Never the Wiser

“Better Than Ever” is available wherever you listen to music! Are you into Greek mythology, attachment theory, farm animals, and wonky time signatures? This one might be for you. Link can most assuredly be found in bio. 🐑 . Featuring the mellifluous @hattie.wav and recorded/mixed/mastered at the greatest studio both sides of the Mississippi @riftstudiosnyc . #fyp #singersongwriter #indiefolk #newmusic #nycmusic

“Ravenswood” is now available wherever you listen to music. It’s been an incredible journey getting to this first release. What better way to celebrate that journey than a literal journey across the country? Had a beautiful time playing this tune in a few idyllic spots while passing through Colorado and Utah with my dear friends @wesnof and @marinacrivelli . Stick around, more songs coming soon. 🍃 🌊 🐦‍⬛ ⭐️ 🕰️ . #fyp #indiefolk #neverthewiser #ravenswood #newmusic

“Ravenswood” arrives on January 16th. Pre-save today at the link in the bio! . This is my first single as Never the Wiser and the song that inspired the whole project. It took a village to get here. Cheers to them and cheers to you, dear listener. The song will be available wherever you listen to music. 🍃 🌊 🐦‍⬛ ⭐️ 🕰️ . Written and performed by @emilwasbenjamin Mixed and mastered by @riftstudiosnyc Produced by @_schmorgle Guitar: @emilwasbenjamin Percussion, Bass, Synth: @_schmorgle French Horn: @negronigirlie Cover Art: @marinacrivelli . #fyp #neverthewiser #nycmusic #singersongwriter #indiefolk . 🎥: @jasondahkid

Hey friends. Playing @arlenesgrocery again in a few weeks! Come on out to celebrate the release of my second single, “Better Than Ever,” featuring @hattie.wav ! She’ll be playing that night as well, along with @paulbabeplease and @rosinabullen . Link to tix in bio. Gonna be a great night! See you there, fellow wisened. 🍃 🌊 🐦‍⬛ ⭐️ 🕰️

Building the world of this EP goes beyond the music. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to collaborate with @marinacrivelli , whose stunning visuals capture the feeling of these songs and extend their stories beyond sound. Here’s a look at her process for creating the linocut print for “Ravenswood.” . #fyp #indiefolk #linocut #albumart #nycfolk

It’s giving thanks. I’ve been a bit of a nomad these last few years, bouncing between Thanksgiving tables with different chosen families. I’m lucky to be part of communities most people dream of. Today I want to shout out my music family in particular. The comrades who spent the last six months pulling me through a challenging stretch and helping me bring these songs to life. Some of this family has been around for 15+ years. To my engineer @riftstudiosnyc , my producer @_schmorgle , my singing pal @hattie.wav , my artist @marinacrivelli , my dancer @wesnof (you’ll see), my music guru @lillierebeccacomposer , and my first base coach @barstowdrive —may your plates be full today. Because of this chosen family, I’ve got an EP coming next year, and my first single, “Ravenswood,” arriving in January. Stay full-bellied, friends. 🍂 🌊 🐦‍⬛ ⭐️ 🕰️ ( 🦃 ) . 📸: @jasondahkid . #neverthewiser #folkmusic #nycmusic #fyp #thanksgiving

Had a blast at @riftstudiosnyc recording “Better Than Ever” with the mellifluous (some might even say Meliss-fluous) @hattie.wav . We’ve been singing songs together since 2010, so this felt like a real full-circle moment. Catch the full song on my upcoming EP! . #neverthewiser #betterthanever #nycmusic #singersongwriter #indieartist #newmusic #folkmusic #originalsong #producerlife #recordingstudio #behindthesong #fyp #acousticfolk #songwriting

A little glimpse of “Saint Valentine” live at @arlenesgrocery . My backup vocalist @hattie.wav clearly also served as my… scene partner? Anxiety reducer? Whatever she was in this moment, I appreciate her deeply!!

If you’re into The Tallest Man on Earth, Sufjan Stevens, Adrianne Lenker, Daniel Rossen, M Ward, Elliott Smith, and/or Nick Drake, then Never the Wiser might be your speed. That’s the hope, at least. Let’s find out together 🤝 . 📸 @devinjarmstrong . #neverthewiser #ravenswood #nycmusic #singersongwriter #indieartist #newmusic #folkmusic #originalsong #producerlife #recordingstudio #behindthesong #fyp #acousticfolk #songwriting #tallestmanonearth #sufjanstevens #adriannelenker #danielrossen #mward #elliottsmith

Thank you so much to everybody who came out to @arlenesgrocery last week for my first show in the city. Meant the world to see so many friends—some who I’ve known for 20 years, some who I’ve known for a few months. It was a reminder of the importance of community. Extra special thanks to @lillierebeccacomposer and @hattie.wav for joining me onstage! And to @rosinabullen for inviting me to perform!! More to come, stay tuned. . 🎥 @jasondahkid . #neverthewiser #ravenswood #nycmusic #singersongwriter #indieartist #newmusic #folkmusic #originalsong #producerlife #recordingstudio #behindthesong #fyp #acousticfolk #songwriting

Wrote “Ravenswood” about a year ago. It was meant for one person’s ears, but as I played it for a few curious friends, it became clear the song might want to travel farther. Five songs later, we have an EP. I’m endlessly grateful to @riftstudiosnyc for recording/engineering. I know how lucky I am to skip the home-grown EP and go straight to the multi-Grammy-nominated wizard that is Tom Gardner. There is nobody better this side of the Mississippi (or the other side, for that matter). And to the brilliant @schmorgle —my producer and one of my best friends—who is helping me shape this record from the ground up. After nearly a decade of living together and forming our music brains side by side, he’s the one guy on the planet who doesn’t look at me like I have three heads when I say throw a “Grizzle Bear Deep Blue Sea smack” and some “Disco Elysium Revachol horns” on this Tallest Man-inspired track. I might be a solo artist, but this EP is built from friendship, trust, and years of shared language. “Ravenswood” will be out later this year and the EP in early 2026. 🍃 🌊 🐦‍⬛ ⭐️ 🕰️ . #neverthewiser #ravenswood #nycmusic #singersongwriter #indieartist #newmusic #folkmusic #originalsong #producerlife #recordingstudio #behindthesong #fyp #acousticfolk #songwriting #grizzlybear #discoelysium #tallestmanonearth @grizzlybear @spkmatsson

When I was a kid, we had a cassette of Donovan live recordings that must’ve played hundreds of times in the car. Those songs sat in the back of my brain for 30 years, until I threw on a Donovan record this morning and realized just how deeply his music has shaped my own. The last song on my upcoming EP especially feels like it carries some of his DNA. If you want to hear that song live, come out to @arlenesgrocery tomorrow, Fri Oct 3 at 7pm! Tickets in bio—$10 in advance, $15 at the door. 📸 @devinjarmstrong . #neverthewiser #newmusic #fyp #singersongwriter #folkmusic #nycmusic #discovermusic #indieartist #travispicking