Bourgeoning pop powerhouse Emilia Tarrant continues to ponder the complexities of life and Relationships with the release of her captivating new EP, “When It Was Chaotic”.
Made up of 5 soul barring tracks, the exquisite collection sees the rising singer/songwriter team up industry heavyweights, including GRAMMY nominated producer Will Hicks (Ed Sheeran), Lewis Gardiner (Ellie Goulding), Kingdoms (JP Cooper) and Charlie Thomas (Little Mix), to produce an emotionally poignant body of work that is sure to resonate with fans both old and new.
Following the unveiling of her debut single “If You Want Love” (a song originally recorded by American rapper NF) back in 2021, Emilia Tarrant has gone on to enjoy quite the recording career so far!
Winning praise and critical acclaim from the likes of Notion, Wonderland, The Line of Best Fit, CLOUT, and POPMUZIK, 21-year-old Tarrant has seen her music gain national support from BBC Radio 1, and receive continuous syncs across some of the nations most loved TV shows (most notably during the last summer series of Love Island). In 2022, after being awarded BBC Introducing Solent Record of the Week, Emilia was invited to perform at the legendary Glastonbury Festival where she delighted audiences with live renditions of songs featured on her debut EP “Honeymoon Phase”.
To celebrate the release of “When It Was Chaotic” we caught up with Emilia to talk her artistic evolution, collaborating with a plethora of industry heavyweights, dealing with criticism and how she musters the inner strength to always be so open and honest in song…
Your EP “When It Was Chaotic” is your first new musical release in nearly 2 years – how would you say you’ve changed and evolved as an artist in that time?
It’s funny you ask, because “When It Was Chaotic” EP feels like a real coming of age project for me! I’ve grown SO much since my debut, and have really evolved with my songwriting too. I guess that’s down to the incredible experiences I’ve had, and the people I’ve been working with, who I love!
From your own perspective, what do these songs mean to you, and how do you hope they make others feel when listening?
What I love about this EP is that it’s a collection of 5 songs, that are each based on completely individual topics – love, mental health, and friendships. All my songs are individually meaningful to me, as I write them from personal experiences and emotions, so my biggest hope with this project is that people feel as though they can relate to what I’m singing about.
As you say, so much of the material written for this project has been inspired by your real life relationships, as well as some of the singular experiences you’ve evolved and grown through in recent times, at what point are you able to detach yourself from your reality so that you don’t become consumed emotionally by the subject matter you’re writing about?
I think when I’m in the moment of writing the song, I find it easy to tune into my emotions, but not let them consume me, so that I can focus on writing a good song! But also, a lot of the subject matter comes from wanting to get certain emotions or thoughts off my chest, which personally really helps me move on from them. It’s really therapeutic! So I guess I work the other way round, where writing the song helps me move on, and become less consumed in my personal life.
To show any sort of emotional weakness, or vulnerability takes real courage – how do you find the inner strength to be so open and honest in song?
I’ve always found it easy to speak openly about how I feel, and to be honest, a lot of the time find it hard to keep things that are affecting me to myself! I’m someone who loves to rant about things for 5 minutes, and then can move on from them. So I guess that’s why writing 3 minute songs, with lyrics that perfectly sum up how I feel, works so well for me!
Is there a sense of personal liberation that comes from writing such meaningful lyrics, and then releasing them out into the world?
Definitely! It’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders. My favourite thing about it is when people connect to the lyrics though, because then the song is not only therapeutic for me, but hopefully for them too.
Which tracks, if any, do you feel best represent who you are as a musician and performer?
I think my most recent releases “Another Life” and “Best Friend Heartbreak” feel the most ‘me’, especially as they return me to my piano roots! But the more upbeat songs, like “Slow Motion” are definitely the most fun to play live with the band. That adrenaline rush is like no other!
You’ve worked with some incredible writers and producers on this project – how did you find collaborating with people like Will Hicks and Kingdoms, and what part did they play in helping you to bring your creative visions to life?
Working with so many talented and experienced producers and writers has been so fun. They each contributed to the growth of my sound and writing style, and have been so amazing helping me navigate the pop world too, whilst still keeping my music unique to me.
Because this music is so incredibly personal, and clearly written from the heart, how do you feel / cope with reading reviews and receiving feedback from both fans and critics?
When it comes to feedback, I try and separate the release from my emotional side and frame it more as work to avoid stress! It’s definitely tough sometimes, but I also appreciate that some music tastes just aren’t the same as others!
This past year has been incredible for you in terms of broadening your fanbase and sharing your music with new audiences, what have been some of your highlights?
It’s been a whirlwind. I’ve absolutely loved it, and last year was such a high; I was invited to play Glastonbury (what!?), had my first Radio 1 play (ahhhhh) and it sounds silly, but even getting verified on Instagram was such a shocking, cool moment. They all made me feel as though I wasn’t just the girl next door anymore, and that all my hard work was starting to pay off! It all still feels so surreal to be honest.
As we approach summer 2023, what we can expect to see from you over the next few months?
Even more music.. I’m already working on my next project, so new releases will be coming sooner than you think!
“When It Was Chaotic” is available to download / stream now