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
Overview: (Song For You Foundation-- A Song For You.)
Born in the pandemic, Song for You Foundation- A Song For You is a unique grassroots arts not-for-profit that provides healing and comfort to patients (and their loved ones) in hospice & hospital.
Songs are also written for First responders who look after these very patients. 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.
In 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 150 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.
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 Song For You, 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 to our simple mission of celebrating a person's life & legacy in song to bring comfort & gratitude, not grief to communities in trying times.
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.
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—
August 18-6:30 pm- Bitter End- NYC, NY
July 11-7:30 pm- Co-Headline with Saoirse Casey-NYC,NY
June 6- 7:00 pm- Fanatics-- Opening Act for Chris Trapper-Lima, NY
June 5-7:00 pm- Fanatics-- Opening Act for Chris Trapper- Lima, NY
April 29- Chicago NPHI Conference - Key Note Speaker & Singer- Chicago, IL
April 11— 7:00 pm-Lyonshare— Beacon, NY
February 23—7:30 pm- MUNDY & Friends-Bitter End, NYC, NY
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
-
Emily Cavanagh
-
Emily Cavanagh
-
Emily Cavanagh
-
Emily Cavanagh
-
Emily Cavanagh
Videos
Built Me A House
Song by Emily Cavanagh
"I Wish You Love" recorded LIVE at Continental Studios, 2017 Emily Cavanagh - singer Nir Sadovnik- piano Frank Wagner- bass Engineered by Phil Duke Mixed & Mastered by Oscar Zambrano, Zampol Productions Chris Vernale--photography Song by Charles Trenet, 1946 Song from "Bootlegs from the Continental" www.emilycavanaghmusic.com itunes, spotify, pandora, tidal, apple music
I wish you Love
Live recording of Emily covering this classic song
Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"... Arranged and Performed by Emily Cavanagh www.emilycavanaghmusic.com LIVE recording Continental Studios, Engineered by Phil Duke, Mastered by Oscar Zambrano, featuring Carl Banks & Mark Pressman Video by Christopher Vernale, El Raven Productions May 24, 2017 (Note: today is bob dylan's 76th birthday.
you're Gonna Make ME Lonesome when you go
Live rooftop session with Emily covering Bob Dylan classic
Kettle of Fish
Emily Cavanagh & Saoirse Casey @ Whelanslive If you would like to have a video produced of your live show, please send us an email: nick@coffeehillstudios.com
In A Little While
Emily Cavanagh Music Available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, Apple Radio https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/keep-it-with-mine/id6267Emily Cavanagh Music All Rights Reserved Music and Lyrics: Emily Cavanagh Produced by Leo Sidran Danger Village Publishing