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Emie Nathan is undoubtedly one to watch. With a brand new EP chock full of splash singles, a slew of past dates supporting Lewis Capaldi, and a voice that strikes a nuanced balance between approachable and extraordinary, we had to check in with this burgeoning songstress to find out more about her latest work, travel and who she’s listening to for inspiration.

Who is Emie Nathan?   

Emie Nathan: At risk of sounding like a dating profile; Visual, collaborative, deep thinker and feeler… explorer, big friend, learner and maker (lol). 

What is deep down all about? 

deep down is about how hard I find social media. Nobody tells you at the beginning of the artist journey that much of what you'll carry out on a day-to-day basis is rooted in having an online presence. Some people find it very natural, for others like me, it takes a bit more effort. I have had to make quite a bit of peace with how I present online, the sorts of things I am willing to share and where to hold back. It's taken quite a bit of trial and error and repetition (and it is also by no means a perfect practice), but I do think that finding a level of ease when interacting and self-promoting has been an ongoing feat. I like how it all comes together, and I like knowing that what shines through is the work itself, but at the same time, I am acutely aware being glued to a screen and being ready to react at any given moment doesn’t feel second nature to me. I wrote deep down the day before I wrote "ok," which I think is the antidote song. deep down depicts the deepest online spiral, the external and internal pressures, and the frustration at the fact that (while I know it counts for a lot these days) it has very little to do with the music itself in actuality.

You have such strong singles on the EP, how many songs did you cull to get to these four? 

To be honest with you, I wanted to make all six tracks singles. I’m proud of them all for different reasons but I do think they are strong enough in their own right to stand alone, particularly "ok"—I think that would have been an interesting single moment. There were a few others that were contenders for the EP, but I’m still hopeful they may yet see the light in upcoming projects. I believe that songs aren’t just cast off into the unwanted pile never to be released just because it wasn’t the best fit for the present body of work… let's see what happens. 

Any collaborations? Who produced the EP?

This EP was produced by Joseph Wander with co-prod on a couple of tracks from Geroge Glew. I wrote a lot with this duo last year and they have continued to be incredibly strong collaborators for me. deep down and "ok" I wrote with Mikey Gormley (white light) and Joe as well, another standout connection. I was really glad to have met Ines Dunn this year and get some more female eyes on the songs, we wrote better together and that is certainly one of my favorites (especially live). Interestingly, Dan Diggas who played keys across the record has ended up joining the band and we just played my sold-out headline last night in London. I love when you meet people through projects and they end up taking on a bigger role overall. It's great to see the core team expand a little. 

What stylistically influenced you on this EP? 

While my influences have remained in a similar world to the last EP (Bon Iver, Maggie Rogers, Haim, 1975 etc.), I think the songs themselves feel a lot more mature. Stylistically the content speaks to more adult themes which align with where I find myself in my own life. I am really proud of the way the lyrics have spoken more openly about vulnerable topics (family, gender dynamics, social norms, etc.) and how it feels to share those perceptions more freely.

Can we expect more of this style in the future, potentially on an upcoming album? 

I think you can certainly expect something similar, but know that whatever it is, will be an iteration of my sound so far that will certainly come with its own sonic twist. I have been writing a lot recently and I am feeling very inspired by going back to basics, so I am sure the next round of music will be built up in a fresh way. It feels exciting to finish a project because you know another is on the way… 

Besides this excellent body of work, what else should we be on the lookout for? 

Be on the lookout for more of everything! I just played my last gig for the year last night (!) which was a sold-out Camden Assembly. One of the biggest takeaways from 2022, is how much I love playing live and sharing music in real-time. I'm hoping for much more of that next year. Equally, stay tuned for more music… rest assured I’ve been very busy writing in the in-between moments. Lots to share. 

What's inspiring you right now outside of music? 

Travel has been a huge one. I actually just returned from a month away in the USA which was half work, half holiday. I saw my best friend get married, I got to explore some new cities and reconnect with old friends, try new sports and re-acquaint myself with nature. I had a proper switch off which was incredible. I think the most inspiring thing about a change of scenery, is the energy you derive from it that can be channeled back into the day-to-day. I came away from that with a lot of perspective, a rejuvenated sense of self and adventure. I sorely missed that aspect of life over the last couple of years. 

Underrated touring food? 

I am the worst person to ask about this because I keep it so simple! You never really know when you’re on the road what may or may not be available to you so I guess you can’t really go wrong with bananas, protein bars, peanut M&M's… glorified trail mix basically. 

Who are your Ones To Watch? 

Rachel Chinouriri :’)