Past Life Martyred Saints by EMA

Past Life Martyred Saints is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and guitarist Erika M. Anderson (also known as EMA), former lead singer of the noise-folk band Gowns, released in the United States on May 10, 2011, under the relatively unknown label Souterrain Transmissions. After disbanding, Anderson began working on material for a solo act, but she endured many failed attempts to successfully record before finally receiving an offer from an independent record label. The album is noted for showcasing Anderson's vulnerability, lyrically dealing with themes of self-harm, drug use, and unsuccessful relationships. Past Life Martyred Saints debuted to critical praise from contemporary music critics for both its emotional depth and raw pain, appearing on numerous critics' polls and year-end lists. The album yielded four singles; however, each one failed to enter any charts upon release. Subsequently, the album achieved little chart success, entering solely on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart at number twenty in the United States.Anderson toured with other various music acts during the latter part of 2011 to promote the album.