OTO Originals presents: EMILEE PETERSMARK SPEAKS about Destroy Everything

What do you do when you want to start over, but your old life keeps showing up with notes? Emilee Petersmark joins OTO Originals to talk about Destroy Everything, her new solo album about adoption, Korean identity, therapy, old songs, and the slightly inconvenient fact that starting over doesn’t actually erase anything. Some of the songs on the record date back to 2012–2015. More than a decade later, Emilee found herself hearing things in them that she hadn’t fully understood when she wrote them. Imagine doing years of therapy only to discover that your 2012 self had already left you a message in an old song. Thanks a lot. In our conversation, Emilee talks about her Korean name, Lee Sang-eun, growing up disconnected from that part of her identity, traveling to Korea for the first time, and making a solo record while continuing her work with The Crane Wives. She also played every guitar part on Destroy Everything herself and pushed into heavier territory than the folk and folk-rock she’s known for. As Emilee puts it: “Starting over doesn’t necessarily mean a clean slate.” Which is probably worth remembering before the next new city, new job, new haircut, new life situation. Watch Emilee Petersmark Speaks, part of our special project OTO Originals. THE-OTO.COM #EmileePetersmark #DestroyEverything #OTOOriginals #TheOTO #theotomedia #TheCraneWives #AlternativeMusic #IndieMusic