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“Ditty Wish & Tabitha” are making the rounds, not by boat with billowed sails - by car, traveling with a tale. 

Emily Slaubaugh, 26, is an Iron Range musician spreading songs of strings, sealing wax and other fancy stuff, accompanied by a dragon, Tabitha, not Puff. 

Emily, stage name “Ditty Wish,” is a fresh-faced pixyish talent: singer/songwriter/ instructor/actor/game show host and entertainer who stepped out from the reliability of her steady job as the box office manager of the Myles Reif Performing Arts Center last September. 

Her leap to a full-time autonomous artist came with a bold sprinkle of determination and a lucky talisman, “Tabitha,” a clip pin that attaches to her guitar strap as a reminder she is never alone. The rainbow-striped dragon, an imaginary friend, reminds Emily to remain bold, fanciful, and full of imagination.

A young child’s imagination was central to Peter, Paul & Mary’s “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Characters, Jackie Paper, and Puff the Magic dragon frolicked in the autumn mist while waving magic swords that could lower the flags of passing pirate ships. 

The fierce imagination of children at play lend to Emily’s original songs steeped in lyrics of growing up and returning home. Her performances of sentimental cover songs bear witness to her own life stories from childhood to adult, where music gave glimpse to fantasy by melody and lyrics. 

Emily has been busy developing a broad-based spectrum of clever festivities that support the arts - bringing music, entertainment, education, and a whimsy that says welcome, please join me. In forever a memory of her own childhood surrounded with music – Emily desires music to be a moment, an embrace, or an escape – an envelopment, something as magical as a boy and his imaginary dragon. 

Emily moved from International Falls to Itasca County in 2012, at the age of fourteen. Her father was the director of an independent youth choir as well as a homeschool choir. The Slaubaugh family was musical, the children introduced to piano and guitar. Emily said when by age 11, she could craft a simple ditty and from there would come a melody, which she would pluck out on guitar. The songwriter was born. After graduation, her fascination with music took her to Rochester, Minn., where she joined a rock band and earned a certificate in music technology from Rochester Community Tech. Her ditties turned to songs and original pieces to perform. 

Upon her return to the Grand Rapids area, “Ditty Wish” started participating in open mic nights in the area. She became a regular gig artist and developed her following. Emily’s original songs story tell with a concise heartfelt clarity – folk festival soul. Her voice is soft, sweet, and strong. Dolly Parton’s cover song, “I will always love you,” glides from her lips effortlessly, emotion-filled, and as poignant as lyrics of the ballad that rose to fame sung by Whitney Houston. 

Do not be fooled though – Emily is witty, with a natural comedic edge. By looks – the contemporary innocence and beauty of a Doris Day mixed with a delightful spice of Carol Burnett humor. 

For the past two Christmas seasons, she has joined her friend Nathan Bergstedt in a bit of raunchy adult comedy as the You Tube team of Ridley & the Rascal. The twosome tells a saucy and sordid spoof of dwindling musicians with a side skepticism of good tidings. You can listen to the shows via Soundcloud and Apple Music – be prepared for a hardy roar and a good belly laugh. You can find Ridley & the Rascal on her weblink listed below. 

An exciting new endeavor for Emily, with the added support of Andy and Tasha Klockow of Klockow Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, is game show nights, held the second Thursday of each month at 6 pm on the Klockow Stage. 

As the host of “Ditty Wish Ventures,” Emily offers up a delightful dose of competition mixed with large howls of humor and laughter, complete with game show prizes.

The 10,000 Dollar Pyramid, The Newlywed Game, Are You Smarter Than Your Bartender have been played with enthusiastic success. Supporters and attendees are encouraged to bring Emily ideas for future games. The Klockow Bar sing is also an area fan favorite which may include beer choir, beer hymnals, Irish drinking songs and parody. Emily said, “The idea is for people to come together with some rowdy joy in being festive.” She hopes to introduce game show nights to other restaurant/bar establishments around the range. 

Emily is a children music experience instructor, working between the Reif Performing Arts Center and the Judy Garland Children’s Discovery Museum. She teaches an eight week session in the fall and spring that introduces children ages infants to five years old creative movement and instrument play at the Reif. She recently completed a four-week course at the children’s museum. She believes music development is soothing and soul-enriching – at any age. 

When not traveling to varying locales for gigs, Emily also performs with the Northern Pine Trio – musicians Marina Whight and Amy Leigh Koivisto – a perfect harmony of Americana music. There is always more to do. Emily via “Ditty Wish” and her imaginary magic dragon “Tabitha” are traveling far beyond Honah Lee – look for them about and around Grand Rapids and the Iron Range. 

You can follow Emily (and Tabitha) at dittywish.com.