Emi Jeen – Holy Water

By starrymag | November 2, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) My music is Alt-Pop, but I like to call it “Dark Pop.” It’s a mixture of pop synths & beats with some alternative electric guitar.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) As a young girl, I was influenced by my mom’s musical taste (Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey) and my older brothers (Nirvana, Metallica) while I was listening to Lauryn Hill, Destiny’s Child and Christina Aguilera. Nowadays, I love listening to Bishop Briggs, Lana Del Rey, PVRIS and Halsey.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Holy Water.”

A) I keep my emotions inside a lot. I was in a relationship and kept everything inside till the boiling point, then it exploded. I left my lover, at the time, over the phone while being away on tour because I couldn’t say how I felt for so long. It’s clearly not something I recommend and I am still learning to share my emotions and not keep them inside.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think there’s always emotions and feelings we keep inside to protect ourselves from others. I hope it will help people understand to communicate their feelings more and not wait till it’s too late to express themselves.

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) The music video for this track is especially important to me. It really portrays super well my state of mind while re-visiting these deep down emotions. It shows the feeling of being trapped in your mind with all these emotions and things you don’t want to say out loud. Then, finally exploding all the words and emotions you kept in for all this time.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) I write tons of ideas, melodies and lyrics that I keep in my book or phone. Then, I get influenced by the chords, music or a vibe or mood that producers introduces me to, which then connects me with an idea I had waiting for me in my “Journal.” I mostly work with a team. They bring my ideas to life. For my latest track “Holy Water” I sat down with two talented artists Ally Soumalias and Derek Hoffman.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I prefer to leave this to a pro. [laughs] I am always present in the process to give ideas and direction of what I am trying to express. My music is not minimalistic. There’s a lot of instruments, so I need the help of a good producer to get the best out of the song.

Q) How do you shake off a long day in the studio?

A) Ahah. Oh well, a glass of wine.

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) YES! An EP called The Other Side is dropping end of October! I can’t wait!

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I used to be in a girl band for five years prior to this solo project. We visited many countries together and I loved every city. Love discovering different cultures and landscapes. But I had something special for Kuala Lumpur. It was such an awesome crowd and a beautiful city. I can’t wait to go back!

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I would love to collaborate with The Weeknd. I love his vibe and feel very connected to his music. Plus, he’s Canadian. [winks]

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) I am still listening to the Born to Die album by Lana Del Rey. The songwriting, musicality and images that she portrays are just so powerful!

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) They are the reason why I am doing this! We got these platforms now so we can connect, share emotions and stories together which is absolutely amazing!

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) You are so important to me. They help me go through rough times. I just hope these songs will help release heavy emotions like they do for me. There’s now a lot more to come and I’m so thankful to be on this beautiful journey with you.