LA-based Singer-Songwriter Emily James Releases New EP ‘Grey’
June 23, 2023 BY Jason Currell
Today, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Emily James releases her new EP Grey, a six-song collection that chronicles her journey to self-acceptance and self-love. Born out of a ‘grey’ time in her life, Emily carefully combined anthemic indie-pop tracks such as “Think I’m Gonna Make It” and “Happy For Me,” and sentimental singer-songwriter offerings like “Lovely Enough” and “New Name To Heartbreak” to sonically reflect the state of uncertainty out of which the project was born. Ultimately, Grey sees Emily immersed in a newfound vibrancy as she escapes the in-between and comes into her own.
Along with the EP today, Emily’s also unveiled the flashy music video for “Think I’m Gonna Make It,” an ebullient track centered on self-love, empowerment, and embracing independence after the end of a relationship, allowing herself to thrive in the absence of her ex-love.
STREAM & SHARE “THINK I’M GONNA MAKE IT”:
https://youtu.be/7mxM-iccAj0
Revealing the meaning behind the title Grey, Emily says, “The songs on the EP were born out of a very ‘grey’ time in my life, and are grounded in a state of uncertainty. I was feeling uncertain about how people felt about me, uncertain about the relationship I was in, and uncertain about how I felt about myself. For me, the color grey represents all of those emotions; not quite light, not quite dark, just some sort of messy blend between black and white.”
The artist likens the title to an overcast sky; one that leaves you unsure of whether it’s about to start raining or pass over quickly and clear up into blue skies. “It’s feeling so much at once that you end up just going numb. It’s the grey area you find yourself in when you feel like you’ve lost yourself’” she says.
Fortunately, Emily James has found a bit of closure with the release of Grey and says, “This EP helped me work through those in-between emotions that were so much more difficult for me to decipher than simply feeling sad or angry. I’m now finding myself moving out of that grey space and into a much more vibrant existence.”
In 2022, Emily released her acclaimed Nettwerk debut, Illuminate, and was named an Artist to Watch in 2023 by Atwood Magazine.
Tour Dates
w/ The Ballroom Thieves
June 23 Evanston, IL – SPACE
June 24 Cleveland, OH – Mahall’s 20 Lanes
June 25 Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
‘GREY’ EP
Tracklist:
1. Lovely Enough
2. Past Tense
3. For an Evening
4. Think I’m Gonna Make It
5. New Name to Heartbreak
6. Happy for Me
EMILY JAMES IN THE PRESS
“…Could she be the next Taylor Swift? We wouldn’t be surprised…”
– American Songwriter
“…an intimate fresh take on a summertime love story — meshing Emily’s eloquent songwriting, soothing voice, and warm acoustics and synths together to create a luxuriant soundscape.”
– Early Rising
“…Emily James’ storytelling unveils a signature style…”
– LadyGunn
“Artist of the Week”
– Ones to Watch
“…James explores a new realm of narrative depth with textured, ethereal pop melodies and her enchanting vocals…”
– PopWrapped
“…stunning voice and impactful lyricism…”
– Sweety High
“We’re sure that before too long, the whole world will be talking about Emily James because her talent and creativity are never-ending.”
– The Honey Pop
ABOUT EMILY JAMES
LA-based singer-songwriter Emily James has come a long way – both musically and geographically – since the start of her career. In her early teens, Emily began sharing her original music publicly at open mics in the New York area and, soon after, in Nashville where she would make regular trips to gig at venues throughout the Music City. She eventually went on to spend two years there, working alongside powerhouse producers Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves) and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon) to record her debut EP, the self-titled, Emily James.
After Nashville, Emily relocated to Los Angeles where she would start to self-produce from her bedroom and release a number of independent projects while also a student at UCLA. After graduating, Emily signed with Nettwerk Music Group and released her acclaimed EP, Illuminate, in July 2022, which includes standout singles “Brooklyn” and “Cannonball.”
Now with new music on the horizon, Emily James continues to prove her range and versatility as an artist, oscillating between synth-laden indie-pop tracks and vulnerable ballads that place her soulful essence and sheer talent as a singer-songwriter at the forefront.
