I love Emily Portman's songs. She is a songwriter that has studied the ballads and uses them as foundations for her own songs. The images in her lyrics are vivid and her melodies complex and original.

I hold the bar extremely high on songwriting and Emily has certainly, IMO, exceeded it.

These ARE original songs. Yes she has taken themes and plots from original sources, but that is certainly to her credit.

I have learned her song "Tongue-Tied" and my audience's reaction is when I sing it is very positive.

Debra Cowan