Multi-talented Emma McGann stopped by to speak about working with Mike Shinoda on the new single ‘Teary Eyed’, what’s in store for the rest of the year and how the internet has helped her career to date.
To anyone new to your music, name 3 words that best describe your sound.
Anthemic guitar pop.
Do you prefer performing live or recording, and why?
I’m most in my zone when I’m writing and recording. It’s the making-something-out-of-nothing stage where I find the most purpose as a writer and where I’m happiest. Performing and sharing what I create with the world is the cherry on top. I love performing live so much too but the excitement of developing a seed of an idea and seeing it through to the end is why I write in the first place.
What’s in store for you for the rest of the year?
A rollercoaster. I have a deal in place and so many creative ideas for the next EP for 2022, so for the rest of the year I’ll be holed away doing what I do best and writing every chance I get in the studio. I have a little cosy tent I’m also independently re-booking a US tour that got postponed during COVID. Booking an overseas tour on my own has been a big learning curve as an independent artist. I’m looking forward to finally getting out there again next year.
Tell MoggBlog viewers about your latest release! What’s the inspiration behind that?
‘Teary Eyed’ is my very raw and real take on how I’ve dealt with anxiety over the years. It’s an underlying thing that I’ve always buried away from friends, family and my audience. An intense panic attack spurred on the lyrics one night. I guess because I was sick of it and knew I needed to try something practical to overcome it. Writing it out in black and white felt like it could help and it absolutely has. Though sharing that with the world still makes me nervous.
I was definitely under the impression when I was younger that it was a weakness, which isn’t true. I think people learn to live with their troubles and tackle them in their own way over time and become stronger for it. Writing is one method I’ve used to do exactly that.
Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda produced this one for me through his ShinodaProduceMe initiative. Watching one of my heroes work on something I’ve written was beyond awesome. Mike brought a lot of life and energy to the track in production and is an all around legend. I hope you love every second of it.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
The internet/influencer world and music business has merged over the last decade and artists are more connected to their audiences now than they ever were before. Direct-to-fan platforms and content gives us more power and freedom as creatives.
10 years ago if you uploaded content to YouTube you were likely labeled as just a content creator and not a traditional artist (by the industry), even though the essence of what you’re doing (creating music) was the same. Now those lines are so blurred and artists have more to take on today in order to stay in touch directly to their audience. The industry adopted the content creator model – it wasn’t always so integral to the strategy or development of the artists but today it’s one of if not the most important factor. Whether we like it or now artists are content creators now. For me, being directly connected to my audience and community is incredibly empowering and I’ve always taken a lot of pride in carving out a non-traditional route. It’s brought me closer to my audience and has made me grow as an artist in so many ways too.
You can follow Emma on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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