EMA, whose Past Life Martyred Saints album made it into our top records of 2011, releases a new single today. On sale to coincide with Valentine’s Day, all the profits from the sale of ‘Take One Two’ will be donated to an anti-bullying charity, the details of which you can read below. You can buy it digitally here.
EMA, real name Erika M. Anderson, has also made a video to accompany it, which features her and some of her friends when they were teenagers. You can watch the video below, and read her own words about the video and bullying issues further down the page.
"This footage comes from a South Dakota trailer park in the mid-90s," Anderson’s accompanying text reads, "and features a small group of freaks and misfits who seem to be having the time of their lives. Dressing up, hanging out, making up funny skits, and lots of laughing. When I look back now at our fresh young faces (yes that is me with the short dark hair and cat-eye liner), I’m amazed at how simply happy we all look. This is especially remarkable as I know what was going on outside those plywood walls: getting called names, shoved into lockers, and threatening to get our asses kicked for being queer or punk or just plain weird.
"But despite all that, there is a joy, strength and self-acceptance in our faces that I find inspiring and wanted to pass on. I’m offering the proceeds of this song to an anti-bullying non-profit started by a 15-yr-old girl in Long Island who was a victim of bullying for 7 years before switching schools. It’s called The Jamie Isaacs Foundation and it works to bring youth advocates into schools and pass antibullying legislation.
"When I first put together this video I sent it out to the people involved to get their take on it before it was released. My friends thought it was "adorable" but I didn’t hear back from the sweet boy in the turquoise teddy. I worried that it was too much, too revealing, and he wouldn’t want that footage put out into the world. Finally, I got a message back:
‘That was the most beautifully done video I have ever seen I love it I love it I love it. I could not stop bawling. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so secure as when we were all hanging out in the trailer bedroom. Erika. Lacy. All 3 of us went thru some pretty tough shit. But we made it through. Lets use what we learned and give it to somebody else that needs it.’
"I couldn’t have said it better myself. This one’s for all the weirdos out there: cherish your friends, fuck the haters and let your freak flag fly."
