LA Indie-Pop Artist EMILY JAMES Shares the Graduation Anthem “Peach New Am” + Announces New EP Out 7/15
April 22, 2022 BY Jason Currell
Today, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Emily James announces her forthcoming EP Illuminate and shares the new single “Peach New Am.” The summery bop serves as an ode to Emily’s college life, meeting some of her best friends, and capturing that “freshman feeling.” “Peach New Am” is a graduation anthem for all graduates; past, present, and beyond. The pop track features alluring melodies with a clap-along, synth-textured beat. Listen to “Peach New Am” via all digital retailers (here).
mily opened up about what the song means to her: “I wrote this song for all of the incredible friends I’ve met at college over the past four years. I wasn’t always sure that I would go to college, but I’m so grateful that I did, in large part because of the people that I met there. We all graduated during the pandemic, and this song is dedicated to them, as a way of saying thank you; not only for making those four years so special and memorable but for being the best friends I could ask for.”
“Peach New Am” joins “Bird of Prey” and “Brooklyn” which will appear on her forthcoming EP Illuminate due out July 15th via Nettwerk.
LISTEN & SHARE “PEACH NEW AM”:
https://emilyjamesmusic.ffm.to/peachnewam
Emily James has been surrounded by music for as long as she can remember. Among the 22-year-old’s first memories are of her New York upbringing with her parents’ eclectic music collection. Spanning from Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder to musicals and folk music, all these early influences were quintessential to her story; nuanced and ever-evolving as the music the L.A.-based artist creates. Raised in a small town just north of New York City, Emily began her musical journey singing and taking piano lessons and, by the time she was ten, writing her own songs. In her early teens, Emily started performing around New York City and, soon after, began driving down to Nashville and gigging at venues throughout the Music City.Emily has come a long way both musically and geographically, having started her career in Nashville alongside powerhouse producers Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves) and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon). She established herself as a true songwriter whose music has continued to expand into many genres. As she’s matured, Emily’s soulful essence has taken center stage, capable of powerful, standout choruses that give way to tender inflections.
After Nashville, Emily felt the west coast calling and decided to expand her horizons by relocating to Los Angeles. Once in L.A., she gained the confidence to venture into self-producing. “I definitely attribute a lot of what I know about production from what I’ve picked up from the producers and engineers I’ve been fortunate enough to work with,” she says. Creating songs in her own bedroom instead of in a studio adds a level of introspection to her songs. “Being able to create in such a private, intimate space, and yet have limitless possibilities staring you straight in the face is, for me, a beautiful way to create. You get to eliminate any elements of self-consciousness and be totally free with your thoughts and ideas.”
Over the course of five EP releases, Emily has amassed 40M+ streams worldwide across streaming platforms. She’s developed her own sound and songwriting style that features nuanced production and an emotional vulnerability that complements her dynamic vocal range. Regarding her process, Emily states, “At the start, I write for myself. Once the song is done, it doesn’t even feel like I wrote it. It’s not mine anymore. It belongs to whoever is listening because they’re going to attach their own experiences to it. I like when people interpret my songs their own way. Even though I wrote the words about my own experience, however someone connects to it and relates it to their own life is completely valid. To me, that’s the beauty of music.”
Emily James truly steps into her own on her forthcoming EP, Illuminate, due out on July 15, 2022. Driven by textured, ethereal pop melodies and her enchanting vocals, the EP sees Emily branching out musically and diving into an entirely new realm of narrative depth. She’s compiled this next iteration over the past year, blending the intimate with the grandiose as she opens up about new relationships and tackles the uncertainties of life’s changes. Illuminate also features Emily’s production credits, with half of the songs written and produced solely by her.
EMILY JAMES IN THE PRESS…
“…charming and whimsical… Could she be the next Taylor Swift? We wouldn’t be surprised.”-American Songwriter
“…Emily James’ storytelling unveils a signature style…”-LadyGunn
“…talented and tenacious…”–Music Connection Magazine