Emma Lee Toyoda - Planes & Cranes

WRITTEN BY JASMINE ALBERTSON
PHOTO BY Melissa Kagerer

Seattle’s Emma Lee Toyoda is completely gutting on their latest EP, November’s I Hear U & I’m Here 4 U. It’s a more stripped-down affair than their debut album, 2016’s sewn me anew, which saw Toyoda integrate everything from banjo to saxophone. Using only electric guitar, keyboard, electric bass, drum machine, and live drums, Toyoda’s breathtaking voice is able to shine. And its important that it does when the lyrics are this raw. Our Song of the Day is “Planes & Cranes,” is a song in which Toyoda huskily examines a broken relationship, “Every day I think of you at midnight/ Never was quite healthy anyway/ Who’s healthy anyway?” Toyoda told KEXP this about I Hear U & I’m Here 4 U:

“So many times in the past two years that’s all that I craved to hear,” they explain. “These songs saw me through some of my lowest points and offered comfort when I desperately needed it, so in return, I hope that they can share this love + support to others who may need it.”

There are a couple upcoming opportunities to catch Toyoda, first on Wednesday, March 6 at the Victory Lounge and then on Friday, March 22 at Neumos with Naked Giants and Gypsy Temple. Below, watch Toyoda’s KEXP in-studio performance.