22 Dec 2024
UsernamePassword

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

Em - EP Review: Cloud City

10 Dec 2023 // A review by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo

Emily Wheatcroft-Snape AKA Em is a singer songwriter, recording and mix engineer from Tamaki Makaurau. Her career thus far flaunts some serious musicality, working industriously towards her unique goals as an artist. She releases solo music projects, experimenting with her own production and sound. This month we’re taking a dive into her new 3-track EP Cloud City!

Em comes with solid music industry experience, having worked at MAINZ as an Audio Tutor, as well as linking up with local and international artists and producers such as Fazerdaze, Te Kaahu, Malay, Tom Healy, Simon Gooding and more. Em completed a Bachelor’s in Audio Engineering, before unmasking her techniques at Roundhead Studios, Parachute Studios and Big Fan studios. As a sought-out artist, Em has developed a sense of style, flavour and adaptability which will no doubt evolve with her talents and identity. Em explores this theme brilliantly in her works, writing about being with the self, discovering who you are, delving and then excavating through love and lonesomeness, as well as producing calm and introspective tracks for rainy days. The energy of this EP reflects that of a jaded traveller; searching through cities, soundscapes and weather forecasts to find meaning.

Single Girl Era is a dainty track for an appreciation of being single, having fun and embracing this stage in life. It’s a uniquely built track with soft tonality, and delicate vocals that are not quite raspy, but also not quite clean either. Her voice suits the humble explorations she writes about, and the production skills are elegant and complementary to her writing.

Night Out is about a ‘lonely dreamer’ wandering the crowds; not looking but being looked out for. Keeping a low profile is a mood, and this song glorifies it. The keys, mixed with smooth vocal layers and nimble little guitar licks makeup for a fun track to swerve to after dark.

Cloud City for me depicts a person sitting at the window sill, mulling over the presence of a storm. It contemplates the dull weather, while being closely aware of the greyness and the timidness; harnessing its energy to write… Em’s perspective and moods in this track can be easily resonated with. I like the fading vocals, and the dreamy yet joyousness of the song.

I enjoyed her choice of instruments and production techniques throughout the whole EP. Overall, a great and worthwhile listen! I urge you to give Em a go, as you’ll be seeing her in your midst this coming year! I’ve gained a strong sense of appreciation for her style and self-expression, and I’d recommend visiting her streaming sites to find a song for you. Cloud City is a gratifying and tranquil account of an artist; an EP to sit and enjoy from different angles.

 

About Em

Emily Wheatcroft-Snape is a recording and mix engineer from Auckland, New Zealand. Emily graduated a Bachelor of Audio Engineering and Music Production at MAINZ in 2017 before developing her studio craft at Roundhead Studios. Emily now works as a freelance recording, mixing, and mastering engineer. Recent clients include Louisa Nicklin, Fazerdaze, Shoeless, Arahi, Sig Wilder, Live Music Bar with Sports Team, and Karl Steven.

You can spot Emily on the cover of the December/January 2024 issue of NZ Musician, and she was nominated for Best Engineer at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards.

In 2022 Emily launched the Record Enable initiative to help women and non-binary people create sustainable careers as audio engineers and music producers in Aotearoa. Additionally, Emily has her own music project Em which she uses as a creative outlet to experiment with new production ideas and techniques.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Em

Releases

Phases
Year: 2024
Type: Album
Tender
Year: 2023
Type: EP
Cloud City
Year: 2023
Type: EP

Other Reviews By Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo

AvonRose - EP Review: Gruno
18 Dec 2024 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Gruno is the new 9-track EP by AvonRose, and it's nothing short of a heavy music masterpiece. I stumbled upon this band while hunting for a dark, doom metal vibe, and boy, did they deliver!
Read More...
Meff Zexx - EP Review: Tahi
19 Nov 2024 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Meff Zexx is an experimental duo from Wellington that melds minimalism, post-rock, ambient, black metal, and stoner rock into their own sound. They recently performed at Valhalla this past October and have released a new two-track EP titled Tahi.
Read More...
Banana Mundo - EP Review: Intercultural Appreciation Day
23 Apr 2024 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Banana Mundo are a collective band situated in New Plymouth (West Coast NZ) and hailing from various places around the world. The band comprises members from Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, France, Switzerland and New Zealand.
Read More...
No Life - EP Review: Delinquent
28 Aug 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
No Life returned to us with a 6-track EP. Band members DJ Fieldes, Mitch Blair, Connor Dickson and Kahi Bettridge have found gold with Delinquent.
Read More...
The Transits - Single/Video Review: Renegade Hearts
26 Jun 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
The Transits are a NZ-South African band composed of Ryan Lunn (vocals, guitars, synths), Dom Antelme (vocals, bass) and Tyrone Smith (drums). Growing up in conservative South-African landscapes, their sound is thought to push the boundaries of how to be, and how to act.
Read More...
YAHYAH - Single/Video Review: Go
03 Apr 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Up and coming artist YAHYAH released her new single and video Go with nearly 7,000 streams on Spotify so far! She’s an electro-pop goddess from Aotearoa, hoping to make her entry to the big world of music.
Read More...
Gig Review: Lorde @ The Outer Fields, Western Springs - 04/03/2023
07 Mar 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Blue skies filled the days prior to the Lorde gig; the Solar Power tour had the sun visible and candescent. On March 4th in Western Springs, Tamaki Makaurau had not seen Lorde here for years, and some fans had even had their ticket waiting since 2021, when this third studio album was released.
Read More...
WoLF - Single Review: Underachiever
17 Feb 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
WoLF is a solo project (Aaron Hogg) with over 25 years' experience as a vocalist, guitarist and bassist. Having a lot of tour and show experience, WoLF is an accomplished artist with international acts and festivals under his belt.
Read More...
View All Articles By Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo

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