Space — Westbury, Ct
McCarthy's — Dingle, Ireland
City Winery — NYC
Lilypad — Boston
International Bar — Dublin, Ireland
Uncommon Ground — Chicago
Spirit Shop — Dundalk, Ireland
Hiro Ballroom — NYC
Irish Arts Center — NYC
The Scratcher — NYC
Dublin Castle — London, England
Basement East- Nashville
Blue Note — NYC
Schubas — Chicago
Whelan's — Dublin, Ireland
Hotel Cafe — LA
Grand Ole Opry House-Nahsville
Lafayette's — Memphis
Rockwood Music Hall -Stages 2 & 3 — NYC
The Bitter End — NYC
Pete's Candy Store — Brooklyn
Living Room — NYC
Red Room — NYC
Monroes—Galway, Ireland
Blue Strawberry- St Louis
Sugar Club — Dublin, Ireland
Paper Moon
by Emily Cavanagh
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Videos
Built Me A House
Song by Emily Cavanagh
I wish you Love
Live recording of Emily covering this classic song
you're Gonna Make ME Lonesome when you go
Live rooftop session with Emily covering Bob Dylan classic