22 Dec 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Emma G - Interview with Emma G

27 Sep 2018 // An interview by darryl baser

Emma Ghaemmaghamy has recently released her third studio single Superhero. Described as a straight-to-the-heart, raw and honest helping of acoustic rock, Superhero encourages audiences everywhere to choose love, compassion, and humanity, over racism, bigotry and conflict. Emma told Darryl from muzic.net.nz all about it:

How long have you been in the US and what prompted that move?

I moved to the States in May 2015 for a number of reasons;

1. I'd just gotten out of a toxic relationship and needed a change.

2. As much as I love New Zealand, I felt that I needed to grow and in order to do that, I needed to spread my wings and go back to the country that my mother grew up in to learn more about myself.

3. I knew that, in order to really make a go of my musical ambitions, I needed to increase my audience. My sound is relatively niche, so it made sense that in order to make a full time living from music, I needed to expand the number of people I could reach. America made sense.

4. I have a lot of extended family in America that I barely knew, and I wanted to! I needed to learn more about myself and my lineage.

5. The election in 2014 did not go as I had wanted, which made the decision to move even easier!

In saying all of that, I miss New Zealand, I miss my mum, my band Static Era, and I miss my friends, but I know I made the right decision for my growth, career and soul. Though, I'll be honest, many Americans REALLY do not understand some of the Kiwi quirks that I bring to my career.

What's your songwriting process?

It varies! Most of the time, I'll be messing around on the guitar or piano, and a melody will come to me out of the blue, but lately I've also been working off of titles that have come to me either through conversations with people, or things I've been reading. I have to be honest though, the more cluttered my brain or schedules are, the less creative I tend to be. This past summer has been HECTIC, so I'm looking forward to stepping back a bit over winter and getting back into songwriting!

What are your current projects?

I'm released my next single Superhero on September 29th, which I'm MAD excited about! It's been a long-time coming project, but finally, just in time for the midterms, it seems to be all coming into fruition. I've got several other singles coming out over the next few months (including my first ever commissioned song from a fantastic woman-owned, multimillion-dollar company (157th fastest growing in the entire country) called The Author Incubator. The song is called Together We Rise, and it's gorgeous. I'm really excited to release that next year! And of course, start working on my next album!! I've got a few other secret squirrel things going on as well, but... well, you'll see!

4 Where are you in the writing, recording, touring cycle?

I'm still gigging oodles here in DC, so have barely had time to do anything else! BUT I will be starting on my next album soon and am currently planning an East Coast tour in spring next year. So many things.

When were you in Aotearoa, and how did that go?

Practically a year ago EXACTLY today I landed in New Zealand! Well, mostly. I was a quarter way through my New Zealand tour (18 shows in 21 days!!) and having a blast. It was so good going home, playing music, catching up with friends and fans, and - most of all - seeing my mama on her 50th birthday.

Is your release through a label or entirely a self-release?

Totally self-released, so it's been a lot of learning! But I've got a growing solid support network, which has made things a lot easier, and learning about organizations such as CD Baby and TAXI music. There's a surprising amount of support for indie musicians here in DC.

Which bands did you listen to growing up, and conversely, who do you listen to now?

I'm really boring with music lately! I grew up listening to everything from Muddy Waters to Bone Thugs n Harmony to the Spice Girls and Iron Maiden. These days I get so busy with shows and writing that I barely get a chance to listen to music, and when I do it's generally pop songs that I want to learn for shows! The benefit of crossfit, however, is that I get to listen to whatever the coaches like, so this morning I was lifting to Black Sabbath, whereas yesterday it was Drake!

Where do see yourself in five years’ time?

Still doing music, but not busking so much... My business model is in transformation stage at the moment, so I'll be gigging a lot more, and releasing music, but the likelihood is I'll be writing more as well and doing more collaborative projects or... goodness. Who knows? I've got some pretty high goals, but I don't want to jinx myself just yet!

If there's anything else you'd like to say, go for it here....

Keep an eye out on my website for all information and updates, and if people want to support me from a distance while also getting exclusive sneaky peeks, check out www.patreon.com/emmagmusic

 

About Emma G

A combination of Adele and Pink, with Tracy Chapman as Godmother; Emma G describes her sound as soul pop-rock.

Musician, singer, songwriter, Emma G's sultry tones are punctuated with a gutsy quality that hammers home her messages of empowerment, love and respect.

After releasing eight singles, and successfully charting a number 10 album on the New Zealand Top 40 with her band, Static Era; Emma G moved to Washington DC from Auckland, New Zealand to pursue a solo career in music in November 2015. Working full time as a street performer, she also plays in various clubs, bars and community events throughout the city - and often far beyond. In the last year, she has played The Whitehouse, The Kennedy Center, The National Cherry Blossom-, and Smithsonian Folklife festivals, The Atlas Performing Arts Theater, toured California twice (including iconic music venues The Mint and The Viper Room), released two solo acoustic EP's, her debut studio single King for a Day, been featured three times on Fox5, in Washingtonian Magazine's "Best of DC" edition, and had some radio play.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Emma G

Releases

I Am
Year: 2022
Type: EP
Born In Crisis
Year: 2021
Type: Album
Unplugged
Year: 2020
Type: Album
Taking Flight
Year: 2018
Type: Album
A Taste of Emma G
Year: 2016
Type: EP
Live And Acoustic
Year: 2016
Type: EP

Other Interviews By darryl baser

WoLF - Interview: Who is WLF?
09 May 2022 // by darryl baser
In the very first issue of Muzic.net.
Read More...
Interview with Molly Devine
17 Sep 2020 // by darryl baser
With an impressive resume of singing with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and performing with the likes of Martin Phillips (The Chills), Shayne P Carter (Straightjacket Fits), Nadia Reid and Anthonie Tonnon,  Molly Devine is definitely one to watch for.Darryl Baser from Muzic.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - Interview with Vikae
12 Sep 2020 // by darryl baser
Originally born in Ukraine and seeking refuge in New Zealand post Chernobyl; classically trained musician VïKÆ has done a full 360 dance through the music sphere. Trained as an opera singer, she switched genres when she felt the need to create art that provokes thoughts, is catchy, exciting and fresh.
Read More...
Interview with Roonie
01 Jul 2020 // by darryl baser
New Pop artist Roonie, previously known as Michaela Pointon, is making lead-way with her electrifying writing about loneliness and love. She moved to Auckland in 2019 where she is studying, writing new songs and building a name for herself in the music scene.
Read More...
Captain Festus McBoyle's Travellin' Variety Show - Interview: Captain Festus McBoyle
20 Jul 2019 // by darryl baser
In his formative years Captain Festus McBoyle was a rock and roller known as Rich Manic, who performed in bands such as Runninghouse. These days however, he is the ringleader for a Vaudeville musical comedy Troupe from Auckland, Captain Festus McBoyle's Travellin' Variety Show.
Read More...
Interview: Crooked Royals
30 Jun 2019 // by darryl baser
Described as a band who have "musically hit the ball right out of the park" with their newest EP Rumination, Auckland five-piece Crooked Royals ability to craft songs with a combination of heavy and clean vocals mixed in with huge crushing riffs earned them a spot opening for London prog rock monsters Monument in Auckland earlier this year. Crooked Royals will also be supporting Polaris during their upcoming August tour in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Read More...
Interview: Molly Devine
10 Jun 2019 // by darryl baser
Molly Devine is a contemporary vocalist and songwriter based in Dunedin.She’s performed alongside some of the city’s rock royalty as well as fronting the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra in the Tally Ho series of concerts.
Read More...
Interview with Eyreton Hall
24 May 2019 // by darryl baser
Eyreton Hall have released their incredible new album Spaces today through Marigold Music. Darryl from Muzic.
Read More...
View All Articles By darryl baser

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem