Merlot Embargo

A decade ago, on a stretch of Texas highway, a split-second distraction sent our car careening off I-10. We should have died. We didn't. In the hospital afterward, Scarlet asked herself a question that changed everything: If we'd just lost each other, what would we regret? The answer was clear: We'd never made music together on our own terms. We'd spent years in church bands, holiday projects, side gigs, always supporting someone else's vision. So, we decided to do it differently: write our own music and build an events business around it. Not pursuing either a typical band or an events company trajectory, just music that mattered to us, for people who needed it. Not long after we decided to forge this new path, Scarlet found herself pregnant with our daughter. We've since had another kid, kept most of our day jobs, and are building a business that lets us put our family first. We know the music industry narrative: kids are a liability. Day jobs steal your focus. If you want to "succeed," you can't have both. But that story's incomplete. The struggle is real, but living in both worlds has been immensely rewarding. Being partners in life, and parenting, has taught us how to be nimble, understand what an audience needs, and deliver a performance that connects. Our entire philosophy is built around what actually matters: connection, authenticity, and showing up for each other. We've learned to be professional, reliable, and present; not coincidentally, that's also what our kids need from us. Scarlet's voice is beautiful, yes, but what really matters is that she means the words she sings. Geoff has spent decades in music across multiple genres, and at this point, the guitar is really just an extension of his soul. Together, we read each other with ease and unthinkingly adjust to the moment. We're not trying to prove anything; we're just having fun and trying to ensure your guests feel something real, because we're feeling it too. We love making music, and inviting people into that world. That's the difference between any old band, and the right band for your event: when you book Merlot Embargo, you're getting musicians who are invested in your moment. We're not just playing the songs, we're making sure they land.