Apr 17

Apr 17 INTERVIEW: EMMMA on tapping heartbreak to create her new single 'Cut The Breaks': "I think as a woman you're always expected to make yourself smaller in order to be more palatable"

Published: 17 April 2025

US born, UK based rising new star EMMMA has recently released the single ‘Cut The Breaks’, her first new music since launching her debut EP Secondary Character last November.

Written by EMMMA with the song’s producer Paul Whalley (Grace Davies, Nina Nesbitt), ‘Cut The Breaks’ is a moody, atmospheric synth ballad that contrasts heartbreaking lyrics with a shimmering synth foundation and a primal drum beat.

EMMMA’s gorgeous vocal perfectly conveys the emotion contained in the lyrics inspired by the breakup of her long term relationship. It is not a bitter or angry take, but explores how what was once the previously mundane aspects of life take on a new, more painful aspect once a relationship ends. ‘I didn’t get to say I wish you well / And I’m so sorry / I never got to thank your mom / And tell her not to worry,’ she sings.

“This song is about my breakup with my long-term partner in December and how sometimes I’m going about my life and then these feelings of regret and missing and worry hit me like a ton of bricks, like did I make the right choice leaving this person I’ve loved for such a long time, like someone cut the brakes. Also how odd it is that someone can go from your best friend to a total stranger in one day with one choice like losing a limb,” EMMMA says.

EMMMA has been a musical prodigy since the age of two when she first picked up a violin. She went on to learn the piano and perform in musical theatre before gaining valuable experience as part of Alex Sasha Sloan’s live band. She dropped her debut single ‘Playing It Safe’ in August last year, with her debut EP Secondary Character released three months later.

EMMMA’s music is a skilful mix of pop, synth, electronica and rock,. blending the genres in a way where the influence is clear but the end results makes it impossible to pigeon hole the song into any one genre box. A rising star with the voice, charisma and inherent brilliance at making the kind of pop music that truly excites, EMMMA is an artist to watch closely in the coming years. We recently caught up with her to chat all about the creation of ‘Cut The Breaks’ and her music career to date.

Hi EMMMA! Thanks for carving out the time to speak with us, How is life with you at the moment?
Hi! So happy to be chatting. Life is going well right now, I've just moved countries and am adjusting to my new life in the UK. It has been so gorgeously sunny out this week so I've just been walking around and eating lots of delicious food!

You have recently released your new single ‘Cut The Breaks’ and have said the song is about the breakup of your long term relationship at the end of last year. I imagine writing and singing this song must be a mix of traumatic and completely cathartic at the same time?
Yes, it was definitely a little bit of both, I wrote this just a few months after it happened and I was still really fresh to processing the emotions I was having. Writing this song actually helped me feel a lot more comfortable with a lot of my feelings - sadness, guilt, loss, grief, but also hope. It is a little bit like a therapy session when you're writing a song as a lot of the details come out when you're discussing lyrics, and talking about it helped me a lot!

The soundscape for the song is gorgeously moody but punctuated throughout with 1980s-style synths. Did you have a particular idea how you wanted the song to sound when you went into the studio?
I never know how a song will sound when I go into a session - all I usually come in with is an idea and maybe a melody but I do not come in with production ideas unless it's "I would like to write an upbeat song today" or whatever I'm feeling. I have general references of production that I will bring in if I need to explain my taste though! This one just came pretty naturally because it felt like Paul Whalley (my producer for this song) kind of just understood the genre and soundscape I was looking for!

We are used to hearing breakup songs in pop that are angry and bitter, but there is a real beauty and humanity in your lyrics for ‘Cut The Breaks’ that make it feel even more emotional and heartbreaking than an angry break up song: “I didn’t get to say I missed you / For that I’m so sorry / I never got to
thank your mom for the gift that she got me.” It is refreshing to hear and I am curious to know where your lyricism comes from - have you always had a love for words?
Thank you! I'm so glad that is how it comes across. Those lines usually hit the hardest for me when I listen because they're genuinely just how I feel. I'm not angry about the situation, it's more just circumstantially heartbreaking but it was the right thing to do. Bitterness wasn't the right emotion for this part of my life, more like sadness and acceptance and allowing myself to feel. I think I have always had a hard time expressing my words in real life - I don't like confrontation or even talking too much - but I do really like writing my feelings into my songs as it helps me express myself in a way I can't usually do. My lyrics are just like a personal diary!

I believe that the breakup that inspired ‘Cut The Breaks’ has also inspired a lot more new music. Can you reveal anything about what we can look forward to hearing next?
Yes! This was the catalyst for pretty much 100% of this body of work. I had to re-learn how to live my life independently after 8 years of being in a relationship and with that came a lot of growing pains, heartache, and growth. I think you can expect a really cathartic rest of the EP - nothing is light and nothing is without true meaning and intention.

You will be supporting JC Stewart on his UK tour in May. How are you feeling about this tour and what will your set look like?
Yes and I can not wait! I will be performing alone, and playing all of the instruments myself. I can't wait to meet everyone and travel around the UK playing in new venues!

You released your debut EP Secondary Character last year. For those new to your music, what was your musical path that lead to the release of your EP?
Yes! The Secondary Character EP was all about learning how to function as an adult and feeling like I was having to let go of a lot of learned behavior. Since then I have realised I am no longer the 'secondary character' and now am the leading player in my own life, which has shaped a lot of my new music.

Who were the artists that inspired you growing up, and who are the artists that inspire you as a creative today?
As a kid I was surrounded by my parents music taste - Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor, and from there Fleetwood Mac, Boston, The Eagles and Steely Dan were always playing around the house. A lot of jazz and classical as well so I had a really well rounded music education before I even hit 5th grade. Hearing all of that at such a young age really influenced my storytelling and my musical structure as well and I'll always be thankful for it.

The music industry has traditionally been a difficult space for women to exist in, thanks in part to be being run by older, straight, white men for so long. There is pressure for women to fit into a particular box or look a certain way, pressure that is never put on male artists. What are your thoughts on gender (in)equality in the music industry?
This question is amazing! I have had to grapple with this my entire life. I think as a woman you're always expected to make yourself smaller in order to be more palatable. I kept myself small for a really long time, and in doing that, realised I wasn't being the most truthful or authentic version of myself. Since realising I was doing this, I have been growing myself and taking up more space in the room and I think it has led to my best body of work to date, and I have never been more proud of anything I've made in my entire life. All I can say is - PLEASE never dull yourself down for a man!!!!!

You have new music coming and a tour with JC Stewart, what else are you planning for 2025?
I will hopefully continue to be performing and releasing all year! I have some incredible visuals that will be released along with the music that I just can not wait to share with you all so it will be a really exciting year of art for me! I can't wait to see what else is in store!