Emma Jo’s Remarkable Rise

The River Market’s Opera House had a homey vibe. The enormous café was bursting at the seams with the activity of customers and the aroma of grilled food.

Emma Jo, a country and Americana musician, is seated with an iced latte. “I started when I was about 15. First, I released a full-length solo acoustic album. Then I got a band together and did the rock band thing for about six years. So, I’ve been playing music my whole life,” exclaimed Jo.

She grew up in rock n’ roll and was influenced by artists like Bruce Springsteen and Shania Twain, as well as the lifestyle. Jo was raised in Kansas City, where her love of country and rock & roll music, respectively, had a significant influence on her. When she was four, she made her stage debut by singing “You Are My Sunshine” in a neighborhood talent show. Her father recognized Jo’s talent and decided to buy her a guitar as she continued to sing and write her songs. By the time Jo was fifteen, she had written enough songs to fill the complete acoustic CD Waiting to Be Heard. She later joined forces with friends to form a full rock band with her as the lead singer. Even though the band had “badass grooves… and attitude,” Present Magazine’s Pete Dulin claimed.

Jo has been performing since she was a young artist. Like her musical heroes, Bruce Springsteen and Shania Twain, the acoustic guitar has significantly influenced her career. “It’s about time I walked out of his life… straight into mine,” says Jo proudly. Just got back from an almost month-long Asia vacation that included Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand. Straight Into Mine, Jo’s most recent album will be released soon. Her career finally took her to Asia, where she began to discover herself in a different light. Every bar, coffee shop, you name it on tour in Asia, they played her music. “Japan is like another planet, “ said Jo. “It has something for everyone. They have a rule-follower society. For example, many bar owners would put on my music after discovering I was a singer,” said Jo excitedly.

Jo traveled to Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo, three locations on the Japanese Islands. The foreign performance increased Jo’s following. She uses the Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Youtube platforms, where her fans from Kansas City to Asia can subscribe to listen to Jo’s music. Jo’s grief over losing her father inspired her in ways she never expected throughout her life. Tragic events trigger change. In 2017, Jo’s father lost his fight with depression and passed away. “That was when I released my full-length Brave. But, unfortunately, it wasn’t the right timing. Losing my dad had a big difference in my life,” explained Jo.

Making this album gave Jo a means to use music to help others while also assisting in healing her traumas. Jo realized that her father would want her to pursue music in the future as a result. According to Jo, she was adamant about honoring her father’s memory. Jo has spent her entire life working toward this point. Her parents impacted her childhood. Jo thus felt more motivated to work as her career progressed. The lyrics are like a ballet dancer. The rhythmic meaning of each word.

“My songwriting means a lot to me. The right kind of music is essential. So I started doing rootsy American country, and that was in 2018. “It took another five years to shine the way I want to put out the music that’s right for me, that’s truthful and honest. Then, in 2017, I had a terrible year, losing my dad. So the first part is reeling, coming to terms with it, and figuring out what happened”, said Jo.

She continued finding her place in her field as more years passed. However, she encountered difficulties that tested her courage and determination to move forward, along with her father’s unexpected death. Jo released an album in her father’s honor after accepting mortality and embracing uncertainty by creating projects that express success.

“After that, you start to think about your own life. How does loss affect how you should live your life? Some of that is that life is short. Another part of it is wanting to make that person proud. For me, career-wise, it was propelling. My producer called me in October, right after my dad passed away. He hadn’t known what happened. He was like do you want to postpone the recordings? And I was like, no, I’m coming into the studio. My dad would not want me to put it on hold. So the first song we recorded was the one I did for my dad,” said Jo.

The song spurred forward the project as a whole:

Your Story Still Needs to Be Told

Jo prepared to release new music in 2021 after a few years of personal development. Her famous song “Queen of the Silver Lining” highlights her tenacity and will to overcome challenges. Jo released “Same Moon” in 2022 with lyrics honoring Galileo and leveraging her knowledge of scientific history. The most recent single, “Straight Into Mine,” is a very open and personal song about Emma’s struggles and her efforts to overcome them.

Jo explains more about her 2018 album’s debut:

“The album Brave is sad. But a thread of hope runs through it even though your story isn’t over yet. It is still a downbeat album that reflects the time of life that I was in. Losing my dad made a big difference in my life because I started realizing ok I’ve got to put my energy into something. It is not ok for me to sit around and be sad all the time. So I went to graduate school. I got my master’s degree in History,” laughed Jo, “Just because I like it! So I went to UMKC.”

Her life story gradually came to center on a revival of focus. She sought out a local program to assist in her molding, which she is now doing due to the advantages of her commitment to improvement. One of her life’s fundamental tenets began to be investing in her well-being.

“Another thing I started to do was run. I decided to exercise. But, unfortunately, I wasn’t in the best of health. So, I started the Couch to 5K Program. Then, I started running because it was one thing I could control. “I was in control every morning. I saw my progress on a chart, and I was like ok. I am getting better at something. It impacted my mind because it made me realize that you can improve if you work on something daily. Then I started eating a little better because I started feeling good. Finally, I was in a toxic relationship and started standing up for myself,” explained Jo.

Jo’s trip’s key message — which served as the foundation for who she is as an artist and a person today — was to embrace each day as it came and to take charge of the aspects of her life that she could control. Composing music that speaks the language of rootsy Americana and is inspired by her soul.

Jo has been creating art her entire life but has only recently begun. She frequently travels to Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of Dixie, where she records most of her music.

Jo will perform among the Lake of the Ozarks islets in southern Missouri this summer. From June 2 to 3. As Jo continues her career, she keeps her experience of her family values close to her heart, her fans who are sure to be enthralled by Emma’s strong voice, moving words, and captivating melodies. The Midwest, our regional music, and how art is a potent weapon to heal even the deepest wounds are all topics that Emma Jo uses her artistry to highlight for Kansas City, which is fortunate to have her.

(Editing Credit Matt DeCapo)

(Emma Jo Music LLC credit)