Emma Andersen’s debut EP, “I’ll Be Alright” releases April 4. “This EP is a little diary of the past two years,” Andersen said. Her music tenderly picks up the pieces of her shattered heart and stitches it back together with threads of vulnerability and strength.
Initially, it was difficult for her to title her E. Anderson said, “I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what connects allthe songs.” In the end, the heartstring that connected the songs together was her resiliency.
The six tracks on the singer-songwriter’s new EP broke straight out of her heart, and it contains some of the first songs she’s ever written. The final track on the EP, “Irene” was the first song she wrote. “Irene” is particularly dear to Andersen, “My grandmother used to sing ‘Goodnight Irene’ to me every night.” Seeing her grandmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s impassioned Andersen to open herself up to songwriting for the first time.
“I’ll Be Alright” showcases Andersen’s ability to peel herself open to her audience. The emotion is raw, but her music is refined. She challenges herself to explore music in new ways by trying out new genres and flowing her creativity through different frameworks. She describes her music as “indie, folk and pop.” She takes inspiration from the natural beauty of her hometown of Bend, Ore., especially in her song “I Don’t Want to Go Out.” She transports her audience to Bend’s mountains and rivers as a way to encapsulate what it’s like when she feels at home with someone.
Her songwriting process begins with moments of reflection on her own experiences. Andersen writes ideas down in her notes app, so she is never without it when inspiration strikes. She revealed that she often begins with a lyric she loves and builds her songs from there, working her guitar in as she goes.
She believes in the importance of keeping her music true to her own experiences. She said, “If you sing songs about things you haven’t been through, I don’t think there’s any way to connect with your audience genuinely.” She aims toachieve the authenticity and raw vulnerability of the artists she looks up to. Right now, Andersen is listening to Aubory Bugg’s new EP “muscle memory” and single “hunting days” by Khatumu. Her all-time favorite album is “Songs from the Valley” by John Vincent III.
A sophomore at Belmont University, Andersen is a double major in music business and songwriting. The small private university in Nashville, Tenn. is well known for being a hub of musical artistry. Belmont’s famous alumni include industry superstars like Trisha Yearwood and Brad Paisley. Andersen says she doesn’t feel like today’sstudents are being compared to these famous alumni. “You can follow the exact same path as someone and still not achieve what they did,” she said, “or you can do things completely different and make your own path.”
Competition among students, however, can be challenging. Despite the competitive atmosphere, Andersen believes in going with the flow. “I always talk about this with my roommates, that comparison is the thief of joy,” Andersen said. She is appreciative of where she is in her career and looks forward to where it will take her from here.
Andersen’s a “softie at heart,” and expressed that her “lovely fans” mean the world to her. She also expressed great appreciation for the producer of “I’ll Be Alright,” Tyler Neil Johnson.
Keep an eye out for news from Anderson in the coming months. She revealed she has plans to drop five new songs in the five months following her EP’s release. If you still can’t get enough of her, you’re in luck. She is already writing new songs with a second EP in mind.
