e m e r a l d r a e . c o m: Press

OPPOSITES IN BALANCE...
"The play on words that Emerald Rae chose for the tile of her recording works: she has tunes both contemplative and playful here, and the sort of holding-opposites-in-balance idea suggested by that works as a description of her playing, too.
Rae's main instrument is the fiddle and her touch with it is both clear and refreshing and, on occasion, light and joyful. She is a composer as well and those qualities carry through to that aspect of her music. She's interested in the music of Scotland and Cape Breton with a touch of American old time in the wings. There's a set called "Cape Breton Blast," which shows her understanding of that Atlantic Canada style, and "The Glass Fiddle Set" pairs two of her own lively Celtic fusion jigs with one written by John McCusker. The title set is an outstanding cut as well, with fine support from Natalie Haas on cello. Other FolkWax favorites who turn up on Contemplaytion include Matt Heaton (FolkWax Artist of the Year nominee with his wife Shannon) and Hanneke Cassel."

LOCAL FAVORITES ANNALIVIA, EMERALD RAE JOIN FORCES...
"...Prior to the Annalivia set, Cohen provided accompaniment for opening act Emerald Rae, who last fall returned to the Boston area after completing her graduate studies in Scotland. Rae, all of 22, is an astonishingly accomplished and poised fiddler in the Cape Breton/Scottish style, as she showed to great effect. To complement her singing talents, Rae has lately ventured into songwriting territory, and trotted out two of her compositions during the set, one of them a maritime tale of love and desperation (inspired by her family's move back to Gloucester earlier this year) that is built on a complex, shifting rhythmic foundation. Oh yes, she can dance, too.
Rae's presence on the bill was no coincidence: She is about to become a full-fledged member of Annalivia -- Simmons noted that this concert was "the last when Emerald and Annalivia perform as separate entities -- and at the end joined the band for a couple of instrumental medleys that offered a most enticing preview of further joys to come." (Click below to read more...)

"If her charismatic debut disc,"Contemplaytion", is any proof, Rae may
be Boston's next fiddle wunderkind. Her sound is rooted deep in the
robust Cape Breton style, but delivered in an enticingly modern and
personal way. Her fiddling is technically spot-on, yet elegantly
earthy, her bow merrily bouncing along the strings, as though unable
to resist joining the dance."

"...the eloquent playing of 2-Time New England Scottish Fiddle Champion
Emerald Rae fills the heart as well as the ear"

About the album: "... wonderfully done, and produced with subtlety
that embraces the listener, we are entranced by the talent and look
forward to more."

"Emerald has a way of getting everyone in the room toe tapping and
hand clapping - her sparkle of fiddling energy just translates into
raw excitement for all to enjoy."