Michigan-based singer-songwriter, Emma Guzman, has released her latest single, “Clean.” The track features music, lyrics, and vocals by Emma Guzman, piano by Greg Beyer, bass by Steve Lehane, drums/percussion by Steve Stetson, production and mixing by Rustbelt Studios, and mastering by Paul Blakemore.
The track journeys through Guzman’s discovery of self love through the heartbreak of loss. Fans of Guzman will not be disappointed with this stripped piano ballad, as she delivers her poetic lyrics with raw, emotional vocals.
“‘Clean’ is all about letting go of someone who you thought would be around forever, and learning to be your own best friend in their place,” says Guzman. “Many bitter tears were shed over the words to this song, and it was a lesson in healing for me. I had to fall down hard and pick myself back up again to see that I could be happy on my own without this friend I had lost. I’m still figuring out a way to forgive her, but ‘Clean’ is about forgiving and learning to love myself.”
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Emma about the latest 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’m from Mount Clemens, which is a part of Metro-Detroit. I like to describe my music as indie-folk; I draw a lot of lyrical inspiration from folk artists, but my sound has begun to take on more of an indie-pop vibe. I love making raw, emotional and unique music that people are able to connect with.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I actually began my musical journey doing musical theater, strange as that may sound. I got used to performing in front of large audiences and singing my little heart out under the lights, and eventually it lead me to pursue songwriting. I loved performing, but I wanted to start speaking my own truths with my own words through the songs I was singing. I started taking guitar lessons at the age of 9, and one year later I was writing my own songs and I never looked back! My motivation to keep going is the way music makes me feel. I have such a deep love for expressing myself through my songs, and I don’t think I could ever give it up- even if I don’t “make it big” in music.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
This is actually the first (and only) song I’ve written on piano. It sounds a lot different from my other songs, and it definitely leans more into the indie pop genre than my previous work. I wrote this song to show that it’s okay to let go of something or someone you never thought you could live without. This song is the beginning of a new musical era for me, and I can’t wait to show the world what’s next!
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age?
One of the biggest challenges is trying to define my music in industry terms and still get in front of an audience that will best connect with what I am doing. I am definitely a lyric driven artist and in this digital age it can be hard to get an audience to slow down and get in to the lyrics before they are on to the next song or artist. Which leads me to my eternal struggle with a social media presence! I tend to immerse myself in lyrics and melodies- which leaves my internet aura lacking at times. I am working on it though so stop by and say hello @emmaguzmanmsic on Instagram or Facebook!
How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
It has made managing the business side of releasing music a little easier to digest and navigate for me. There is a lot of hustle involved when you are self releasing music so the internet can be your friend. It also makes sharing and recording music files with other musicians much easier! I have also connected with a bigger audience through streaming shows, which has been a blast.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Please Stay” from Lucy Dacus’s new album- Phenomenal.The whole album is worth an investment in a box of tissues and a good listen.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I prefer MP3s, because they open up a whole world of music instead of being restricted to just your physical collection. As a consumer, I love the focus on playlists rather than albums. I host a radio show (Word Worm on CJAM 99.1 FM Windsor/Detroit) and having access to MP3s is such a blessing when it comes to choosing which tracks to spin.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
As an artist I’m a huge fan of Bandcamp because your fans can support you buy purchasing an MP3 of your song or album, and it definitely helps pay the bills more than most streaming services. TIDAL is near and dear to my heart. Being a TIDAL Unplugged artist has put me in front of a larger audience and has given me the opportunity to record some amazing music- plus they pay artists more per stream. As a music fan though, my personal favorite is probably Spotify because it helps me discover new music everyday. I’ve found so many amazing musicians through Spotify’s playlist algorithm. Sometimes I’ll even go on Bandcamp and purchase a track from an artist I found on Spotify or TIDAL to use on my radio show, and then everybody wins!
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I definitely check my artist Instagram the most, so that’s the best place to connect with me and see what I’m up to. I do have a TIDAL Unplugged page with exclusive video content if you’d like to get an in depth look at my musical journey. Other than that I have Facebook, Twitter, a YouTube Channel and obviously streaming services like TIDAL, Spotify and Apple Music. My handle for all social media is @emmaguzmanmusic!
Anything else before we sign off?
Support live and local music!
