UNMUTED | IN MY MOMENT: Emalia

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK PHOTOGRAPH Timothy Villafuerte

“Be yourself. Value yourself. Empower yourself. There's strength in vulnerability.” - Emalia

VALIDATED: Being from Sydney, Australia, what’s your earliest memory of r&b and pop music?

EMALIA: My dad would play all kinds of music when I was growing up, from Sting to INXS to Nelly Furtado, but old school R&B definitely takes the cake for 'most played' on our car trips to school. Destiny's Child is probably the stand out for me in terms of the first artists that really got my heart thumping. We'd listen to artists like Aaliyah, Ciara, Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, and on the more pop side of things artists like Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake come to mind. In terms of Australian artists, Jessica Mauboy and the Young Divas inspired me a lot growing up.

VALIDATED: At what age did your singing talents begin to show?

EMALIA: I was always drawn to singing and performing, basically from the moment I was born. I loved music. My mum claims I could sing my ABC's before I could talk! My family aren't musical, but I loved to be in front of the camera and would always put on little concerts in our living room. I'd drive them crazy singing about the house, so they put me into vocal training at the age of 5, and I've never looked back since. 

VALIDATED: Who are some of your musical influences?

EMALIA: I have quite an eclectic taste in music, but I'd say my biggest influences at the moment would be Kehlani, Kiana Lede, Beyonce, Mahalia, Frank Ocean, Victoria Monet, Summer Walker, and one can never go past Aaliyah.

VALIDATED: You’ve been hailed as Australia’s “new R&B princess on the rise”, what does the compliment mean to you?

EMALIA: It's surreal. It's a big title to live up to, so I do feel a certain level of pressure. But I mostly feel incredibly flattered. It makes me fairly emotional actually, I've worked towards a career in music my whole life and to be described like that means more than words could say. My inner child is very proud. There's still a long way to go though, so I'm going to keep working hard for her!

VALIDATED: Earlier this year you dropped your debut EP “Unmuted”, what’s been the response to the project?

EMALIA: I've received a lot of lovely messages and feedback from people around the world. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to share this music with them. Many have been able to relate to a lot of the tracks on there and found comfort in them, which makes me feel like I did my job right. Hearing other people's stories and what the songs bring up for them makes me feel less alone as well, which is one of the best aspects of music. I also love seeing videos of people dancing and finding joy in it. My favorite responses though have been from the fans that really paid attention to the world I created for the project, and pieced together all the little easter eggs and hidden meanings. I was over meticulous, so the appreciation of those finer details is super rewarding.

VALIDATED: One of the EP’s offerings, “Mistake”, was produced and written alongside One Above, what was the vibe when writing the song?

EMALIA: The night started off super casual and fun. One Above played me a few beats because we had a session booked the next day, and when that one started playing I sang the chorus on the spot and knew it just had to come out right then and there, even though we hadn't planned on doing a session that evening. I turned inward when writing 'Mistake'. All my internalized thoughts and emotions that I'd held onto for a long time came spilling out of me, like a diary entry. The subject matter is super personal, and it just flowed. One Above was really respectful of my process and let me write what I needed to while he worked on building the production. Picture me cuddled up on the studio couch, neon lights lining the walls, eating pad thai, phone in hand, notes app going OFF. Writing that song was therapeutic, confronting and fulfilling all at the same time. It came straight from my heart. The vibe was oddly contradictory, I was reliving all of these tough emotions but with each new line and melody and harmony, I'd squeal with delight and dance around the room. Ultimately, it was a huge release.

VALIDATED: When writing songs, do you prefer to collaborate with others or write single-handedly? 

EMALIA: It depends on what I'm writing about and the mood I'm in. I think I favor collaborating with others, because you get different ideas and melodies that you would otherwise not come up with, which can bring a new and exciting flavor to the music. It's also much more fun! Sometimes it can help to co-write when you're feeling emotional blockages about a certain subject as well, the high vibrations in the room and an outside perspective can really open doors that wouldn't budge prior. But there are times when the subject matter is so personal that it has to come from me - it's the only way I can really say everything that I want and need to say without the core messages being potentially diluted by another's perspective. 

VALIDATED: The single “Messy” is produced and written with Carmen Reece and PK Degeddingseze, with such a relatable topic, I’m sure the song has become a fan favorite. Did you realize the song could become an anthem when you were writing it?

EMALIA: A lot of fans really vibe with “Messy” for sure! It did feel a little anthem-y to us in the studio - the stacked chorus vocals were something we unanimously thought we could hear audiences singing at live shows. Listening back to it once we'd recorded the demo, we could just feel it in our chest, you know? We wanted to dance and scream it out. That was what we wanted from it.

VALIDATED: Did anything specific inspire you to write “Messy”?

EMALIA: Yes, but I'll keep it short and sweet: Exes!

VALIDATED: Can you give a behind the scenes perspective on the overall experience of making the song and video for “Messy”?

EMALIA: I'd say my favorite part of the 'Messy' process was making the video. I worked with an incredible team of creatives who were all so passionate about creating something special. It all sort of just fell into place. I'd had an idea of what I was after and we had multiple treatments shown to us, but when Paven (the director) pitched his treatment to me, I had to double take. He hadn't heard the 'P.S. (Interlude)' on the project at all, but had come up with this concept centered around a Psychic that fit perfectly into the world I'd created. It felt meant to be. My creativity was sparked straight away and I began jotting down all these ideas, researching tarot cards and delving into what they meant, designing business cards for the character I'd previously created for the interlude, 'Dr Divination', as I wanted her to be the Psychic I was portraying on screen, and creating pinterest boards for styling, mood etc. Paven was more than willing to work with me on all the ideas and elements I wanted to bring into it. We shot it over two days, and everyone on set was really lovely and just excited to be creating. I had a lot of fun, and it's definitely my favorite video to date. 

VALIDATED: To those who haven’t heard “Unmuted”, what should they expect from you on your debut EP?

EMALIA: A story experience. Sassy pop/r&b jams, harmonies galore, sensuality and vulnerability mixed with some big d*ck energy.

VALIDATED: Is there a particular song from the EP that resonates with you the most? Why?

EMALIA: I'd say “DNA” and “Mistake” are the two that hit home the most. They show very vulnerable parts of me, which is scary to put out there, and hearing them always takes me back to the moment of writing. “DNA” will probably forever be relevant to me.

VALIDATED: Which decade of music influenced you the most and why?

EMALIA: Easily the 2000's! It's the music I grew up listening to, it's the decade I fell in love with music. It's what shaped me into the artist I am today. 

VALIDATED: To your fellow songwriters pursuing singing careers, what one piece of advice would you give them?

EMALIA: You've got to be tough. Thick-skinned. You have to be real with yourself, really connect with yourself, and ask the question: Do I have what it takes to keep getting back up every time I am knocked down? Do I believe in myself? The music industry is a beautiful, crazy, wild ride but it's not an easy one. Practice, be good at what you do, but also be prepared to honor yourself and fight for what you love.

VALIDATED: What’s the meaning behind the EP’s name, “Unmuted”?

EMALIA: It signifies my 'moment', if you will. As my debut EP, this is the first time I've been able to turn on my metaphorical megaphone and really share my voice and story through my music. I was patient for many years working on the music and developing my artistry, so to be able to now release everything I've been working on feels like pressing the volume button on my life. It also links with the television theme that is consistent throughout the project. 

VALIDATED: What would you like fans to take away from the EP?

EMALIA: Be yourself. Value yourself. Empower yourself. There's strength in vulnerability. I also hope it makes you dance and almost blow the speakers out your car. 

VALIDATED: What’s next for Emalia?

EMALIA: More music, more videos, and more live shows!! 

VALIDATED: What’s your social media contacts, website and music links?

EMALIA: You can find me on FB, IG, Twitter and Tik Tok using @emaliamusic.

My website is www.emaliamusic.com and head to bio.to/emalia to check out my music and merch!