Rising singer-songwriter Emilya has unveiled her brand-new single, “Emotionally Bankrupt”, a stunningly smooth downtempo cut that leaves a huge impression on first listen. Having only debuted last year, the 22-year-old independent artist from Dallas, Texas, has already begun to amass a following from her two previous singles, but she looks set to propel her rise even further with this new release.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Emilya about the new single, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I was born and raised in Texas in the Dallas area. I make music that is a culmination of my feelings, experiences, and influences. I aim for my music to express the sounds of my soul, the melodies that ignite my senses, and the passion that will capture others’ hearts, the way music has captured mine – feeling what they need and want to feel at every moment and in any situation. My main influences lie in bedroom pop and R&B, but I never want to be confined to a box. I make what I feel in the moment and what I believe others need to hear in the moment.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I can’t even remember the moment I first fell in love with music. It’s always had my heart. I had big dreams as a young girl and hid them away doing my own little concerts in my room with only my stuffed animals listening. I wanted to learn piano, so in first grade my parents put me in lessons. My dad was a big influence for me musically. He was born and raised in Jamaica, loved to sing, and played classical guitar. His approval was always something I strived for, and I loved making him proud as I grew musically. Right before cancer took him away from me when I was 15, I promised him I would never give up on my dream. I’ve tried a lot of other creative avenues that I also enjoyed – dance, design, etc. – but nothing else has the power to make me feel fulfilled like music does. It is what I always go back to and what always has my back – it’s healed me, grown me, stretched me, comforted me, and inspired me over and over again.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
I was more excited to release this song than any other I have out right now because it was my favorite I had written up until that time. For the longest time, I wanted to write a song about anxiety and depression, but the words never seemed to come out right. I wanted it to be emotional but also have a strong hook, with lyrics that did not undermine the intensity of these feelings. This song actually came to life right after I had finished co-writing “Disappear.” I went back to my apartment and still had ideas and inspiration circling in my mind. “Emotionally Bankrupt” only took about 30 minutes for me to write – one of my quickest compositions that made the cut into my top favorites.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Being an artist in this climate is so intimidating. It seems like everywhere you look, there’s someone with an amazing voice creating amazing music and getting heard. It’s hard to not get discouraged sometimes wondering if your time will ever come. However, when you keep your mind right, technology can be a positive tool rather than an intimidation. There are so many new avenues and ways to create and release music and reach fans and collaborate with other people in the industry. I am so grateful for the connectivity we have today. It just takes one viral song on TikTok to create thousands if not millions of fans and that’s something that keeps me motivated to keep trying.
What was the last song you listened to?
To be honest, I’ve had Olivia Rodrigo’s album, “Sour,” on repeat lately, but who hasn’t? This is one of the first albums I’ve found that describes something I’ve been through in every song. I’m obsessed with her relatability – my favorites have become “Traitor” and “Favorite Crime,” especially when I need to have a good cry.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl is nostalgic and nostalgia is one of my favorite feelings the human brain can experience. But in reality, I grew up on CDs, so they bring me that feeling the most. I used to love waiting for my favorite artists’ newest albums to be released so I could go to Target, beg my mom to buy it, and blast it on my radio in my room or in the car. I do feel a little bad that my dad had to listen to Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” album on the way to school every morning, but he never complained. I’ll always have those memories. Anytime I hear a song or album that I used to listen to on CD, I get goosebumps and can remember exactly what I felt when I first heard it.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Spotify will always be my comfort zone because that’s what I know well and that’s the first platform I used to stream music. It’s super user-friendly and universal for so many people. I’m always looking to explore new avenues though – there’s so much out there.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I’m most active on Instagram! Follow me to see the most about my life and my music! You can find all of my other links through my bio on Instagram as well. I also have a website you can find on there that has the latest news, info on shows, and more!
Anything else before we sign off?
I hope you take the time to get to know me and my music. I wish I could meet all of my fans face to face because to me you’re my friends. Indie artists are some of the hardest working people I can think of, and they deserve to be heard. Just a stream a day can make all the difference in helping us indie artists’ dreams come true. Although I couldn’t live without music, at the end of the day, I make music for you guys to enjoy – so, I hope I’ve sparked your interest enough to follow me and my journey. Thank you in advance for streaming “Emotionally Bankrupt.” I pray it ignites your soul and gives you comfort in knowing we are all in this crazy human life together – in the ups and the downs. More music coming this fall. xoxo.
