Emie Nathan On Entering Adulthood and Her Career
“White Light” is an EP by Emie Nathan that is a coming of age story. One that speaks about her experiences traversing her early 20s which to date, have been afflicted with real beauty, challenge and darkness. Emie released this EP on December 9th for everyone else to experience her journey with her. In conversation with Clique, Emie shares that ‘coming of age’ can pretty much happen at any stage in your life. She likes to think that it’s a term we can use to cover all new experiences that come with growing up, moving forward and entering new chapters. This chapter has been very formative for her as she entered adulthood and begun this career. Her Ep narrates those experiences and pick apart all the beautiful and dark moments that have shaped the past few years she conquered. It describes the things she will remember when she looks back on this period of her life and celebrates them for all of their obscurities.
Clique: You have a lot going on in your life with the release of your single “Closed Doors”, Debut EP “White Light” and your first-ever headline show. How does it feel to have all of this happening?
Emie: It has been quite the end-of-year push… I’ve been working incredibly hard and I have been absolutely blown away by the reactions so far. It truly means so much to get back as much as I feel I’m giving at the moment. I feel really lucky.
Clique: You say “Closed Doors” was born out of feeling unseen and unheard, how did you deal with that?
Emie: It took a little time to realize that people will feel and think the way they’re going to regardless of how you feel or think sometimes, which I guess was a tough pill but an important one nonetheless.
Clique: Is making music your go to way of expressing your emotions and feelings?
Emie: It is definitely a starting point for those things I feel might need more attention. My lyric book is essentially my equivalent to a journal I suppose so in many ways it does serve a therapeutic purpose. If I walk out of a songwriting session with the sense that the song wholeheartedly and truthfully captured my emotions then I think i’ve done my job right.
“Listeners who are of a similar age to me may also resonate with the utter sense of hopelessness I feel sometimes being a 20 something year old, facing a devastated world and trying to get myself (and my life) together too. Thats ok. I’ve decided to be okay with it & I hope listeners feel as though they can as well with these songs in mind.”
Clique: Is there a specific way in which you hope your music leaves your listeners feeling?
Emie: Through this particular EP, i’d like to think it gives listeners permission to just be where they’re at. Everyone is going through stuff and its important to let those things naturally take their course. Listeners who are of a similar age to me may also resonate with the utter sense of hopelessness I feel sometimes being a 20 something year old, facing a devastated world and trying to get myself (and my life) together too. Thats ok. I’ve decided to be okay with it & I hope listeners feel as though they can as well with these songs in mind.
Clique: Your EP “White Light” is said to be about your coming of age story, can you elaborate on that?
Emie: I think ‘coming of age’ can pretty much happen at any stage in your life. I like to think that its a term we can use to cover all new experiences that come with growing up, moving forward and entering new chapters. This chapter has been a very formative for me one as i’ve entered adulthood and begun this career. My Ep narrates those experiences and pick apart all the beautiful and dark moments that have shaped the past few years i’ve conquered. It describes the things I will remember when I look back on this period of my life and celebrates them for all of their obscurities.
“How explicitly I story-tell truly depends on how important it may be to the message of the song - I will never write something that doesn’t feel honest but I don’t think it takes away from the quality or clarity if I don’t include every last detail.”
Clique: Is it scary to have your own personal stories out for the public to hear?
Emie: I don’t think it is scary per-se, everyone has their own approach but I think the key for me has been to write truthfully and walk away with something that I really believe in. How explicitly I story-tell truly depends on how important it may be to the message of the song - I will never write something that doesn’t feel honest but I don’t think it takes away from the quality or clarity if I don’t include every last detail.
Clique: What does the process of making music look like for you?
Emie: I always start with a concept. The melody and lyrics follow on from there but they usually go hand in hand in how fast it can come together. I like to know what the song will be about and where the story line is supposed to go before I get stuck into anything else.
Clique: What can fans expect at your first ever headline show at Laylow in London?
Emie: Expect a little emie nathan experience. I’ve got a whole visual piece planned out for the set itself. I will be dressing up the room quite similarly to the set of my white light lyric video… i’ve painted all of my merch (up-cycled t-shirts & totes) and will be selling some paintings too… Hopefully it will feel like they have somewhat walked into my brain!
Clique: If you could collaborate with anyone, who would you choose to collaborate with?
Emie: This list could go on and on … I do love the idea of collaborating with Maggie Rogers or Chris Martin. Justin Vernon and Harry Styles are also right up there in my dreams.
Clique: Where do you hope to see your music career going in the future?
Emie: forwards hopefully! haha! I keep saying that i’ll aim high and then aim higher. Beyond that, I just want to be singing and making music for a really long time. Ideally I will be in a position to do that and to always keep growing.
Listen to Emie’s EP 'White Light' on Spotify here
