Emmie Kelly Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Emmie Kelly is fresh off the release of her amazing single, "The Key", that you need to stream as soon as you can. I was honored that she wanted to visit with us to discuss the single and more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.
 
So, let's see what happens when Emmie Kelly visits Section 36 Music!

I absolutely love your recent single, “The Key”. What can you tell me about it?

I originally wrote this song in 2022, during my senior year of college, for my friend Seren Cho's short film. She was looking for a credit song to capture the spirit of her project, which was a queer love story set during New Years' Eve. Immediately, I knew I wanted to write it for her! As a queer woman myself, I really pride myself on being able to capture my own queer experience within my music - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Truthfully, most of my songs up to this point have been about heartbreak, so writing "the key" was a total pivot from my usual stuff. It was so much fun painting the picture of a sweet, young coming-of-age style love story, both lyrically and sonically, and a very preliminary draft of the song ended up making it into the short film. Flash forward to 2024, I knew that I wanted to bring some joy into my repertoire, and also show that I can write a banger pop song as well as my moodier acoustic stuff. I brought "the key" to my producer, Ellisar Hamdan, and she helped me turn it into the vibrant pop song it's become. I'm so happy it's out in the world!

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

I got these vocals done in a time crunch (independent artists crammed for studio time will get what I mean!), so honestly, recording this song was a bit of a blur. In all aspects of my life, I work well under pressure, and I knew I had this set time to lay down the lead vocals and background vocals and bring what I had in my head to life. So much of the recording process was just me bouncing ideas off of my producer and finding out what worked and what didn't. Because this song is a little different from my usual work, I found myself getting really into the creation of the indie pop background vocals. It almost felt like I was in a pop girl group playing the lead singer and every background singer role, which definitely added to the wholesome, girly vibe I was looking to create in this song.

If you could perform live in any venue in the world, where would you choose?

Red Rocks, for sure! I've never seen a show there, or even been to Colorado, but this is a dream venue of mine. It looks like one of the most gorgeous places ever from the pictures, and I'll take any opportunity to travel and see new places. My friend and I actually have a pact that someday we will rent a van and drive out there to see a show together, just to experience it.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

So many! Too many to name! Sonically, I would liken my sound to that of Maisie Peters and Kelsea Ballerini - maybe a mix of the two? I generally go for a more acoustic sound, but with the catchy melodies of your favorite pop songs. My friends have lovingly dubbed it "twangy pop," and I think that describes it perfectly. Visually and lyrically, I am so inspired by Chappell Roan - I think her storytelling and ability to create a persona is truly unmatched. And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Taylor Swift. I've loved her music since I was a little girl, I'm the proud owner of an original debut Taylor Swift CD, and yes, the Eras Tour at Gillette Night 3 with my sister WAS the best night of my life. Every song I write feels like a little piece of myself set to music - my musical diary, to put it plainly - and it's the kind of catharsis I feel in every Taylor Swift song I hear.

What is the most challenging part of your music career?

Exposure! In a world where our attention spans become shorter and shorter by the day, and content availability is at an all-time high, it can be hard to be heard amidst the noise. Just like many other small artists, I try to make my mark on social media, and can be found on Instagram (@emkelllly) and TikTok (@emmiekellymusic) sharing new projects and music. I've found that those who find my music tend to stick around and keep listening, which I'm incredibly grateful for. It's just finding them in the first place that can be a barrier!

What are your immediate musical goals?

I will be moving to Nashville in the fall, and am so excited for this newest chapter in my life and career. I am planning to release an EP soon (how soon? I can't say quite yet!) and a music video, so many exciting upcoming projects in the works. In Nashville, I hope to gain more exposure as an artist, and grow my following at gigs and online. Most of all, I hope to connect with fellow creatives and build myself a musical community I can call home.

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I can't wait for that new EP!

As always, I want to thank Emmie for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview.

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. Like she suggests, I would follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks, Emmie, and good luck reaching your goals!