Hailing from El Paso, Texas, acoustic/electric folk-punk band Emily Davis and the Murder Police have gained a cult following in the Southwest with their vibrant and heartfelt music and perceptive and relevant lyrics.
Known as EDMP for short, the outfit recently came off of a tour with punk legends Bad Religion (and Davis toured solo with Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin in 2017 when he was supporting his Millport LP).
They’ve also opened for alt-rockers Cold War Kids and were gearing up for a tour with renowned rock band Sparta this month (which is on hold due to the virus pandemic).
Davis had been releasing acclaimed solo material from 2010 to 2015, but then decided she wanted to refigure her music into a full-band iteration. In 2017 Emily Davis and the Murder Police had solidified and 2018 saw the release of the album Same Old World.
The full band set-up amplifies Davis’ meaningful music, mixing in ‘90s-inspired alt-rock, alt-folk, and punk into a potent sound.
Rebel Noise is stoked to host the premiere of EDMP’s latest single, the surf-influenced, folk-punk “Artificial Happiness.”
Incisive, but poetically written lyrics about seeking escape from the everyday through substance abuse are deep and dark, but the sound is dynamic and passionate.
A surf rock lead guitar line reverberates through the propulsive bass and punchy drums rhythm, while brisk acoustic guitar strum adds a lighter touch. Davis sings emotively with a wavering lilt to her vocals.
“Artificial Happiness” Lyrics:
Give me unruly crowds
And thick, toxic clouds
Conversation muted; music loud
Give me portions of less
So I'll come back for more
'Cuz I die every night
Just to wake up bored
Spare me decisions
Well-earned criticisms
Spare me the mirror
And send liquid dinner
Spare me one honest friend
With their biting insight
'Cuz I'm bored every morning
And I die every night.
Evening comes, we seek her out
Swirling her in our mouths
Another petite morte
Until the real one comes around
Trade me one ugly truth
For a hundred charming lies
Trade me "are you alright?"
For two averted eyes
Trading everything I am
For a whim unsatisfied
'Cuz I'm bored every morning
And I die every night
But for now, we'll settle
For these shallow sips
But for now, we'll bathe
In this manufactured bliss
But for now, postpone
The day while we persist
In this
Artificial Happiness
https://www.facebook.com/eDavisMusic/
https://www.instagram.com/emilydavismusic/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5R6WTmz9z6v5sS1T4ukYsv?si=fhT5TZHmT3m-7wAPtFzU4g
https://emilydavis.bandcamp.com/album/same-old-world-emily-davis-and-the-murder-police
