Completing the MAP requirements is a stressful process. But completing the MAP requirements while self-producing an album? Just ask Emily Eddey, a Journalism and Music major here at NYU. “My entertainment lawyer would call me and I’d tell him that I’d have to call him back because I had to go take a Spanish test.”

Emily has just released her first album, “Rush.” She is a bubbly, outgoing person and a talented singer and songwriter who is also quite serious about creativity and “getting it right.” Her album was the result of a lifelong love of singing and numerous requests from fans for an EP ever since she began performing in high school.

The album is also a result of Emily’s hard work and dedication over the past year. Not content to merely record a couple of songs live and throw together an EP, Emily chose to hire a backup band of local musicians and record separate tracks that were then mixed. The result is an album that sounds crisp, professional, and well-balanced.

As part of the process, she founded her own record label, Emmerik Records. She decided to do so not only to protect her intellectual rights, but also because she wanted to be involved in every step of the production. She explained, “If I was to work for a big record company, I would just go into the studio and record and they would do all the rest. By producing my own album I got to be involved in the editing, mixing, and design of everything.”

Emily worked with a friend studying graphic design to design her album and attractive website. She worked with producer Josh Gannet on the actual tracks. After deciding to make an album in July of last year, Emily chose which of her 30 original songs to record by searching for a particular theme. She noticed a pattern of love songs, and decided to use the material that fit under the theme. She spent September through December practicing her songs and finding a back-up band of local Morristown, NJ musicians. She recorded in January and February, edited and mixed her songs, designed the album, had it pressed, and then released it this September. All while commuting 4 hours to NYU every day, taking 20 credits, and never getting enough sleep.

I had to wonder, was it worth it? “I sort of considered producing this album as my third major. It was such a learning experience…I have so much respect for anyone who produces an album, because I know how much work it is,” Emily explained. With an album under her belt, Emily plans to put together a band before graduating from NYU this year and wants to work as a musician. If that doesn’t pan out, she may work on developing her label and producing albums for other people. “The most important thing I learned was how much business is a part of music. You can say oh, I just want to play my music man, but what are you going to do when you have to talk to lawyers or producers? If you are going to self-produce an album, you really have to be self-motivated and be able to manage yourself.”

And Emily did a great job of doing just that. Do yourself a favor and check out her album “Rush” on iTunes or at her website www.emilyeddey.com.