Classically-trained violinist and comedian from Toronto
Emily is a classically-trained violinist, comedian and an up and coming DJ in the GTA. She spins all genres of music under the pseudonym DJ EmV. She has played at various corporate events ranging from 150 to 5000 attendees. DJ EmV has performed for companies such as Microsoft, MAC Cosmetics, and Ferrari. She is a vibrant & energetic DJ who is also able to add violin to any event to make a performance that much more unique.
Emily moved to Toronto in March 2021 where she hopes to experience all that this great city has to offer.
We sat with Emily for this exclusive interview for our readers. We hope you will enjoy reading this interview as much as we enjoyed interviewing her.
Please introduce yourself to our readers:
I am a classically-trained violinist and comedian in Toronto – the irony of that dichotomy isn’t lost on me. I moved here about a year ago and have been trying to assimilate even despite the pandemic forcing everyone to distance themselves from literally everyone else.
Tell us about your education:
I received two Bachelors of Music from Stetson University in a wee town called DeLand. (It’s about 45 minutes from Orlando, Florida.) I studied Violin Performance and Music Technology. Since they were both BMs, I had to give TWO fifty-minute recitals. The classical recital was one of the hardest things I had ever done up to that point – I didn’t eat for a day and a half. The tech recital was only difficult in the sense that one of the “professors” was giving me grief and didn’t want me to graduate on time. I did though, so joke’s on him.
Share some of your childhood memories:
A memory I have about classical music (since I was “late” to the game by starting at twelve) is my mom making pancakes and playing Arthur Grumiaux’s recording of Bach’s partitas and sonatas for violin. There was something very beautiful in the simplicity of making pancakes while listening to such complicated, virtuosic performances. I think of that any time I play those as an adult now… and then crave pancakes.
How and when did you get interested in music and why violin? What or who influenced you?
I didn’t get the chance to start playing until my school introduced orchestra and band as electives. I actually had band first and knew I wanted to learn an instrument, so I tried trumpet. I could NOT get the hang of the breathing, so then waited until switching to orchestra to seriously consider what I would play (though I really loved French horn.) I did consider upright bass for a while, but only because my orchestra teacher was a bassist who could really shred.
How would you best describe the type of music you play?
I play everything, really. I’ve been in prog metal, indie, alternative, and even country bands. I play with orchestras that do classical and more contemporary programs. And now, I’ve released a musical comedy album called “Trigger Warning” that I wrote, performed and mastered myself that contains a lot of strings. I’m all over the place. Keeps me on my very medically unsound toes (which I also have a song about. I said my style was “diverse.”)
Which composer[s] do you feel the most comfortable with? The most comfortable with?
That’s an interesting question. On a personality level, the one I relate to the most is probably Beethoven. He was a hard ass. He was depressed. He still continued to find beauty in a world of pain, aka the original emo. He’s pretty much my idol in a philosophical sense. I obviously love Bach, but I won’t be popping out twenty kids any time soon. I share a birthday with John Williams, so maybe I should’ve led with him. Whomp whomp.
What inspires your music?
I’ve been doing covers for a while now, and really just find songs I like and record them. That’s why they’re sort of all over the place genre-wise. But in terms of the musical comedy… I get inspired by anything I think is ridiculous. It’s not always about what’s funny as much as it’s what should be examined in a comedic light.
What kind of violin do you have?
My wooden violin is a Strad copy from 1927. It’s the first (and surprisingly only) traditional one I own. I also have a Luis & Clark carbon fibre (what I used to record my album), a five string MIDI Zeta Nimbus reissue, an Aeyra GVS electric, and one of the coolest (and rarest violins): an asymmetrical organic violin by Scott F. Hall. I’m hoping to make some videos with that one since it’s so unique.
Where all have you performed so far?
My biggest venue brag is Carnegie Hall (New York); I performed there when I was eighteen. But other notable venues include Mandalay Bay & MGM Grand (Las Vegas), EverBank Field (Jacksonville), The Fountainebleau (Miami) and The Amway Center (Orlando).
How and when did you discover the comedian in you?
I took a stand-up class in Orlando after years of making myself laugh. I figured I’d try it and either fail miserably or find a new passion. Luckily, it was the latter. Now I can still loudly proclaim I’m funny while desperately trying to convince others that I am, too.
How did you realize to mix both your talents?
I don’t think I really thought about doing it until the pandemic destroyed performing arts overnight. I had time (since everything was cancelled) and recording gear, so I started to think about a way to dysfunctionally marry comedy and music. It gave me something to do since my career had effectively disappeared until the restrictions were lifted.
Where do you take the inspiration for your jokes?
I get a lot of inspiration from social media. It’s funny because I talk about staying off of social media a lot on “Trigger Warning,” yet often don’t heed my own advice. But I think as long as the outrage leads to something productive, it’s not always a bad thing. In this case, I got an entire album out of it. Feels like a score to me.
What special preparation you do before a show?
I don’t eat. I get nervous to the point where I sometimes throw up (cheers!) so I never eat until after a show. A lot of the time before going onstage, be it for a musical or comedic performance, I wonder why I do this to myself. I have very debilitating performance anxiety. But comedy has been unique in the sense that I can hide behind comedic personas. That helps a lot with the fear of failure and rejection. I don’t get nervous when performing with bands. But anything classical, even if I’m just plopped as a section violinist, I still stress about. It’s probably some form of PTSD from music school. There’s a joke in there somewhere. I just need to find it.
What challenges do you face as a female comedian?
The comedy scene is often male-dominated. That can lead to a lot of sexism, misogyny, power imbalances, etc. Sometimes, people are less willing to see how much work I put into my jokes or songs because they just see a blonde woman saying gauche things and write me off. That’s unfortunate, but the people who get it, GET IT. I’d rather be performing to two people who really understand what I’m going for than 200 people who just want to sexualize or demean me for my material. But to automatically assume the scales are tipped against your favour just because you’re a woman is also cheap, so I try to just keep up with the boys. Sometimes I fart loudly or give encouraging butt pats to my mellow male comics. Maybe that’s why I keep getting asked back on gigs…
What are some of your other hobbies?
I write poetry. I’ve always wanted to publish a poetry book and maybe will someday. But before making music, I really wanted to write. It was probably a good indication that I was mentally ill even as a child, since writers are never well-adjusted.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m going to keep promoting “Trigger Warning” and hope that it goes somewhere. I’ve got a busy gig calendar coming up as it gets warmer out, so it’s nice to be booked again. Definitely looking forward to putting out some new cover video – and maybe even a music video for a song on “Trigger Warning”!
What are your favorite hangout spots in Toronto?
The local dumpster. Because everything since the start of the pandemic has been a dumpster fire. At least it’s warm, feel me? But in all seriousness, I haven’t done a lot of post-pandemic hanging. There’s a really brilliant Indian restaurant called The Host that I’ve frequented a lot. Otherwise, any place that serves coffee is a fine hangout – yes, that includes your mom’s house. Call her more often!
How do you unwind?
I don’t know that I ever do, really. I feel constantly wound up. Yes, I know that isn’t healthy. The one thing I do to “unwind” is clean, so even that’s not fully unwinding. Something bad coping mechanisms. Cake is a good way to unwind, whether it involves baking it or eating it. And then cleaning up after baking it so you can truly come full circle.
Your favorite quote?
Anything and everything I’ve ever written. Because it’s all about the journey to self-love, am I right? (Please do not repeat self-love in your mind lest you want a REALLY different image.)
Your message for our readers and your fans.
I hope you’ll give my album “Trigger Warning” a listen (available on all streaming platforms) and know that it’s a SATIRICAL COMEDY ALBUM. Find me on socials (@EmilyMisura on IG & TikTok / @EmilyMisuraComedy on Facebook) and come hang at a show! Then you can tell me some places that are a better hang than a dumpster in the GTA.
Your message for us at TorontoPages (TOPS)?
Thank you for letting me do this! I tried to keep it relatively clean, but I appreciate your feedback!
