A QUICK CHAT WITH EMMA YUE

Hey Aus Music Scene! My name’s Emma and I spend too much money on plants, too much time overthinking and all my energy on the things I love. I’m a self confessed purveyor of the phrase ‘do it for the plot’ and I have far too many emotions for my own good. To be fair though, definitely helps when writing music. 

Can you tell me a bit about your inspiration for your single ‘Lonely Lover’?

Let me set the scene for you: I’m 20 years old, driving home after a night out, I’ve just finished dropping a mate off and I’m realising that being designated driver is actually a lot of fun. I then have a very annoying realisation that I’m actually super sad and super lonely because the friends I was just with have known each other since childhood and share a comfortable intimacy that I’ve missed out on because I moved countries twice and lost all my childhood friendships. Consider my previously very fun car ride home not so fun anymore. 

The song wrote itself pretty quickly in the following days. At this point I’d been feeling this deep loneliness for a while and in all honesty I was getting pretty fed up with it. Lonely Lover was my way of trying to find some positivity and something uplifting in this emotion that had weighed me down so much. 

What are your influences and how do they affect your songwriting? 

My biggest influence would have to be Taylor Swift, I grew up on her music and I’ve been told by a lot of people that they hear similarities between my music and hers (which is honestly such high praise considering the songwriting powerhouse that Taylor Swift is). I think her influence comes through most in my lyrics and the moments when my melodic rhythms and lyrics really play off each other. One of my biggest goals in songwriting is making people think “hey, this song really perfectly captures what I’m going through and it’s so nice that I can just feel what I feel without needing to put it into words because this song already has”. To make someone feel a little less alone with what they’re going through would be such a privilege. I think Taylor Swift does this incredibly well and it’s one of the reasons she is as successful as she is. 

What’s the creative process like for you?

I’m definitely driven by my emotions when it comes to songwriting, whenever something happens in my life that makes me feel a lot I tend to go on a bit of a songwriting rampage. The first thing that usually happens is that I have a specific experience/emotion which I want to really delve into, and the song that comes out of it is way of processing all the emotions I’m feeling. Songwriting is like my therapist except considerably cheaper. The songs I connect with the most from other artists are the ones that make me feel something, so I always try to write from the heart in hopes that my vulnerability and honesty will resonate with someone else in a meaningful way. 

If you could change something about the Australian music industry what would it be? 

While I find a really lovely sense of community sometimes, I also think sometimes it can be a really superficial place. It can feel a bit like some people see you only as a way to further their own goals, whether it be as a listener providing streams or someone buying a ticket to their show. That being said, some of the most beautiful friendships I have came out of the music industry and those people are incredibly special to me. 

What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet? 

I honestly can’t even really begin to imagine what that would look like, my first thought was that I’d definitely be an artist with a different medium as an outlet. I love painting and water colouring and pottery so I reckon I’d be finding some therapy in one of those things. That being said I think I would struggle a fair bit, music is a form of catharsis for me that I don’t find anywhere else. My bank account would be also struggling far more because I’d have to go to way more actual therapy so I’d probably own less houseplants and candles. 

Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with?  Why?

If we’re dreaming really big and highly unrealistically, any of my biggest inspirations. Gracie Abrams, Hozier, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift. They’re all artists who’s music feels really honest and raw and it’s something I’m always trying to strive to be. I love how emotionally driven their music is (I’ve definitely had a shower cry to all of these artists) and how much it can make me feel just by listening to a song, and making music that is somewhat of a cathartic experience for someone listening is the ultimate dream for me. 

What’s your advice to young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry? 

It can be super hard to feel like you deserve space in this industry, there are so many incredible artists and sometimes it’s really easy to compare yourself in negative ways to what everyone else is doing. Imposter syndrome is so hard to combat, but remembering that no one has your particular sense of creativity or your specific experiences and because of that you can always make something unique. It can also feel really isolating, and sometimes it feels like other people only view you as a someone who might give you some streams or buy a ticket and not as someone who could be a friend within the industry. I think it’s really important to remember why you’re doing it and why being in it is special to you, and know that when the right people resonate with who you are will show up for it.  

Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/met? 

God this is such a difficult question, so many people are interesting in their own ways. I love my friend Mathilde Anne, I’ve been friends with her for a few years and she’s such a fun person. My producer Brad Jackson has worked with so many cool bands and always has cool stories about his experiences so far (and we always get up to some shenanigannery in the studio). 

Any plans for a tour on the cards?

One day for sure, my ultimate dream is to go on tour. I think I’ve got a bit of work to do before I get there, but I do have a headline show coming up on March 28th at the Gaso Upstairs!!