Meet Emily Simonian | Songwriter, Composer, Lyricist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Simonian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I first pursued a career in music because I’ve always had a deep passion for it. When I was studying music in college, I was lucky to have mentors who gave me the encouragement and guidance I needed—having that kind of support really matters when you’re figuring out your next steps. After finishing my degree, I performed as a songwriter and taught music for a while, but about 10 years ago, I decided to switch things up and went back for a master’s in Psychology. Working in the mental health field has been incredibly rewarding, but being a therapist can be an intense, high-burnout job, and over the last few years, I’ve felt the pull back to music and composing more times than I can count. Eventually, I couldn’t ignore it any longer and decided to start writing a musical as a passion project. That process reignited something in me, and now, I’m fully embracing a return to music.

Working as a therapist has had a big impact on my journey. I often found myself helping others who weren’t pursuing their passions, guiding them to reimagine what’s possible, work through imposter syndrome, and ultimately go after what they love. At some point, I realized I needed to take my own advice. I started talking to my own therapist about it, and she helped me redefine what working in music could look like for me. Now, I’m performing, writing, collaborating, teaching, and studying, and I’ve rediscovered a deep sense of contentment in doing what I love.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always had a passion for composing music, and recently, I’ve found myself returning to my roots as a musical theatre enthusiast. For the past four years, I’ve been pouring my heart into writing a musical. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing—a bucket list project that I thought I’d tackle someday. The challenge was finding a story that felt fresh and different in the musical theatre world, so I decided to draw from my background as an Armenian-American.

I started writing in 2020, taking it slow at first. But by 2022, the vision became clearer, and I dove into the music, lyrics, and script almost every day for two years. In August 2024, I finally completed the first draft. The musical is called When Two of Us Meet, and the central theme is family love. The story follows a family’s tumultuous journey from Armenia to America in the early 20th century, and how the experience shaped their personal and cultural identities.

I’ve teamed up with some talented folks in the musical theatre world to form a creative team, and we’re gearing up for our first workshop. We’re also reaching out to producers who might be interested in helping us bring this musical from page to stage.

If you’re curious about our journey, you can follow along at www.whentwoofusmeetmusical.com, or find us on Instagram @whentwoofusmeet.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My husband and I try to split our time between CA and DC, but it’s the worst kept secret among my friends and family that I prefer being in Southern California! I love being outside, so an ideal LA day might include a beach bike ride in Santa Monica, hiking Topanga Canyon, or paddleboarding in Long Beach. Hitting Carousel restaurant in Glendale for some authentic Armenian food is always on the top of my list, as well as the Greek spot Avra in Beverly Hills. Sugarfish ranks pretty high for me, too!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For as long as I can remember, my best friends and I have shared our personal and professional goals with each other at the beginning of each year. Throughout the years, our goal setting process has evolved into quarterly progress check-ins, and even annual wellness retreats. I’m so grateful to have besties by my side to motivate and inspire me, so this shoutout is for Marissa Nichols and Melissa Simonian!

Website: https://linktr.ee/emilysimonian

Instagram: @emssimonian

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilysimonianmusic

Other: www.emilysimonianmusic.com

When Two of Us Meet (Musical) – www.whentwoofusmeetmusical.com