Folk Storyteller Emmett Jerome Blends Southern Soul with Rollicking Energy on New Single “Write To Me”
With a voice steeped in truth and a heart wired for raw expression, Emmett Jerome returns with “Write To Me,” a rollicking, rootsy slice of storytelling. Inspired by the golden era of 60’s Southern Rock and Blues, the track pleads for connection in the form of a long-awaited letter from an emotionally distant lover. At the heart of “Write To Me” is the Hammond organ – the backbone of Southern Rock – played by one of Canada’s finest, Darryl Havers.
Drawing on the influence of The Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, and BB King, Jerome set out to create something that lived authentically in that sonic world.
“I grew up listening to this genre, and those artists were paramount in developing my love for music,” says Jerome. “I wanted to write a very blues-oriented story and keep it true to that era.”
The song’s inception was spontaneous. Written on piano, Jerome found the chorus immediately and brought it to the band the same day.
“Everything came together at once,” he recalls. “I grabbed my notebook and slipped out of the room. I wrote the lyrics crouched in the hallway, scribbling as fast as I could, hoping to capture the moment before it slipped away.”
Recorded live off the floor to tape, the track preserves the organic interplay between the musicians. Electric guitars were captured simultaneously, with Jerome and guitarist Scott Smith standing face-to-face, reacting in real time to each other’s playing.
“I wanted to challenge myself to not only be inspired by 60’s music but to use the same technological boundaries,” says Jerome. “I believe these limitations lead to a more inspired performance and a deeper connection with the listener.”
For Emmett Jerome, the track feels like a homecoming.
“‘Write To Me’ makes me feel like I’m revisiting my roots and expressing a raw, natural side of my music,” he says. “I hope the listener enjoys the honesty and connects with the heart of its stripped-down, rootsy style.”