Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emzae has released her latest single, ‘Some Kind of Cliché’, which features on her upcoming debut album All Those Things I Thought I Knew, scheduled for release on the 1st of September 2023.
The track laces a pulsating, quirky melody with distorted, distinctive vocals, blending various subgenres of pop to create an entirely unique sound. It feels rough around the edges, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it simply adds to the grungy, angsty soundscape crafted by the singer.
With homegrown mixing and mastering and some deep, introspective lyricism sugar coasted by an oscillating instrumental, Derby-based Emzae (real name Emma Shaw) shows real promise, particularly seeing as this is her first album, recorded, performed, written, and produced entirely by herself over a 6-year period in her bedroom.
With themes of self-doubt and confusion, ‘Some Kind of Cliché’ perfectly encapsulates the sentiment amongst the youth of today, making Emzae an incredibly relatable up-and-coming artist.
The singer’s creative nature and desire to push boundaries are evident on the release also, with the bridge, in particular, featuring some experimental synths and a powerful vocal performance. There’s an air of self-assuredness too – the songwriter knows exactly who she is and isn’t afraid to tell the world.Emzae will be performing live at Rough Trade Nottingham on the 1st of September.
Words by Tabitha Wilson