Following the release of the non-streaming limited edition 7-inch ‘Request Hotline, Vol 1.5’ in January, Survival Guide (a.k.a. Emily Whitehurst) is proud to release ‘Request Hotline, Vol 2’ via Double Helix Records.
‘RHV2’ is an 11-track, digital-only release featuring bold and unique re-imaginings of punk tracks by Green Day, The Runaways, Avril Lavigne, The Distillers, Tony Sly, Sleater-Kinney, and Maybe Tomorrow as well as the four songs from the 7-inch mini-album, which consists of intriguing dance-party interpretations of AFI‘s ‘Girl’s Not Grey’ and ‘Totalimmortal’ and a pair of contemplative, piano-serenade-style Misfits covers of ‘Skulls’ and ‘Hybrid Moments.’ Each has its own creative Survival Guide treatment.
“I had TONS of fun recording this album,” says Emily (known previously as Agent M, who led Warped Tour-standouts Tsunami Bomb). “Taking all of these punk song requests and switching their genres around was a really fun challenge for me. ‘For Tonight You’re Only Here to Know’ (The Distillers) was pretty difficult because I went orchestral with it…which is not something I do on a regular basis! I was stuck on what to do with ‘Turn It On’ by Sleater-Kinney, until I decided to try flipping it from riot grrl to pole dancer. Somehow that seemed so right, and the arrangement just fell into place! I loved taking ‘My Happy Ending’ by Avril Lavigne and making it MORE punky than the original as a return to my roots. I’m so glad that now everyone will get to hear the dancey AFI songs and piano Misfits songs, since those were previously only on vinyl!”
An electronic indie-pop artist with a background in punk, Emily is the solo force behind Survival Guide. Her danceable tunes evoke a sonic birthday cake: alternating layers of Depeche Mode, Metric, Peter Gabriel, Metric, and Grimes, with vibrant melodies and vocals as the icing on top.
A California native now residing in Texas, Emily’s music obsession began with Green Day, leading her to a dreams-come-true life of punk rock as she traversed continents fronting the band Tsunami Bomb as Agent M. Over the years, her music gradually shifted toward synth-pop in The Action Design, then further into the electronic indie-pop realm as Survival Guide. “Music is crucial to my survival,” she says wholeheartedly, adding, “Survival Guide is one woman trying to shape her own place in this world as a musician.”
‘Request Hotline, Vol. 2’ tracklisting:
01. My Happy Ending (Avril Lavigne)
02. Girl’s Not Grey (AFI)
03. Skulls (Misfits)
04. Still Breathing (Green Day)
05. Cherry Bomb (The Runaways)
06. For Tonight You’re Only Here to Know (The Distillers)
07. Totalimmortal (AFI)
08. Adult Eyes (Maybe Tomorrow)
09. Turn It On (Sleater-Kinney)
10. Hybrid Moments (Misfits)
11. The Monster (Tony Sly)