It’s Me Or The Dog Or Was It “Cats”?

It’s Me Or The Dog/ album cover art

Emily Frembgen is a singer-songwriter, hailing originally from Denver and Maryland, but is now based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Since first moving to the Big Apple at age 15, Frembgen has recorded countless solo albums and EPs, and is releasing her first studio album,  It’s Me or the Dog on September 24, 2021.

The album’s song titles at first seem scattered, reflecting many different thoughts , rather than a collection of themeable tracks. As a folk artist with an indie and country vibe,  It’s Me or the Dog  is a testament to Frembgen’s personality and her journey through the music industry.  In creating her new album, Frembgen tells Brooklyn Roads that the process took about three years to create.

“I was finally able to make the album over the pandemic when there was pretty much nothing else to do and I was lucky enough to get to work with Hugh Pool at his studio in Greenpoint,” said Frembgen. “This one kind of just fell together.”

Emily Frembgen/photo by Adrian Buckmaster /courtesy of Devious Planet

Kicking  off the album is “Butterfly“, a slow paced acoustic track,  where Frembgen sings with a lilt while storytelling. As the lyrics send a message, they make the listener feel loved and accepted by her words. The album continues on with the same easygoing energy that a bright sunny morning would emit.

“Silver Lining“, the fifth track on the album,  is likely be a fan favorite, as listeners hear Frembgen sing, “in a perfect world, we’d both have everything….the cake and the icing… the silver lining.” The track has a perfect blend of infectious lyrics and sway-worthy instrumentals that allow for infinite listening. 

Emily Frembgen On Stage/ Photo by Alice Teeple / courtesy of Devious Planet

Frembgen writes true poetry set to music and credits her musical upbringing to some of the greats across all genres of music. “I was obsessed with musical theatre when I was really little, especially CATS. I still love Webber and Sondheim and think they’re great songwriters,” she told Brooklyn Roads. “I’m sure they shaped my sensibilities in a major way. Then of course I became obsessed with The Beatles. Then, when I heard Lou Reed, it was all over for me- I had to be a songwriter too.  After that, it never occurred to me to do anything else except for the occasional acting thing. It’s all I know!”

She credits most of her discovery in music genres to Brooklyn itself, the place where she discovered many musical gems, saying that  “living in Brooklyn has exposed me to so many awesome people and  I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing,  how I’m doing it if I wasn’t here.” To compare Emily Frembgen to other artists would be a disservice to her craft, but putting her in the same musical category of modern day artists like Kacey Musgraves or  with legends like Neil Young, is most definitely deserved.