Interview by Carol Wright | Photo Courtesy of ÊMIA
We got to chat with singer/songwriter ÊMIA about her song “Fake Scenarios” and the creative process behind the “Fake Scenarios” music video.
Did you start creating music at a young age?
I think I did! I had a very rudimentary process of “songwriting” in 5th grade (making up lyrics and singing my own melodies), but didn’t make anything that legit until I was 15. For the most part, I spent more time learning and falling in love with other people’s songs before feeling like I had the skill/vision to create my own.
I feel like anyone can relate to the lyrics in “Fake Scenarios.” Do you often aim to make songs that can resonate with your listeners on a more personal level?
Absolutely. Ok, so I was a huge HUGE speech and debate nerd in high school. And something I learned from competing was how important it is to make eye contact with everyone in the room individually. I apply the same philosophy to my songwriting. I am always speaking directly to a particular person when I’m writing…but in that sense, I hope that it ends up feeling more universal because I’m not being too general. I aim to be as true to my experience as possible…trusting that others can step into my shoes and feel what I have felt.
“Fake Scenarios” is such a fun, upbeat song. What were some of your influences when it came to how the song would sound?
Thank you so much. So I made this song with my dear friend and long-time collaborator, Charlie Kurata (fka Duumu). We are both HUGE pop nerds. We especially like recent pop music made by artists like Chelsea Cutler, Fickle Friends, Trove Stykre – to name a few- that feel so honest and vulnerable. We both have also had a lot of experience writing music in the EDM world and, as a result, will probably always have the inclination to make music that people want to move to.
The music video has a unique, DIY aspect to it. How involved were you in the creative process for it?
Similar to how the song was created, the video was made with one of my favorite people in the world, Róisin Marie (an incredibly talented songwriter, singer, and artist). This was our visual child. We both have a love for low-budget yet very charming music videos and watched a bunch of visuals from Maude Latour, Push Baby, Clairo, and Anna Shoemaker as inspiration for the kind of energy and vibe we wanted to have. I took care of the “art direction” if you can call it that (picking locations, outfits, general colors) and Róisin spearheaded all the shots and the movement.
Tell our readers about your upcoming EP VIDEO CALL: AM. What can listeners expect?
I hope VIDEO CALL: AM makes listeners feel like they got to eavesdrop on a juicy phone call. Because that’s exactly how it feels like to me. The songs are a collection of some of my most unfiltered thoughts on love and growing up. I hope they make the little moments and feelings in life feel big and important.
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
Let joy and passion guide you. Success in the music industry is the result of SO many factors beyond your control. The only thing the industry can’t control is your personal relationship to creating and music-making. So if you can find a way to love the process and not be discouraged by rejection and unfortunate outcomes, I truly believe you’ll find the people who believe in you/ who will help you become the musician you want to become. Secondly, I made the mistake of taking other people’s opinions and advice way too seriously when I was younger. And now? I listen critically and trust my intuition first.