{
  "id": 16776959,
  "title": "EMA – “Total Control” (The Motels Cover)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/ema-total-control-the-motels-cover",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-27T18:08:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Stereogum",
    "slug": "stereogum",
    "url": "https://stereogum.com/2515733/ema-total-control-the-motels-cover/music/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "EMA recently released a Motels cover from 1979 titled \"Total Control\" and it's an exciting addition to her discography. Since her solo debut album \"Past Life Martyred Saints\" in 2015, EMA's releases have been well-received, including her 2021 cover of a Modest Mouse song. In 2023, she formed a supergroup called Thrash Palace, but after that, there was a lull in her solo activity. Now, she has returned with her rendition of \"Total Control\" as part of \"Memory As A Rock Out Of Reach\", a hybrid media performance by EMA and artist Tabitha Nikolai. \"Memory As A Rock Out Of Reach\" is described as a feature-length duet performance using video game technologies to explore the psycho-sexual inner world of a girl-child in the 80s. EMA's seven-minute version stays true to the original but adds heavy, sprawling space-rock overtones, making it a thrilling listen. The performance will be showcased on November 21st at Portland's Tomorrow theater, featuring EMA and Tabitha Nikolai.",
  "summary": "The post EMA – “Total Control” (The Motels Cover) appeared first on Stereogum .",
  "key_points": [
    "EMA released Motels cover \"Total Control\" in 2023",
    "The seven-minute version adds space-rock overtones",
    "Performance at Tomorrow theater on November 21st"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}