Em - Pop/Urban Music Sensation - November 2020 Cover Girl

Thanks for your time today, EM. So how are you keeping busy and musical these days during this crazy Covid-19 pandemic? How are you staying connected to
your fans?

Em: Thank you.
It’s actually been a blessing.. I had a lot of ideas pour through in the early stages of the pandemic and was kind of saving them for later.. thinking who would I call on to write up
these ideas? Let me just focus on the EM album.. but sure enough late August.. they started to flood through in full songs and I had to get them fleshed out.
I always try to go on at least once a day to post some updates on my instagram and I do videos checking in asking how everyone is doing and just some questions to see how people are feeling or what they’re into these days.

What kind of music do you think is going to come out of these crazy times? Are you working on anything new right now?

Em: Even though the world is not black and white (no pun intended) it could go one of two ways: disconnected or connection… connection to the divine, self and others around. I think there will be a lot of healing and imagination as you’re already seeing in the world Taylor Swift created and Shawn Mendes, Wonder.. I’m excited to see how artists paint the world because it’s been chaotic.. I’m working on an album called EMbrace: Heaven on Earth where I chose to go inwards and appreciate all the Divine has provided and the journey from being unsure to putting G-d first and how my life shifted and blessings came in. Of course there is still some sadness and discord but that is part of being human and getting to the other side.. of clarity, acceptance and peace.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be a musician? What do you think motivates you day in and day out? How has that changed over the
years?

Em:I think it was as simple as going to the Britney Spears concert at age four and knowing all the words and watching her, thinking, “I could do that” and just that feeling never left when I watched performances and when I would sing, it would feel like home. Passion, it motivates everything I do and I love writing and singing.. I live in it.. it’s a world of
creation and emotion. I have definitely become more focused, driven and persistent.. just a part of maturity where you realize your priorities and you don’t spin in circles.. you
get a clearer direction and set goals everyday.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Were your family and friends supportive of this career choice? If you weren’t a musician today, could you see
yourself doing anything else?

Em: Music, come to think of it, was always at the forefront. I would listen to music when I got up, on the bus ride to school, walking through the hallways, when I got home.. when I wanted to dance.. any chance I could, I would.. it would take me to a different space and I would live in that song and act it out. I don’t think most people understood it truthfully, but I don’t blame them. Especially growing up in New Jersey, I wasn’t in the mecca of entertainment. I was surrounded by a lot of physicians and not many free based thinkers. True musicians were few and far between and I think that is why it took me so long to get to where I am today. The way I feel about it now compared to the misunderstood teen, if you don’t take that stand and believe in yourself, nothing anyone says or does will make a difference. I used to think I wanted to be an actress or writer, but I realize they are all intertwined. I am a creative and that part of me could never be
hidden.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best
part?

Em: The biggest surprise is how smooth it gets when you stop fighting it and the way it’s been received. The welcome challenge would be navigating the music industry from outside the industry as an independent.. there are so many things you miss when you do it on your own, you realize just how valuable a team is. The best part is creating music I always dreamed of with people I adore and who are so talented.

Let’s talk about your new single, “Say What You Mean”. What was the inspiration for this track? How does it speak to today’s relationships between love partners?

Em: The inspiration behind this was of course a relationship I was in. My songs always stem
from experience. It was about a relationship where you realize you have comprised so much of yourself and when it gets past the point of no return, you put your foot down and say, “Enough!” It’s that line in the sand where it’s almost like do not enter if you are not honest with your feelings and me. You can still hear the yearning of what once was in the verses and the mourning and denial.. it’s going through the stages of grief truly until you get to the point where you just want the truth and will only accept that in your aura. I think it speaks to today’s relationships between lovers to form a line of transparency and know what you will and will not tolerate.. to have respect for your partner.. to not take them for granted and to honor relationships as sacred.. not thinking
they’d always be there and understand you no matter what.. we are humans with real emotions and we have to recognize that and cherish it. Also, life is too short and if
someone isn’t going to be real with themselves or you, it’s not worth it. I think this song really helped me draw a huge boundary in life.. to honor my truth and if people don’t respect that or me, I don’t need to have them around.

Can You Tell us about the Music Video of “ Say What You Mean” which everyone is loving , the process and working with the team.

Em: Thank you, it was a fun one to create and bring to life. With the help of Parris Mayhew and his team, this once idea turned into a full-formed visual. I wanted it to represent the divine feminine in her fragile melancholy state wandering around this glass house by herself and then into this diva in hollywood glam fashion to represent the inner power
we all have. Parris and I worked out the treatment and I found a beautiful place in NewYork to shoot and when I arrived on set, his team was just beyond. We had the shot list ready and cued and planned accordingly.. so professional and everyone made sure I was comfortable and prepped for each scene. We spent a lot of time filming the
bedroom shots and that’s when Parris and his crew realized that was going to be a huge part of the video.. the vulnerability and the longing of your partner to be with you inthe bed is so intimate, it just fit the vibe so well. Overall, working with Parris and his team couldn’t have been a better experience, everyone was on time and knew exactly what they were doing to have the work day run smoothly and effortlessly.

Do you hope to release more music in the coming months and an EP or album?

Em: Definitely. A full length album I’ve been writing, EMbrace: Heaven on Earth, is in the works as we speak and hoping to release a few singles in the coming months. Talk to
Me, Back Into Your Heart and Mission, so stay tuned!

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music?

Em: I think any singer/songwriter could attest to this.. when you’ve been around many producers in your life.. they want to mold you into the artist that is out there at that time..
and I had that constantly and it would still come through as me.. but truly, within the past year.. all of those experiences and especially working in Woodstock.. brought me to
where I am now to know how I like to work, my style and my influences. I’m not afraid to
do me and what flows through spirit even if people don’t understand it.

What do you think social media has done for your career so far? What is it like keeping up with all of your different accounts? What is your favorite way to
connect with fans?

Em: I used to loathe it, and sometimes I think that can happen when you just want to focus on the music but you realize it’s a big way of connecting. I’m very grateful that I got over that and started to be more active and share my music because I have met so many talented people and amazing fans that have reached out to me and still do whether it’s on my posts or messenger. It’s nice to see people are watching and it moves them emotionally. It is a little overwhelming at times but overall, I’m just so happy to have my music out there to be heard on different outlets and see the responses. My favorite way to connect is through Instagram stories.. sharing music, my day or funny videos of my
puppy.

What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future? Who has been inspiring you and the music that you make?

Em: Oh that is so hard! I love so many! Drake! I love the way our voices blend and his confidence has taken me through many trials in my life. With this new album EMbrace: Heaven on Earth.. it ranges from Michael Jackson to Diana Ross to Enya to Carly Simon to Britney Spears!

Buckle your seatbelts! It’s going to be a magical ride for sure.

Where would you still love to hear a song of yours played?

Em: Oh wow, hmm..I think it’s cool to be in a restaurant or somewhere as simple as a Starbucks and you’re like, yeah that’s my song and people are singing to it. Also in a
feature film that just floats with the scene. That’s the dream.

What would a dream music video look like for you?

Em: That’s a tough one depending on the music video! I was actually trying to decide which song I should choose for the video and I like creating worlds.. fantasy worlds.. heavenly realms..taking you to a different place.. getting lost in it and then when it ends, you don’t know where you are because what you felt was so real.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

Em: I hope people take away emotional and spiritual lessons.. to love the Divine, to love
themselves.. to cherish people around them and to have empathy and compassion. I want people to experience their own version of Heaven on Earth and feel heard and restored.

Out Nov. 20th