Pittsburgh musician releases solo album after decade in development

Emilee Petersmark has spent the last ten years developing a solo project that finally reached the public earlier this month. The debut album, titled "Destroy Everything," arrives as the musician prepares for a tour that contrasts sharply with her previous touring conditions. Petersmark, best known as the lead singer of The Crane Wives, is now performing as Lee Emi, a moniker that reflects her Korean heritage.

The East Coast run begins Nov. 6 in Columbus, Ohio, and concludes Nov. 22 in Chicago. The schedule includes a performance at Thunderbird Music Hall in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood on Nov. 7. Cal in Red will open the show and serve as the backing band for Petersmark during the tour. The musician noted that the tour targets small, intimate venues, a setting she described as offering a different energy than the large rooms where The Crane Wives typically play.

Petersmark explained that the shift to a solo identity was necessary to explore personal themes that did not fit the collaborative nature of her main band. She stated, "I really needed this project to be something that could stand on its own and live in a separate world than what I’ve made with The Crane Wives." The album addresses isolation during the pandemic, health challenges, and her journey to reclaim her Korean identity after being born in Seoul and adopted at a young age.

The project emerged during a three to four year hiatus for The Crane Wives, which the band entered in 2019 after years of rigorous touring. During that break, Petersmark was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease and struggled with in-person community support. Ben Zito, the bassist and manager of The Crane Wives, helped record the album in his studio. Petersmark said the process allowed her to process experiences that were too personal for her primary band.

The musician emphasized that the album title reflects a theme of clearing space for new growth. She compared the process to a forest fire that clears old growth to allow healthier trees to exist. Petersmark is already working on a second album and plans to play new songs during the current tour. She expressed hope that the record will resonate with listeners who feel isolated or are navigating their own diasporic identities.