NEWCOMER is the debut album of Indianapolis-based vocalist and composer, Emma Hedrick. The album comprises ten original tunes composed by Hedrick. Although her earliest influences were Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald, her own writing and singing have a contemporary edge. She calls the album her “musical scrapbook” and her compositions were born through many sources of inspiration including pre-existing poetry, haiku form, creativity methods from various art disciplines, and daily life.

Hedrick assembled a band of up-and-coming jazz artists for NEWCOMER, many of whom she had met in college. Collaboration was a North Star for this project, and Hedrick specifically selected musicians and friends who have been important to her journey to be featured on the album. Each song has a unique instrumentation and orchestration that highlights not only the variety of compositional inspirations but also the range of aesthetics and styles within the album.

The album was produced by PETER ELDRIDGE, the vocalist, composer, recording artist, and founding member of the internationally acclaimed New York Voices. Peter also plays piano and adds his voice to two tracks. While they first met at the New York Voices Jazz camp when Emma was 16, this is their first project together.

Hedrick is foremost a storyteller. With her spot-on intonation, mellifluous vocal quality, and skilled phrasing, she eschews vocal gymnastics to place the lyrics front and center. Her appealing songs have a contemporary pop/mellow jazz feel with a classic quality that makes them seem almost familiar.