Singles
Love to Be (single only)
‘Love to Be’ is an uplifting, indie-pop ode to living life to the fullest and marks a new chapter for Em.
"The process of merging folk-style guitars with a programmed drum beat and my layered vocals - and the eventual live drums too - was a hard balance to find, but I am obsessed with the end result. I think it reflects my desire to play with style and genre, and push myself as a technical practitioner while still keeping the emotion and world building I strive for in all of my music."
Made with support from New Zealand on Air
Go
Encapsulating late night drives and a longing for something new, ‘Go’ features a looping drum machine, uplifting synth hook, and humble acoustic guitars set against Em’s lush vocals
“In Spring on the eve of a holiday to the islands I drove the long way home, blasting an old favourite album with the windows down as the motorway flashed by. Thinking about how pent up I felt and how many people had moved overseas. Should I stay, should I go, what do I have, and what do I want? The next day I started writing, trying to capture that feeling shared by so many others."
Lucky Star
Deeply reflective, a little bit wonky in places, created with my friends. Lucky Star balances authenticity in my songwriting while pushing myself in my production craft. This balance is the epitome of the "Em" sound, regardless of how my sonic aesthetics change over time.
Driving acoustic guitars, drums, and bass underpinned by a drum machine, emotive electric guitars, and Em’s most characterful vocals yet. Inspired from the death of a famous musician, Luck Star reflects on who Em was as a music loving teenager and taps into the collective of music lovers who know the feeling of losing an idol.
Crush
Have you ever been in a situationship with someone you’ve already dated? If yes, this song is for you. The lyrics in this song try to describe the freedom, strength, and sadness that comes with choosing to not fall in love. Whether that is for self-protection or because there is a different form of your relationship that could be more meaningful.
Crush in a anthemic indie-pop track featuring cruisey drums, glittering 12-string guitars, quirky synths, and grooving bass line. Written and performed by Em and Gram Antler, with drums and guitar layers by Arahi.
The Orchard
