Welcome to BuzzMusic! How have you been?
I’ve been focusing on surviving! Doing my best right now, and leaning into the ebb and flow of my creativity.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single you just released “Monday"?
Sure thing. “Monday” was the first song I wrote after I released my project, “Special Delivery” in January of 2019. I was sitting at the kitchen table of my apartment in NYC with my acoustic guitar. I was messing around with the chord progression for the song. Then the melody popped into my head.
After I wrote the song, my best friend and songwriting partner, Gregg Allen said, “it always happens that way – you always write a catchy song after you release a project.” Obviously that comment stuck with me and rang true!
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
I’m a fan of storytelling. This song is a conglomeration of events, experiences and emotions.
Any plans to release a video for the single?
A conventional, fully-fledged music video, doesn’t seem likely right now, especially given the global pandemic we are living through. Maybe I’ll work on putting a lyric video or some sort of collaborative music video (maintaining social distancing, of course).
How was the writing and recording process?
I wound up recording this track, remotely. I worked with Nashville-based producer, SHAYNA, who is extremely talented and is no stranger to the entertainment industry. She and I chatted on the phone a bunch prior to working on the song. I sent her some demos I had recorded via voice memos.
She put together an instrumental of the track and sent it my way. From there, I booked some studio time at JC Studios in Jersey City. Jon O and Uncle Jay were the engineers who recorded my vocal stems. We FaceTimed SHAYNA the whole time and she helped guide me through the vocal passes.
What role does New York play in your music?
New York City is the milling about with people. People are inspiring. Every single person has a different perspective, and collection of life experiences. Living in New York has allowed me to not only create my own set of unique, life experiences, but it has also provided me with a seemingly endless supply of people, places, and situations to observe. I like to turn my observations into storytelling. Oftentimes my storytelling takes form in the shape of a song.
Any plans to hit the road when things return to normal?
That’s an excellent question. Collectively, it seems we have all invested a lot of energy in pivoting our plans to make adjustments to the current state of the world. I haven’t solidified any future arrangements or commitments in the live event space. I’m focusing my time and energy on creating new music, supporting other artists, and building relationships, remotely, for the time being.
What else is happening next in your world?
Writing, writing, writing. I have been working with a few different co-writers and producers, remotely. We’re working on with some tracks I’m pretty excited about.
I also recorded two Alanis Morissette covers at Hive Mind Recording that I plan to release this upcoming June. This June marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Jagged Little Pill. That album is iconic! It was one of the first full albums I sunk my teeth into growing up. I wanted to do something timely and relevant to celebrate it. So be on the lookout for those two releases!
Listen to Emily Gabriele here.