Em

“Say What You Mean”

Em “Say What You Mean”

Everywhere she goes, singer/songwriter Em carries a ring on her finger
emblazoned with one word: Truth. This ring is a resounding symbol of her arrival
into knowledge of self as a young woman who has been a recording and
performing artist since the age of 12. Now in her `20s following stepping stone
periods with several high-profile producers and engineers, New Jersey-born Em
(short for Emily) is chiseling out musical and visual performance art that speaks
one hundred percent from her heart and spirit.

Em’s otherworldly 7-song project EM finds her collaborating with producer Chris
Young on a musical direction that is lyrically rich in self-empowerment missives
(particularly for women) and musically moves in a soulful pop direction, shades of
goth ascending. The mood-drenched material ranges from the hope-entrenched
“Dear Life” (about fortification of faith that came to her just before COVID-19
crisis hit) and the perseverance anthem “Even When It Hurts” (about getting up
when you’ve fallen) to the oasis of the tropically playful and lustful “Blue Light.”

The lead single of EM is the dynamic “Say What You Mean” which is being
presented with a sensually and supernaturally mesmerizing video helmed by
Parris Mayhew. Em is dressed in a provocative gown, her raven hair streaked in
white, deep red lipstick setting off bewitching green eyes and mystical elements
such as ghostly clones, tarot cards and raindrops that turn to tears.

“I feel the song is a universal message and represents the ethereal, emotional side
of my writing,” Em states. “I’m a huge romantic and 100% ‘in’ when I’m in a
relationship. ‘Say What You Mean’ is about wanting someone to love me with
every fiber of their being…to be as sure of our love as I am. My video is a little
reminiscent of Lana Del Rey in her storytelling and the way it portrays ‘The
Divine Feminine’ in a cinematic style – women of today but through a of `50s and
`60s lens. Sometimes we go through a relationship where we shrink ourselves
down for our partner but you wind up compromising so much that boundaries are
crossed. For example, the morals and ethics of relationships today have changed so
drastically. People say they’re ‘talking’ as opposed to ‘dating.’ The language is so
weird now – less and less genuine. That line of ‘boundary’ also extends to my
professional life as an artist – the honesty and confidence as well as the
vulnerability and strength to show what I will and will no longer tolerate.”
Returning to the evocatively conceptualized and expertly lensed video of Em in her
boudoir and wandering through her glass house visually captures the dichotomy of
a vulnerable woman longing to be wholly adored but taking no shit to achieve it.

“Music is a very spiritual experience for me,” she continues. “The raindrops
represent teardrops and renewal – a cleansing of the spirit and what you won’t
tolerate in your aura and around you. The tarot card is the High Priestess – a very
feminine card representing women’s intuition…what we feel and what’s not being
said. It’s knowing the truth deep down. The strength of that card is to rise above the
state of confusion and gaining strength.”

Em’s previous EP, Pathway to Aetheria, was also produced in Manhattan by Chris
Young, only at that time she was pursuing a musical direction she describes as
“indie-world.” Her capriciousness in the past was the twin result of her being so
openly influenced by artists of varying genres and the old familiar scenario of her
producers steering her toward styles that were already working for other young
female singers. Em has absorbed the works of artists ranging from progressive
females through the ages such as Carly Simon, Stevie Nicks, Alanis Morissette and
P!nk to introspective male writer/performers such as Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder,
Don Henley and Michael Jackson. She’s even found some kinship with R&B artist
Drake – all leading her into exciting realms of expression that have fascinated her
since she was a child.

At age 4, little Emily was taken by her grandparents to experience a dazzling
concert by Britney Spears. Eight years later at age 12, she found herself at
Westlake Recording studio in Los Angeles with engineer Andy Ditaranto (of
Disney fame) singing on the exact microphone in Studio C that Britney had
recorded hits on. Though her father, a very conservative physician (now deceased),
pushed her to pursue a traditional college education, her mother – once a jewelry
designer who gave up her art for marriage – instilled in Em not to follow in her
footsteps in that way but to go for her dreams with all the passion she had inside
her. Em and Ditaranto worked together for six years until his passing in 2014
which left Em stranded, unfinished and unsure of herself.

Over the next several years, Em worked on scores of songs with producers and
engineers including Tony Papa (Willie Nelson, James Brown, “Weird Al”
Yankovic). Then a connection with Chris Young resulted in several songs leading
to a breakthrough composition entitled “Grace.” This inspired a sojourn and
sabbatical to Woodstock in upstate New York where Em’s songs began to take on a
more mature sound and sense of purpose, recalling the voices of strong women
from before Em’s time in the `50s, `60s and `70s. “Woodstock proved to be a very
magical place,” Em marvels. “We’d ask for something and the next day…it would
manifest. I’ve been writing since I was 16 but I never had an experience like that –
a time that was my college.” Em also made key performances at World Café Live’s
“Love Fest” in “Philly Rising” series (2017-18) and was elected twice to perform
at Durango Songwriter’s Expo.

Already preparing her next album, EMbrace: Heaven on Earth, Em will be
working with former Motown songwriter/producer Michael B. Sutton (Michael
Jackson, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson). Em has also found a collaborator she
considers to be her artistic soulmate: Gregor Stobie who resides in Glasgow,
Scotland and is in the same mid-`20s age range as Em. “We’re on the same
wavelength,” Em enthuses. “We do international calls and are so connected. I can
say something totally abstract and he will completely understand it – totally get it!
It’s like he can go inside my mind and we totally read each other. I don’t play an
instrument…but I can sing a whole song to him then we break it down and make
something that doesn’t sound like anything else out there. We’ve already written a
song entitled “Talk to Me” – about bringing your lover up to a heavenly realm then
bringing that Heaven down to Earth. Heaven can be had on Earth if we get closer
to God, to each other and living the way God intended – fruitfully with love,
compassion, kindness, patience, appreciation and hope. Those messages play a
large part of EMbrace: Heaven on Earth.”

“Anytime I am writing and anytime I am in the booth recording, I know beyond
the shadow of a doubt that this is the destiny of what I was put here on Earth to
do,” Em concludes. “My mission is to help people heal and feel connected – closer
to God and their truth.”