If you’ve been waiting on the edge of your seat for radio to deliver a fresh new artist who wasn’t made for TV, writes smart lyrics for smart girls, knows her way around a harmony, and infuses her music with a cheerful charm you won’t hear anywhere else, then you’ve been waiting for singer-songwriter Emma Kate.
While audiences in New York and Los Angeles have been wow’ed by her performances at clubs on both coasts, Emma has been entertaining people in one form or another since she was a child. Luckily for pop radio, she’s decided to focus all her energy on her music, moving full speed ahead with her just-try-and-get-it-out-of-your-head new single “Neon Yellow Hearts.” Summer, your ear candy is here.
Emma Kate is one of five children, born into a loving but (her words) “tone deaf” family in New York City. Even her twin sister is rhythm-less, like the rest of the clan, but Emma was different. “When my sister and I were in our double stroller, she’d be throwing a fit and I was told I’d just sit calmly and hum a song to myself. It didn’t matter what kind of chaos was happening in our house – and in a big family, there was a lot – I could always soothe myself with music.”
Emma’s grandmother was an off-Broadway performer, and her mother used to write rock operas in high school for fun, but none of her siblings were bitten by the performance bug like she was. A grade-school obsession with Britney Spears led to an interest in dancing, and at age 12, she tried out for a spot as a New Jersey Nets Junior Dancer. “I wasn’t the most trained dancer on the team, but I was so enthusiastic about being part of the squad that I’d get everyone else hyped up!”
Two things happened in rapid succession for Emma to realize music was a path she needed to follow; 1) Her school choir, which she was a part of, got to sing the National Anthem at a New York Mets game at Citifield each year. A teacher at Emma’s school passed along a CD of just Emma singing, and she was selected to perform “God Bless America” at the first Mets home game after the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The Mets were playing their rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, the stadium was PACKED and it was pouring rain, but during the seventh inning, Emma came out and stunned the crowd with her beautiful rendition. 2) For her 17th birthday, her parents gift to her was Studio time, where she cut seven cover songs, capturing the attention of singer Matt White (“Best Days”), who asked her to sing backing vocals on one of his tracks.
After Emma sang on Matt’s “Taking on Water” off his album “It’s the Good Crazy,” he went on to produce two tracks for her, which they co-wrote together. In Los Angeles, Matt introduced her to Producer Jimmy Messer (Kelly Clarkson, Neon Trees), who ended up writing two more songs with Emma. Even though she was only a junior in High School, she was so dedicated to her craft that from then on, she spent the last two years of High School flying back and forth to California, meeting different people and honing her sound.
Aaron Kamin, former guitarist for The Calling (“Wherever You Will Go”), was one such introduction. Hitting it off right away, they now have a strong musical partnership, co-writing all of the tracks Emma is working on, with Aaron producing. “A typical day for us would be to meet at the Studio at noon and have lunch. Over lunch, we’d talk a lot, and from those talks, a song would emerge from the ideas we would throw back and forth. We’d go and start recording; at times it would be super-easy, and Aaron would put down a guitar track and I’d sing over it. Other times we’d be stuck on a bridge for a song, so we’d take a break and come up with a totally different, and often better, track. Sometimes I get too in my own head when I am trying to say something creatively, but then I realize people wouldn’t understand my nuance. Aaron has helped me navigate that.”
Whatever they’re doing, it works. Emma’s EP shows off several hook-laden pop tracks, with a heavy focus on positivity. When listening to her music, Emma’s natural exuberance practically jumps out of the speakers. “I love music that make people want to dance, and smile, and have a good time.” All of Emma’s songs tell a story, from the radio-friendly first single “Neon Yellow Hearts,” which details a high school gang’s last night before going their separate ways after graduation, to the winsome love song “Last Kiss,” a song about being able to say goodbye to an ex while still remaining in their life. “Summer Kinda” is an upbeat track about the ultimate summer fling, and the get up-on-your-feet-and-dance “Wildfire” is Emma’s female empowerment song, celebrating strong women who don’t need a man to have a great time. “If you think you’re awesome, other people will pick up on that too. Young women get so down on themselves, I hope my music inspires people to feel happy and carefree.”
In addition to her songwriting, Emma is very involved in actress Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation, which helps victims of domestic violence as well as raises money for Rape Kit testing. “As a woman, this is a charity that’s really important to me. It doesn’t matter what you look like, what you’re wearing, what you’re drinking…no one is asking to be assaulted.” Emma also supports Only Make Believe, a charity run by Broadway actors and actresses who visit terminally ill children. Arriving with a trunk full of costumes, they help the children dress up and allow the kids to be someone else, someone who isn’t sick, for a few hours.
Clearly, connecting with people is high on Emma’s TO DO LIST. She is proud of the songs she has written; especially since she hopes her music reaches through to the young females who listen. “Music, more than anything, is something anyone can have access to. It brings people together in a way that can inspire you, comfort you, challenge you, and energize you. I love that some girl may be feeling down, and after listening to one of my songs she feels more confident. It brings me so much joy knowing I can do something that powerful for someone in three minutes and 30 seconds.”