Exclusive: Stream Emm Gryner’s New Curated “Songs that got me through the worst breakup of my life” Spotify Playlist

By: Staff –

To celebrate the release of Emm Gryner’s new album, Business & Pleasure, (out now), the acclaimed singer-songwriter curated a brand new Spotify playlist that she dubbed “Songs that got me through the worst breakup of my life”. Stream it below!

Emm Gryner’s album, Business & Pleasure, is a celebration of the Detroit radio scene and the music that shaped her childhood. From Motown, jazz and pop, to Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac and the Doobies, Business & Pleasure is infused with the sunshine soul and stellar playing of the late 70s and early 80s.

This new collection of songs, produced by Fred Mollin and written with poet Michael Holmes, embody a take on yacht rock that sails deep into the 2020s and introduce the world to a bold new character: a powerful woman whose passion, presence, conviction, humor and grace serves to unite the world in music, joy and love, once again.

Focus track, “Loose Wig,” was inspired by a Rolling Stone article about Donald Fagen “keeping his sense of humour” in isolation. The song title was one of the phrases that Donald used in this particular article to describe a political figure. The groovy song is Gryner’s way of staying positive amidst the hopelessness.

Listen to the funky and hilarious song “Loose Wig” alongside the rest of Business & Pleasure now: https://music.emmgryner.com/bplp

London Grammar – “Strong”

Hannah from this band has the kind of voice that will heal you instantly. This entire album actually was a saving grace. I would drive and listen, cry and crank up the magic of this beautiful band.

Greg Lowe – “Lovin’ You Still”

The deep tones of this Winnipeg guitar player were like a balm for my heartbreak. Greg had been the musical director of a play I was in, and he was so easy-going. He listened, he was soft-spoken. It turns out he was going through his own life challenges as I was telling him about mine. This song reminded me that love exists, even when you are sure you’ll never feel it again.

Muna – “So Special”

This band made up of 3 super-women swept me away with their snarky, emotional, cutting and gorgeous lyrics. They produce their own stuff so listening to boss-women at a time when I needed strong women around me was a saving grace. The whole album “About U” is so beautiful. Hard to stay angry when people are making this kind of music.

Pink – “So What”

When your husband leaves you, this is the song you want to crank. It was a theme song for me for a while. I worked out to it, I drank to it, I smoked… and then I cleaned up my whole life and I haven’t listened to it since. But if you have to crank something while life is going down the tubes, this is the one.

Jason Derulo – “Riding Solo”

This jam was a fun tune to have on my running playlist as I ran away my blues. “I’m puttin’ on my shades to cover up my eyes / I’m jumpin’ in my ride, I’m headin’ out tonight / I’m solo”. JD for the win.

Kate Bush – “The Big Sky”

“I’m looking at the big sky / you never understood me” is one of the best lines in the world. Kate Bush’s voice and writing has always been a lifeline but this song and all of “Hounds of Love” allowed me to feel Kate’s motherly love and mysterious aura at a time when I needed a soft place to fall.

Michael McDonald – “Love Lies”

When your favourite singer sings about what you’re going through it’s not a coincidence — you tell yourself that he’s doing it for a reason. And what could be better than feeling understood by the King of Yacht Rock himself — Michael McDonald. This song and the album “If That’s What It Takes” set the stage for a whole lot of healing and a pivot towards my favourite kind of music — west coast pop and soul. Without this album, my new album “Business & Pleasure” might not exist. 

Steely Dan – “Josie”

My guitar player friend Greg Lowe (mentioned previously) was in a band in Winnipeg called The Ministers of Cool and they’d do a lot of Steely Dan covers. This song always reminded me of harmony and great guitar solos. Exploring Steely Dan was a huge part of healing from my divorce and it opened up the door for me and my co-writer and beautiful now-husband, Michael Holmes to venture into writing songs that echo the intricate sound of this classic band.

Joni Mitchell – “Hejira”

I sang this song onstage over and over again at the depths of my despair in a production called “Joni Mitchell: River”. To have a captive, support audience in a big beautiful theatre hear me sing it, night after night, was a completely healing experience. Every night I got stronger — emotionally and physically, every night my performance got better. Joni’s lyrics spoke to me so deeply: “We’re only particles of change I know I know / Orbiting around the sun / But how can I have that point of view / When I’m always bound and tied to someone”. Thank God for Joni, who spoke her truth so we have someone to speak for us, when we can’t find any words.