EMILY JAMES - MELODIC FOLK-POP SENSATION
Hailing from New York, Emily James has brought a new light to the world of music. Her deeply relatable lyrics and entrancing melodies have captured the attention of many music lovers. The Los Angeles based folk-pop artist recently released her project The aLtErNaTeS Pt. 1 on Friday, February 9. We had the opportunity to get to know the budding artist in this exclusive interview.
Who inspired you to make music?
Music has always been a big part of my life. I’ve been singing basically since I could speak, and there was always music playing in my house and in the car while I was growing up. I wrote my first “real” song when I was about 10 years old. I remember sitting my parents down next to the piano and playing it for them for the first time. They were immediately so supportive and encouraging, and that gave me a lot of confidence. I kept going because the feeling I would get after finishing a song was unlike anything I’d felt before- this sense of fulfillment that nothing else can quite match. My parents have been my biggest cheerleaders from day one; I absolutely wouldn’t be where I am today without their love and support.
What is your creative process like?
It’s not always the same, but usually it starts with me playing something on the piano or guitar; then I’ll sing some melodies over that. The words will form from some sort of gibberish, or just kind of fall out of my mouth and I follow them. When it’s really going, it feels like, in a weird way, I’m not the one writing the song, I’m just the vessel it’s traveling through. I often don’t even know what the song is about until I have a full verse or chorus down, and then I’ll be like, “Ohhh wow I didn’t realize I was feeling that way but that makes a lot of sense…” It’s like having a conversation with my subconscious and letting it say what it needs to without judgment.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I would LOVE to write a song with Noah Kahan. I think he has such a beautiful way with wordplay and melodies; and the way he sings them punches me in the gut.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Get comfortable with being alone. I think spending time alone with yourself is so underrated. Once you become your own best friend, life is so much more fun and exciting. You get to make memories with yourself that are just yours, memories that aren’t tied to any other person or relationship.
What era or decade of music do you feel most connected to?
I’m obsessed with the 60s/70s period of music. I’ve always loved Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones- it’s the music I grew up on, and they are all such incredible storytellers. I love the really live, raw sound that era of music has, and all the harmonies. Also the fashion from that era? Incredible.
Who is your favorite artist to cover?
I think the artist that I’ve learned and covered the most songs from is Adele. Piano was my first instrument, and so many of her songs have such beautiful piano melodies. “Someone Like You” was the first pop song I learned on the piano. The first time I heard it I was shook to my little 11 year old core, and it kind of changed my perspective on music. I was obsessed with learning that song and have played it so many times that, at this point, I think it will forever be ingrained into my fingers. Singing it is such a therapeutic experience- especially when I play it live and everyone sings along.
Do you have a favorite piece to perform on your instrument that showcases your abilities?
Of my own songs, I think “Brooklyn” is one of my favorites to perform live. I usually play it just on piano, which is very different from how the original sounds. It’s cool to hear it in a new context like that- it gives the song another kind of emotion. There’s a lot of dynamic to play around with on that song- it’s fun to take it really big then pull it back and make it small and intimate.
How do you handle the highs and lows of a career in music, especially in such a public and scrutinized field?
I try to regularly remind myself that, as long as I’m able to continue to support myself solely through making music, I am succeeding. To be able to do what I love most as my full-time job is such a blessing and a privilege, and I never want to take that for granted. I think every job or career has its ups and downs, but as long as the highs outweigh the lows, it’s worth it.
What are your fears as an artist, and how do you work to overcome them?
My greatest fear as an artist is being boxed in and remaining stagnant. I think it’s so common for people to want to categorize artists and put everyone in their little spaces and compare them to one another, but that’s not at all how art works. I overcome those fears by looking at the artists I admire; artists who have careers that span decades, and see how much they’ve stretched and changed over the course of their careers. I find that really inspiring.
What’s the story behind the creation of your first album or single, and how did it feel to release it?
My first release was my self-titled EP, “Emily James.” I was 16 and living in Nashville at the time. I had all of these songs I’d written and little worktapes of them that I’d recorded in my bedroom. I knew what I wanted the songs to sound like, but I didn’t yet have the skills or tools to be able to produce them myself. I had the honor of working with the incredibly talented producers Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves, Maggie Rogers) and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, James Bay), and learned so much about production and the entire recording process through working with them. I loved every second of working on that project.
