Electro indie-pop / Alt-pop

BIO

Emily Afton is a queer songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ whose emotionally candid writing and unmistakable voice bridge the musical worlds of alt-pop, indie rock, folk, and electronica. Born and raised in San Diego, with roots across California (calling both the San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego home), Afton has built a following through her DIY ethos, artistry, and musical storytelling over years of performing and releasing original music.

Described by NPR as "wonderful, wonderful electro-pop that's weary of life, but still positive," Afton's songs have been featured on shows like Riverdale, Batwoman, The One That Got Away, and more. She has toured nationally as direct support for Third Eye Blind, performed her political protest song for a crowd of 40,000 at the San Francisco Women's March, and shared stages with a diverse array of artists in cities across the United States and around the world.

Her 2024 sophomore album, Circaa, marked a bold artistic evolution, earning praise for its lush, polished production and deeply personal exploration of identity, heartbreak, and liberation. Now, Afton is entering a new creative era with her forthcoming folk/alt-country EP, Where Are We Going After This, slated for release in fall 2026.

The EP's first single, "It's You," arrives July 24, introducing a retro indie rock sound that calls back to Afton's early days of street performing with an acoustic guitar while preserving the hi-fi production and emotional honesty that have become her signature.

Whether DJing, performing solo with live vocal looping and a beat machine, or taking the stage with her band, Emily Afton continues to create musical experiences that invite listeners to feel deeply, question freely, and find comfort in the chaos of these times.

PRESS

• VIDEO PREMIERE: EMILY AFTON’S ‘RUNNING OUT OF TIME’ AND THE BRUTALITY OF LOVE - Atwood Magazine

• 5 Songs to Hear This Week - KCRW

• New Music Fridays (Summer Love Video Premiere- GRRRL Music

• Tuesday Tracks- New Music Discovery - Riff Magazine

• Day By Day: Quarantine Diaries - KALW.org

• Interview: Emily Afton - KXSF 102.5 FM. San Francisco

• Quaran-tunes: Coping with shelter in place, Bay Area edition - The Bay Bridged

• Shelter-in-Place Playlist: 9 Bay Area Musicians to Stream Now - 7x7

• Oaklander Emily Afton releases EP ‘Consideration’ - The Bay Bridged

• NEW MUSIC: EMILY AFTON – TIMEBOMB - Analogue Trash

• Timebomb by Emily Afton - Independent Music

• PREMIERE: THE POLITICAL PROTEST IN EMILY AFTON’S OUTSPOKEN “THE VEIL” - Atwood Magazine

• Emily Afton: Lonestar - mp3hugger

• Emily Afton: ‘Golden Mountain’ Review - Impose Magazine

• Queer Your Ears July 2019: New & Upcoming Releases from Queer & Trans Artists -  Autostraddle

• Emily Afton talks artistry, activism, and making music in the Bay  - The San Franciscan

• 3 of our Favorite New Songwriters - Ear To The Ground Music

• Summer Fun Artist Spotlight: Emily Afton - Leucadia 101

• ‘Riverdale’s 11 Best Music Moments (So Far) - MTV.com

• The Cool Electro-Folk of Emily Afton - KQED Arts

• Noise Pop REVIEW: Geographer brings the sad and the happy to the Independent - Riff Magazine

• Noise Pop: Geographer cements its place as a treasured SF gem - The Bay Bridged

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2026: Released a live video for her forthcoming EP’s single “Cactus” as part of the NPR Tiny Desk Contest, which amassed 20,000+ views on Youtube in the first month.

• 2024: Released sophmore album, Circaa (with limited edition vinyl) in conjunction with West Coast tour including headlining shows in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and San Diego. Toured new album at American indie music festivals including Off Beat Fest (Reno, NV), Baby Gay’s National Coming Out Day Fest (LA, CA), and DIVATOPIA (Los Osos, CA). Singles from Circaa featured on MTV’s Teen Mom: The Next Chapter (“Running out of Time”, “Chances”, “Collide”, and “Sometimes I Wish I Could”). Music video collaboration for “Running out of Time” chosen as an official selection for 2024’s LA Shorts International Film Fest.

• 2023: Performed the National Anthem at the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team V.S. Colombia Game in San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, which was broadcasted on National Television. Released new single ‘Make’ (which was featured on KCRW’s 5 Songs To Hear This Week Newsletter and Spotify Playlist, as well as Cal Lutheran University college radio station KCLU. Released ‘Free (feat. Tauwoo),’ and ‘Running out of Time’ which was featured on MTV’s Teen Mom

• 2022: “Your Window” (single) released alongside a 5-stop California tour. “Give Me It” featured on Amazon Prime’s, ‘The One That Got Away.’ Headlining show at San Diego’s 750 capacity venue, Music Box. “SUMMER LOVE” (single) premiered on 91.X FM Radio (San Diego).

• 2021: “Lonestar” featured on The CW’s Batwoman (season 2, episode 213). Released EP, RECONSIDERATION and headlined The Brooks Theatre (Oceanside, CA).

• 2020: Premiered single “The Veil” with Atwood Magazine. Featured on astrologer Chani Nicholas’ Spotify editorial playlist “Cosmic Playlist.” Released EP, Consideration on AntiFragile Records

• 2019: Opened for Third Eye Blind at Robabank Arena. Released cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” on streaming services. Featured on Modern Future’s song “Horoscope.” Single “Lonestar” added to Discover Weekly,
  Enneagram Type 4, and Songs of Sunshine and Struggle.

• 2018: Featured on NPR’s ‘The Do List’. Completed the music residency at Zoo Labs. “Sylvia” added to Noon Pacific’s London Mixtape. “Back in San Francisco” featured on ALT105.3’s ‘Soundcheck’ show with Aaron Axelsen.

• 2017: Performed at Treefort Music Festival in Boise, ID. “Lost” featured on The CW’s Riverdale, season 1 episode 6. “Severing The Knot” featured in a SoulSence commercial. “Archetype” featured on Stitchers, season 3 episode 4. Headlined The Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, CA. Someday” featured on Mustangs FC, season 1 episode 9.

• 2016: Nominated and won second place as The Deli’s SF Bay Area Best Emerging Artists of 2015. Featured as a SoFarSounds performer. Opened for Peter Frampton at The Mountain Winery (AEG/Goldenvoice). Released ARCHETYPE. Was featured on Milk Crater’s Milk Crate #104 playlist. Featured on Spotify’s ‘Discover Weekly’ playlist. Performed at the San Francisco Women’s March.

• 2015:  Headlined single and video release show at Leo’s Music Club in Oakland. “Words From Your Tongue” song premiere on SF Weekly as part of OIM Records Compilation Vol. 1 coverage. Performed at SoFar Sounds SF alongside The Sam Chase and Third Eye Blind. Opened for Willis Earl Beal at Swedish American Hall in San Francisco, presented by Noise Pop. Embarked on first California tour in support of the single, “Someday”, and served as the touring support for Third Eye Blind in the U.S. south and mid-west.

• 2014: Toured with Lila Rose and Living Legends. Featured on Scarub’s latest album Want For Nothing on two tracks – “Go” and “Rising Up”. Performed at Oakland Music Festival

• 2013: Placement of song “My Own One” on Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign video ‘We’re Stronger Together’.

• 2012: Placement of song “My Own One” on nationally syndicated Nature Valley commercial. Won Oaktown Indie Mayhem People’s Choice Award.

PRESS PHOTOS