Her voice has given light to memorable releases such as Dash Berlin’s ‘Waiting’, Cosmic Gate’s ‘Not Enough Time’ and Lange’s ‘Live Forever’. Her live performances on some of the globe’s best stages and festivals lit the souls of thousands of spectators. And in 2012, she will introduce the world to her first and very own debut album, bursting with touching lyrics, strong vocals and heart-rending melodies. This week, the first single of the album finds its way out. ‘Colours’ is the first of her full-colour palette of songs to come to life. This interview doesn’t only introduce us to the person behind the artist, but also brings us an important belief. Emma:”Music always kind of reaches the places or people it needs to get to somehow.”
Hi Emma, it’s been a while! We know it’s rather late…but still: happy 2012! We bet you’re looking forward to the new year?
Emma:”Thanks!! Happy New Year to you too!! I am very much looking forward to the year ahead!! 2011 was very kind to me, but this year is shaping up to be a truly exciting one already, I can’t wait to see what it has in store!”
Emma:”Thanks!! Happy New Year to you too!! I am very much looking forward to the year ahead!! 2011 was very kind to me, but this year is shaping up to be a truly exciting one already, I can’t wait to see what it has in store!”
You’re gonna kick it off in style with the release of ‘Colours’, the first single of your forthcoming album. Now, how did this beautiful piece of music come to life?
Emma:”Colours was written by my brother and I about the passing of our Grandfather, and wondering what we will all think about in those last moments. Who and what we will remember when we look back on it all, and will we ever see all of those familiar faces again? So this song is quite a personal and introspective one, although it is not so much a sad song, there is still hope and a strong sense of gratitude for the experiences. We wanted to convey the beauty in the passing nature of life. We felt this song needed to be slightly more organic sounding, so we used a lot of live instruments – strings, acoustic guitars, even some live drums fused within the electronic sounds.”
Emma:”Colours was written by my brother and I about the passing of our Grandfather, and wondering what we will all think about in those last moments. Who and what we will remember when we look back on it all, and will we ever see all of those familiar faces again? So this song is quite a personal and introspective one, although it is not so much a sad song, there is still hope and a strong sense of gratitude for the experiences. We wanted to convey the beauty in the passing nature of life. We felt this song needed to be slightly more organic sounding, so we used a lot of live instruments – strings, acoustic guitars, even some live drums fused within the electronic sounds.”
It’s got the mystic feel of Enya, the power of Enigma but also rides that typical, warm Hewitt sound. Does ‘Colours’ represent the sound you’d like to be known for?
Emma:”I have definitely admired and been influenced by these kinds of artists over the years. I think as each song comes out the sound and style is slightly changing and hopefully evolving. I haven’t really thought about creating a specific sound for myself so much, I more just try to look at what serves each particular song as it comes out, and what instruments and recording styles are necessary to best convey the emotion of the individual song.”
Emma:”I have definitely admired and been influenced by these kinds of artists over the years. I think as each song comes out the sound and style is slightly changing and hopefully evolving. I haven’t really thought about creating a specific sound for myself so much, I more just try to look at what serves each particular song as it comes out, and what instruments and recording styles are necessary to best convey the emotion of the individual song.”
The music video for ‘Colours’ has just been revealed and it’s absolutely stunning. How did the concept come into being?
Emma:”We were very blessed to find and work with the extremely talented director Elliot Sellers in L.A. Elliot, his producer Jack Richardson and their team had a very strong creative vision for this song, and they put so much of themselves into the realization of it. We all wanted to convey the sense of a life of memories flashing before your eyes and the beauty in the seemingly ordinary moments; the moments that stay with you and perhaps become the most important when looking back. The guys spent a full week driving all over America to film real people going about their lives. The individual stories of some of the people they filmed were amazing, for example the old man who had rescued a mistreated horse and the incredible bond of friendship that you can see between the two of them on film, or the homeless lady selling drawings on the streets of L.A. who had a passion for blues music.”
Emma:”We were very blessed to find and work with the extremely talented director Elliot Sellers in L.A. Elliot, his producer Jack Richardson and their team had a very strong creative vision for this song, and they put so much of themselves into the realization of it. We all wanted to convey the sense of a life of memories flashing before your eyes and the beauty in the seemingly ordinary moments; the moments that stay with you and perhaps become the most important when looking back. The guys spent a full week driving all over America to film real people going about their lives. The individual stories of some of the people they filmed were amazing, for example the old man who had rescued a mistreated horse and the incredible bond of friendship that you can see between the two of them on film, or the homeless lady selling drawings on the streets of L.A. who had a passion for blues music.”
Reality check: we’re three months away from releasing your debut album. Getting nervous yet, or mostly excited?
Emma:”Haha, mostly excited! I am still finishing a couple of the tracks, and I am possibly the most excited by these! Although I am always looking forwards and tend to be more excited by the newest songs to come out or the idea yet to be completed… There are always nerves about how people will respond, especially being that these songs have taken on a slightly different direction from what I have released in the past. But I think that music always kind of reaches the places or people it needs to get to somehow, so that is the main thing I hope for really.”
Emma:”Haha, mostly excited! I am still finishing a couple of the tracks, and I am possibly the most excited by these! Although I am always looking forwards and tend to be more excited by the newest songs to come out or the idea yet to be completed… There are always nerves about how people will respond, especially being that these songs have taken on a slightly different direction from what I have released in the past. But I think that music always kind of reaches the places or people it needs to get to somehow, so that is the main thing I hope for really.”
Most artists are real perfectionists and work on tracks endlessly. When was the moment you thought ‘this is it, this is me’?
Emma:”It is difficult to ever feel like you are finished with a recording, if it was up to me I would hold on to things and keep changing bits and pieces forever, but I guess it is best to just put it out there and let go of the control! Working with other producers I have started to learn this, I finish writing and recording a vocal and straight away they release it, my instant reaction is to panic and say “Wait, it’s not ready!!” But as soon as you let go of the control and release the songs they take on a life of their own, and that is the fun part, which I am only now starting to understand.”
Emma:”It is difficult to ever feel like you are finished with a recording, if it was up to me I would hold on to things and keep changing bits and pieces forever, but I guess it is best to just put it out there and let go of the control! Working with other producers I have started to learn this, I finish writing and recording a vocal and straight away they release it, my instant reaction is to panic and say “Wait, it’s not ready!!” But as soon as you let go of the control and release the songs they take on a life of their own, and that is the fun part, which I am only now starting to understand.”
You’re bringing us the best of both worlds, since the album covers dance, ambient and pop. Was it hard to create a balanced whole that pleases listeners both in and outside EDM?
Emma:”Well hopefully it will please listeners…I didn’t realize how much we were taking on at first, being that every song will have an ambient, or slightly pop version as well as various dance remixes. It took a long time to record the album as we approached it more from the traditional live recording angle as well as incorporating programming and electronic sounds, but I do hope we created something that is full of emotion and can take the listeners on a bit of a journey. Mainly I wanted to create something that I would like to put on and listen to myself, and if I can do that then hopefully some other people will feel the same way too! We worked with producer Lee Groves on the album, he has worked with artists such as Marilyn Manson, Gwen Stefani and Depeche Mode, so he was great at creating the kind of dark pop/ambient soundscapes we were looking for.”
Emma:”Well hopefully it will please listeners…I didn’t realize how much we were taking on at first, being that every song will have an ambient, or slightly pop version as well as various dance remixes. It took a long time to record the album as we approached it more from the traditional live recording angle as well as incorporating programming and electronic sounds, but I do hope we created something that is full of emotion and can take the listeners on a bit of a journey. Mainly I wanted to create something that I would like to put on and listen to myself, and if I can do that then hopefully some other people will feel the same way too! We worked with producer Lee Groves on the album, he has worked with artists such as Marilyn Manson, Gwen Stefani and Depeche Mode, so he was great at creating the kind of dark pop/ambient soundscapes we were looking for.”
It’s still quite a rare gift for dance vocalists to release a solo album that doesn’t include the help of ay famous dance producers. Are we right to say you’re one of the leading lights in EDM to do so?
Emma:”I don’t know about that. However I do think that it is a very exciting time in music that is allowing people from all genres and backgrounds to branch out into different styles and areas that perhaps they wouldn’t have been able to do before. A lot of the styles are fusing together, and listeners are more willing to accept change from producers and singers now. Especially in EDM, and I think it is fantastic, and I hope things keep heading down this road!!”
Emma:”I don’t know about that. However I do think that it is a very exciting time in music that is allowing people from all genres and backgrounds to branch out into different styles and areas that perhaps they wouldn’t have been able to do before. A lot of the styles are fusing together, and listeners are more willing to accept change from producers and singers now. Especially in EDM, and I think it is fantastic, and I hope things keep heading down this road!!”
You’ve also become known for your powerful live performances at festivals and in clubs. Is there anywhere we can catch you performing in the next few weeks?
Emma:”For sure!! This year has started of wonderfully on the live front…I had an amazing time in Malta on NYE and throughout January I will be performing at Zouk in Singspore (14th), the Armada Beach Festival in Mar Del Plata with Aly and Fila, John O’Callaghan and Shogun (21st), then it’s catch up time with the wonderful Cosmic Gate guys for my Pacha debut in New York City and then Glow in Washington…February I’ll be playing in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Poland – really looking forward to getting back to see some old friends and to making new ones!! ;)”
Emma:”For sure!! This year has started of wonderfully on the live front…I had an amazing time in Malta on NYE and throughout January I will be performing at Zouk in Singspore (14th), the Armada Beach Festival in Mar Del Plata with Aly and Fila, John O’Callaghan and Shogun (21st), then it’s catch up time with the wonderful Cosmic Gate guys for my Pacha debut in New York City and then Glow in Washington…February I’ll be playing in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Poland – really looking forward to getting back to see some old friends and to making new ones!! ;)”
One last question! With such an important highlight in your career coming up, it’s good to know your new year’s resolutions for 2012!
Emma:”Aaaah, to sleep more, to stop saying sorry so much, to eat more healthy food (that one never works) to meditate, to play more festivals, call my mum more and to swear less. I guess that’s it…”
Emma:”Aaaah, to sleep more, to stop saying sorry so much, to eat more healthy food (that one never works) to meditate, to play more festivals, call my mum more and to swear less. I guess that’s it…”
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