The Artist Finds Ease and Evolution in Shared Creative Spaces
BURLINGTON, VT (February 24, 2026) – Indie-folk artist Emma Cook is set to release her new album “Of the Morning” on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, which explores personal transformation and finding ease along the way. Blending Brooklyn-recorded base layers and Nashville session polishes, the 8-song album is her first solo project since becoming a full-time musician in 2018, marking a major career milestone. Her album release journey began in October 2025 with her first single “Thirteen Moons.”
I've always had a lot of ideas, and I'm trying not to minimize the fact that as a self-employed indie musician it's a really big deal that I was able to see this Big Idea through.
Emma Cook on inspiration behind "Of the Morning."
In Cook's experience, her 30s have been a season of unlearning and returning to herself – a transformative decade during which every song on this record was penned. The project's inception, an arrangement session with producer Katie Martucci, coincided with the her daughter's first birthday and mirrored a significant shift in Cook's own personal bandwidth. Moving away from her previously self-produced methods, she discovered a newfound necessity for collaboration with a producer to unlock further possibilities, defining her new direction.
Cover art for “Of the Morning” by Emma Cook
The best part of this whole process has been getting to work with such talented and inspiring musicians and artists and creative folks along the way”
Cook expresses when discussing the process of bringing her vision to life.
Photo Credits to Macaulay Lerman
In late 2022, after the birth of my daughter, my priorities and intentions came more sharply into focus, and I knew I needed to make this album - for me, and for her.
Cook remarks.
“Of the Morning” features a cohesive 8-song story, distilled from an original 14 tracks, reflecting the collaborative energy between the artist and producer Katie Martucci. The release was made possible after a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $15,000, featuring unique merchandise, including protein pancake mix, jammy t-shirts, and custom mugs.
Credits
Vocals, Piano, Harmony Vocals - Emma Cook
Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals - Katie Martucci
Percussion, Zither, Harmony Vocals - Dylan Mckinstry
Harmony Vocals (You Are Not Alone, 21st Century) - Allie Chipkin
Auxiliary Piano, Organ, Bass - Ben Sanders
Drums - Mark Raudabaugh
Bass - Michael Rinne
Harmony Vocals (Forbidden Fruit) - Lizzy Ross
Electric Guitar - Sam Talmadge
Trumpet - Tree Palmedo
Trombone - John Cushing
Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals - Katie Martucci
Percussion, Zither, Harmony Vocals - Dylan Mckinstry
Harmony Vocals (You Are Not Alone, 21st Century) - Allie Chipkin
Auxiliary Piano, Organ, Bass - Ben Sanders
Drums - Mark Raudabaugh
Bass - Michael Rinne
Harmony Vocals (Forbidden Fruit) - Lizzy Ross
Electric Guitar - Sam Talmadge
Trumpet - Tree Palmedo
Trombone - John Cushing
Production and Technical Credits
Producer - Katie Martucci
Recording Engineer (Brooklyn, NY) - Dylan Mckinstry at Greenpoint Recording Collective
Recording Engineer (Nashville, TN) - Ben Sanders at Barnfire Creative
Mixing - Scott Hudley
Mastering - Philip Shaw Bova
Cover Photo - Macaulay Lerman
Album Design - Beenanza
Producer - Katie Martucci
Recording Engineer (Brooklyn, NY) - Dylan Mckinstry at Greenpoint Recording Collective
Recording Engineer (Nashville, TN) - Ben Sanders at Barnfire Creative
Mixing - Scott Hudley
Mastering - Philip Shaw Bova
Cover Photo - Macaulay Lerman
Album Design - Beenanza
About Emma Cook
Living by the idea that "finding ease doesn't mean a lack of effort," singer-songwriter Emma Cook turns inward, offering some of her most vulnerable and finely crafted work to date. Written during a transformational stretch of life - turning thirty in the early days of the global pandemic, becoming a mother, and reckoning with a rapidly changing world - these songs reflect what she calls her “delightfully melancholic experience of being human.”
Weaving themes of moon cycles, forbidden fruit, motherhood, climate anxiety, and the everyday beauty in between, Of the Morning is, in Cook’s words, “a tender chronicle about growing the f** up.” With humor, honesty, and a soothing voice that has been called “incomparably smooth” (The Deli Magazine), Emma writes about Big Things - and the small, quiet moments that make a big life. Her expressive vocal range, jazz-inflected chord choices, and folk-rooted storytelling create a sound that’s both expansive and intimate. Think Maggie Rogers meets Carole King by way of the forest floor.
A formidable songwriter and instrumentalist
Jordan Adams, Seven Days.
Emma grew up in the Michigan folk and traditional music scene, learning guitar and piano before she was a teenager. Her sound blends the folk, roots, pop, and jazz that raised her into something unmistakably her own. From 2013–2019, she toured throughout New England and the Midwest with her folk-funk band Questionable Company, playing festivals, dive bars, and barns. The group earned a loyal following and critical praise for their energy and musicianship. Moving away from her self-produced roots, Emma has entered a season of creative expansion, partnering with producer Katie Martucci to transform her intimate sketches into the lush, collaborative arrangements found throughout Of the Morning.
“Emma’s music is warm, cozy and captivating all at once. She gave a house concert at our home, and everyone was rapt. Her beautiful voice, musicianship and storytelling provided a wonderfully intimate and memorable event for all.
Anne, House Concert Host.
Since then, Emma has continued to grow her artistry and will continue to perform at the following locations:
- Saturday, March 14th at Higher Ground in S. Burlington, VT with Reid Parsons and Danny LeFrancois - Buy your tickets now
- Thursday, April 9th at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA with Kara McGee and Louie Lou Louis - Buy your tickets now
- Sunday, April 12th at House Concert in Brooklyn, NY with Louie Lou Louis - Send a DM to get the address
Image by Macaulay Lerman
Now based in Vermont, Emma is not only a songwriter and performer, but also a beloved music educator and children’s musician in her local community. Deeply rooted in both her Michigan upbringing and Vermont home, she finds creative fuel in nature, family, and the simple joy of everyday life. “More than anything,” Emma says, “I believe in the power of music - to connect, to heal, to transform. These songs were offered to me from somewhere beyond myself, and now I offer them to you.”
When she’s not making music, you’ll likely find Emma in the garden, riding her bike, doing yoga, making soup, swimming in wild water, or reading with her kiddo by her side.