Emma Elizabeth
Emma Elizabeth a singer songwriter from London, currently based in Barcelona. “For me songwriting is a form of self therapy. It’s my way of making sense of the world around me and also dealing with the complicated emotions within myself.”
With songs filled with relatable lyrics that hit you hard accompanied by uplifting seas of vocal harmonies is the perfect mixture for music that takes you on a journey, leaving you feeling lighter than you were at the start. Her first release of 2021 ‘Salt Water Acoustic’ was strongly influenced by the feeling of being in the ocean.
After struggling with her mental health after the lock down, during a trip to Devon with her family she found comfort and strength within the nature surrounding her. “I want people to come out from listening to my music feeling as though they have changed somehow. Although maybe being left feeling a little vulnerable, there is also a silent reassurance that not all is lost.”
A place to call home
Oft hat man gar nicht die Zeit darüber nachzudenken, was oder wer einem wichtig ist. Meist erhält man diese Pause, diese Auszeit vom Körper selbst, eine Zeit um das Leben ein wenig Revue passieren zu lassen. Wer oder was ist mir wichtig? Bin ich schon angekommen, angekommen in meinem zu Hause oder bin ich noch auf der Suche? So in etwa die Thematik zum Song von Emma Elizabeth.
Geschrieben wurde das Lied während die Künstlerin gesundheitlich ein wenig angeschlagen war und sich selbst für ein paar Monate aus dem Spiel nehmen musste. In dieser Phase des "Sich-Erholens" definierte sie den Begriff "Home" neu bzw. machte ihn sich mehr bewusst.
Musikalisch eingebettet im feinen Folk Pop buhlen Gitarre und Vocals um die Bühne, welche schlussendlich beiden gehört. Sind es einerseits die erfrischenden Spielereien der Gitarre die dem Song diese "Easy Listening" Stimmung mitgeben, so ist es andererseits aber der Gesang von Emma der dem Track Emotionen und Leben einhaucht. Lay back, enjoy and get inspired by Emma Elizabeth and "A place to call home".
Q&A
Emma Elizabeth is...?
A singer Songwriter from NW London, currently based in Barcelona where she is recording her debut album at Sol de Sants Studios.
Who inspired you to make music in general ...and especially to the song "A place to call home"?
I know lots of musicians usually say they were initially inspired by specific artists but actually I think my friends back in high school were my initial inspiration to start writing music. They were all forming different bands and performing at events at my school and I really wanted to do something similar but on my own.
I was already writing my own poetry and I asked a friend to teach me some chords on the guitar . She then very kindly lent me her guitar for a while and that’s when I wrote my first songs.
I wrote a place to call home after being unwell for 3 months with the measles and I ended up spending a week in hospital in an isolation room because I was having trouble breathing. I had a lot of time alone to reflect on my life and what was actually most important to me. Sometimes it's moments like these that make you realise how little a lot of the things we worry about actually matter.
What is your creative process like?
For the initial songwriting a lot of the time I write with just the guitar or piano, creating the chords and the song in the same moment, usually when I am feeling very strong emotions about something. The lyrics being a mixture of in the moment inspiration and then some lines I have thought about a lot whilst creating them. Sometimes a whole song can flow out of me in 30 minutes.
That happened with my single ‘Salt Water’. Recently though I have been experimenting more with creating a rhythm or a soundscape on logic and then writing to that. It has helped me to develop my songwriting a lot and my producing skills.
What's your most useful talent besides music?
Ooh this is a good question. Well I’m actually a Primary school teacher when I’m not busy being a musician. I don’t know if that’s classified as a Talent but juggling the two different parts of my life definitely is!
How would you describe 2021 in a sentence?
A year full of challenges and surprises that I actually wouldn’t mind repeating, all things covid aside.
What was the first ever Pop/Rock/Folk etc. ... song you listened to or remember on?
I used to listen to Taylor Swift on Repeat when I was younger. I think I even had one of her songs as my ring tone for a while. But probably something by Everything but the girl. My mum used to play them a lot, or Carol King.
What do you prefer, a live gig or a studio session?
I think at the moment I am really having so much fun in the studio. Me and my Producer Theo Monteillet get on really well and have a really great time experimenting with different ideas, he never says no, no matter how random my ideas are. He also takes a lot of time to understand what each song means to me and what my vision is for it.
Do you remember your first ever self-written song?
Yes, it’s called ‘Empty House’ . One of my close friends always tells me it’s still her favorite. Of course like a lot of my first songs it was about liking someone but they were already with someone else or just wanted to be friends.
What’s next for you?
Well, now that the main recording of my debut Album is finished, I just need to do the final vocals for 3 songs and then I will begin to shoot some music videos in the next 4-5 months.
I am also planning to launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help me pay for the mixing and mastering of the Album as so far everything I have done is self funded!
NenesButler presents - Music Blog - Submit your Music
