With a growing buzz building around her sublime brand of alt-pop which translates introspection into empowerment, EMMMAtoday shares her new single ‘Whiplash’. It emerges as she prepares to embark upon her biggest UK tour to date as support to Pale Waves in October. Listen HERE. Watch the official video HERE.
After the melodic rush of ‘Burning Bridges’ and the bigger drama of ‘Wednesday’s Child’, ‘Whiplash’ sees EMMMA dropping the tempo and honing in on its emotional intimacy. That, together with a woozy, ‘80s-indepted synth line, provides a fitting sonic setting for EMMMA to explore those less-comfortable truths about the relationships we’d rather forget. It’s a snapshot of desperately clinging on for hope and trying to provoke a reaction when you know deep down that it’s over.
EMMMA says, “This song comes to me after my relationship, and I’ve found myself searching for something new. The chorus saying ‘Why don’t you want me the way that I want you to?’ encapsulates my feelings of wanting to feel wanted by someone. I see all of my friends in beautiful relationships and I have found myself wanting something more for myself — knowing I’m talking to someone who is wrong for me, but still wanting it anyway.”
‘Whiplash’ was written by EMMMA with Alex Casnoff (Zella Day, Sorcha Richardson) and its producer Ben Wylen (Dan Caplen).
An alternate live version of ‘Whiplash’ with a distinct choreographed aesthetic featured in the recent EMMMA LIVE set. The four-track performance also features ‘Burning Bridges’ and ‘Wednesday’s Child’ as well as the currently unreleased ‘Cards’.
Originally from Westport, Connecticut, EMMMA started playing violin when she was just two-years-old and lyrically astute songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Carole King and James Taylor soundtracked her early life. Last year’s debut EP ‘Secondary Character’ centred around the realisation that she had become a kind of secondary character in her own life, and needed to embark upon a journey of self-discovery to realise her full personal and artistic potential. Audiences and tastemakers reacted to that statement, leading to positive comparisons to Chappell Roan, Holly Humberstone and Phoebe Bridgers.
EMMMA is now building towards her second EP, this time themed around the realisation that self-worth is an ongoing journey and struggle – and that self-worth was truly challenged after the break-up of a long-term relationship.
In addition to her tour dates with Pale Waves, listed below, EMMMA will also play Camden’s new multi-venue music festival Lock In in September.
OCTOBER – SUPPORT TO PALE WAVES
13th – Sunderland, The Fire Station
14th – Stoke, The Sugar Mill
16th – Manchester, O2 Ritz
17th – Cardiff, Tramshed
18th – Wrexham, The Rockin’ Chair
20th – Brighton, CHALK
21st – Southampton, Engine Rooms
22nd – Norwich, The Waterfront
23rd – Bournemouth, The Old Fire Station
25th – Oxford, O2 Academy
28th – Dublin, The Academy
29th – Belfast, Limelight
30th – Cork, Cyprus Avenue
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