Fort Worth
Back in the spring of 2009, a young baby faced kid named Vincent, couldn't play a lick on guitar (or write a song) to save his life.
Just 4 years later, Vincent Neil Emerson seems to have pulled his songwriting chops, and guitar playing abilities out of thin air.
Just 21 years old, he has already written a staggering amount of material (most of which has yet to have been recorded), And built up a sizable repertoire of Country, blues, and folk standards.
Quickly gaining a reputation as "one of the best new singer/songwriters to come out of DFW ", He currently plays the Dallas/Fort Worth circuit as a solo act, on his way.
Where to? just catch one of his live performances and you will soon find out where this fresh new face is headed.
Originally from Van Zandt county, TX., Vincent was later moved to D.F.W. by a single mother of three, who was in search of greater work opportunities. Partly raised in the small country towns of East TX., He was transplanted to Dallas, and has since been moving from town to town here in the metroplex surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth.
Vincent began his music career in north Texas, playing at house parties, open mics, and anywhere ears were open and willing to listen.Just last year, He has broken out in the close knit music scene of fort worth, tenaciously. Graduating from those dive-bar open mics and house shows, slowly building a fan-base, and gaining respect from local established acts, as a gigging musician.
His influence lies somewhere between Country-blues, and folk music. Not quite an " old timey " act, but yet a modern approach on traditional songs, and the music of the past.
His style of playing has been heavily influenced by songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt , Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Joe Pug, and John Prine.
Though the list of songwriters he pulls influence from goes on and on, his voice is truly original.
2013 is looking like a bright year for this young man, as his first album "Flyin' High" has just made it's way to the public via Independent label ( Pigasus Records) in the form of a free download available from several online music-sharing sources.
"Flyin' High" is a collection of 9 original songs, all recorded very quickly, in one take.
As Vincent would put it - " The themes in this record are built off of things I've been through. Hard love, tough luck, and a struggle to find something greater than what this life has to offer someone like me, a high school dropout, bound to follow in the foot steps of my folks that came before me.
This record is meant to relate to people like me, and there are a lot of us out there.
Can't get ahead. Always falling down. But our eyes are constantly fixed on the moon, our legs ceaselessly moving, and our hands reaching towards the stars.
Ultimately, this is just my personal diary, made to rhyme, and set to moods made possible by music.
I hope a few people can make use of it."
To the enthusiast of well crafted, honest songs, it would be wise to keep an eye on this new comer.
From what we hear, this first record is just the tip of the iceberg, only an introduction to what's to come.
If you're an avid attendant of local D.F.W. shows, you'd be hard pressed not to come see this young man play again after hearing him once.