Swedish-raised, Berlin-based musician Emma Elizabeth is destined to be your next obsession. Driven and witty, Emma gives us a taste of what Penny Lane from Almost Famous music would sound like. Describing her music as a “90’s road trip western movie”, Emma proves that her music is meant to be listened to on long Nevada desert roads while the sun is going down.
Clash magazine describes her debut EP as “Unfurling with a gentle jangle, the crisp, spring-fresh songwriting can’t fail to get under your skin”. Emma would perfectly fit into your playlist right under Fleetwood Mac, Angel Olsen and We Are Scientists.
Emma Elisabeth is scheduled to perform at the next Basement Bash on December 6th, which will exclusively feature female-fronted bands and artists.
indieBerlin: How did you come up with the name Emma Elisabeth?
Emma Elisabeth: Actually my parents did. It’s the name I was given. And I feel like my music is about completely uncovering myself, pouring my heart out, so I chose to go with that.
indieBerlin: How does the songwriting process work for you?
Emma Elisabeth: I visualize songs in my head. sometimes I can hear exactly what it’ll be like before starting to work on it. And then I try to create that vision. But it always works differently for me. I gather little ideas whenever they come to me, write them down, record them on my phone. And when inspiration hits me I sit down for days and just work non stop, go through all of these little ideas and work on them. I also love sitting with sounds, coming up with a guitar riff or chord progression, or a synth sound that then triggers ideas for melodies. However I also enjoy sitting down at the good ol’ piano, writing songs that way, it turns out quite differently since the tone of the instrument give you a different kind of vibe.
indieberlin: If your music was a movie, which genre would it be?
Emma Elisabeth: Maybe a 90’s road trip western movie starring Bill Murray and Drew Barrymore. Directed by Jim Jarmusch.
indieberlin: Tell us a secret about yourself.
Emma Elisabeth: When I wear glasses I look like Garth from Wayne’s world.
indieberlin: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Emma Elisabeth: From all over the place. Conversations I have with my friends and with strangers, personal issues, cheesecake, heartbreak, things I go through, other people’s personal experiences, films, reading books, dreams, traveling to inspiring cities, the ocean, outer space, questioning things, you know, the general confusion that is life.
indieBerlin: What music do you listen to when you’re touring?
Emma Elisabeth: Thelast trip we did, it was a lot of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. The kind of stuff you can howl along to in the car.
indieBerlin: What was the last concert you went to?
Emma Elisabeth: I went to the Synästhesie Festival in Berlin and saw Tangerine Dream and The Horrors at Volksbühne.
indieBerlin: What was the nicest compliment you once got?
Emma Elisabeth: “You have quite the Brazilian ass for a Swedish girl”.
indieBerlin: How do you feel about covering a song?
Emma Elisabeth: I love it. But only when it’s a song that I feel personally very connected to. You can learn a lot from it actually. I’ve been playing Steppenwolf and Black Sabbath, did some stripped down haunting versions of 70’s metal songs, and it was so much fun.
indieBerlin: Do you see your songs in colour or in black and white?
Emma Elisabeth: Vivid colour. I can see how they have switched from the kind of green to a more indigo color with the new album I’ve been working on.
Catch Emma Elisabeth and two more bands on the 6th of Dec. at the next Basement Bash @ Marie Antoinette, entry is only 5euro.
FREE TICKETS: the First reader to send an e-mail will get a free ticket and a +1 to the event.
