Emily James Releases Her Coming-of-Age Tale ‘Summer Nostalgia’

Today, New York-based singer-songwriter Emily James releases her coming-of-age concept EP, Summer Nostalgia, which tells a story of adolescence and young love. It’s a story about the formative years that sometimes seem trivial, but in reality, they leave a lasting impression on the rest of our lives. 

Emily’s inspiration for Summer Nostalgia poured out as she prepared to leave Los Angeles (where she had lived for the past seven years), to spend some time writing and recording in London. She now resides in Brooklyn, New York. “I missed the changing of seasons,” Emily says of her decision to move back to New York, where she’s originally from. “I like to be able to move around on my own. There are a lot of similarities between New York and London, and having spent time there made me even more nostalgic for New York. This EP is about reflecting on your past, growing up, and reconnecting with those roots.”

A dreamy six-track collection, Summer Nostalgia is Emily’s most intimate project yet. It moves from ruminating slow ballads to euphoric pop jams while telling a story of two people reconnecting after years of distance. “My intention with the EP is to make it feel like you’re watching a movie,” Emily adds. “It starts out with this ‘once-upon-a-time’ feel with the first song (Suburbia), kind of laying out the story for the listener. It then zooms into these little vignettes in ‘Under the Influence’ and ‘Underdog,’ then zooms out and in again, all while the two characters are growing up over the course of the EP. It’s something I’d never done before, having this interweaving timeline and story running through the project. I wanted it to emulate the fragmented and non-linear nature of memory.” 

WATCH & SHARE EMILY JAMES “PICTURE IT” VISUALIZER HERE:
https://youtu.be/fvY5LcQYPcM

WATCH & SHARE EMILY JAMES “SUNBURN” VISUALIZER HERE:
https://youtu.be/dm96WV5QvNI

There’s no feeling quite like first love. Most will not last beyond adolescence or young adulthood, but the bittersweet sensations and coming-of-age impressions tend to stick around. In nostalgic moments, it’s all too easy to sink back into the memories of that time and parse out what you might have done differently if only you knew then what you know now. Singer-songwriter Emily James effortlessly captures this poignant rearview look on her intensely personal new EP, Summer Nostalgia, out now via Nettwerk Music Group.

Throughout her career, Emily has found ways to connect to the very essence of what makes us human. Songs like “Brooklyn” and “Cannonball” capture the euphoric feeling of adventure and new love, while “London” and “Song for Bryan” tackle the nuances of heartbreak. In last year’s double EP, The aLtErNaTeS Part 1 and 2, Emily began exploring the deep complexities of what it means to be in love and the healing journey that comes after loss. Her songwriting has taken on a life of its own as she continues to blossom into one of today’s most honest storytellers. Summer Nostalgia feels like a continuation of that growth, catapulting Emily into a world-building artist in her own right.  

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After supporting Donovan Woods on his West Coast run, Emily is thrilled to be joining Amistat and Joshua Radin across the U.S. and Canada this fall, making stops in Toronto, Montreal, Brooklyn, Chicago, Austin, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Bend, and Portland. Find the full list of dates below, and for more information, visit: https://www.emilyjames.net/. 

EMILY JAMES 2025 TOUR DATES:

9/3 – Toronto, ON @ Longboat Hall ^

9/4 – Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre ^

9/6 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg ^ 

9/8 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas ^ 

9/11 – Austin, TX @ Ten At ACL ^ 

9/12 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird ^ 

9/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour ^ 

9/16 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord ^ 

9/18 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s ^ 

9/19 – Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre ^ 

11/16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel *

11/18 – Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door *

11/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door * 

11/20 – Bend, OR @ Volcanic Theatre Pub *

11/21 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater *

^ Supporting Amistat

* Supporting Joshua Radin

EMILY JAMES IN THE PRESS

“…Could she be the next Taylor Swift? We wouldn’t be surprised…”

– American Songwriter

“The lyrics beautifully capture the essence of youthful innocence and the bittersweet nature of first love.”

– LADYGUNN

“Singer-songwriter Emily James knows a thing or two about crafting the perfect emotional tune—This gal’s got a knack for channeling her irl heartbreak into the realest, rawest music.”

– Girl’s Life Magazine

“Vulnerability and heartbreak are two emotions that teenagers are all too familiar with… singer-songwriter Emily James, however, turns this into her superpower… she successfully uses her own experiences to create music, helping and connecting with young audiences.”

– The Teen Magazine

“…dynamic and heartfelt…”

– Luna Collective

“Emily’s dynamic musical arrangements and thoughtful lyricism take the listener on a raw, emotive journey.”

– Outloud Culture

“…stunning voice and impactful lyricism…”
– Sweety High