LETTER FROM THE EDITOR I have a confession to make: When I first joined EMMIE three years ago, I never thought I’d be editor-in-chief today. It’s not that I didn’t want it, because I did, but more that I didn’t believe myself capable of getting here. Despite my lack of confidence, I worked for it anyway.
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In the early stages of this issue’s production, I reflected a lot on the qualities it takes to meet your goals: passion, hard work, perseverance — grit. Not unwavering confidence, but the resolve to push past your doubts. And continuing to set the bar higher. At EMMIE we know a little something about lofty goals; this issue is a big deal for us. We landed our dream cover star, Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, and, for the first time ever, filled our publication with entirely original photography and graphics. I’m incredibly proud of this staff for the labor they put into these beautiful pages. In a song from her most recent album, Zauner sings about dreaming big (“Jimmy Fallon Big!”) and then actually taking the steps to get there. “We aren’t bound by law/ We aren’t bound by anything at all,” she contends. “Just you/ If you decide to show...if you decide to show up on time.” That’s the crux of what it takes to meet your goals, I think. Simply deciding to show up. Life is messy, making setbacks inevitable and tenacity necessary. There’s no secret to success. Instead, there are many paths leading to where you want to go. In this issue, we offer a look at the twists and turns. We celebrate how grit — not luck or talent — makes all the difference.
— shaye graves
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