Emma Yue On New Single ‘Lonely Lover’
A glistening yet gritty journey into self-reflection, the brand new single Lonely Lover (out now) is the ultimate indie rock ode to independence and the pursuit of connection from Melbourne singer-songwriter Emma Yue.
Continuing Emma’s knack for weaving addictive hooks with raw lyricism, Lonely Lover thrives with serene textures and spirited vulnerability, with the track driven by buoyant instrumentation and Emma’s crystalline vocals. A compelling earworm, Lonely Lover initially began life well beyond its firm indie flavours, with Emma drawing on long-term sonic influences to shift the new track to its latest form alongside newer muses. And while Lonely Lover may stem from bittersweet sentiments, its ultimate effect is one of hope. Emma talks to Hi Fi Way more about the single.
How has the build-up been leading up to the release of Lonely Lover?
It’s been a really interesting process, I actually finished recording the song before a 3 month long solo backpacking trip to Europe and then started the release process when I got back. It’s definitely a more vulnerable song for me because it comes from a place of sadness, but over my trip I became less nervous and more excited.
Was the process of making your single as challenging as you thought?
I’m lucky enough to have made this song with some really incredible people, so it wasn’t nearly as big of a challenge as it could’ve been. I wrote the song back in 2021 and didn’t like the direction it was going, but worked with an incredible producer Gus Cannon who understood exactly what I was going for and how to get there. He and Brad Jackson were both instrumental in making the song what it is now, and we’re all really proud of it.
Sonically, how would you describe your music?
If Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo happened to get stuck in an elevator together for an hour and pass the time writing songs, my music is the sound they would create.
Who would you consider to be the biggest influence on your music and why?
Anyone who knows me would be able to answer this question for me, and that answer would be Taylor Swift. I grew up listening to all of her albums, and I often get told her influence can be heard in my music.
Best piece of advice you have been given?
That I should stop creating for the end product. Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in what I envision the song sounding like at the end of the process and lose motivation when it doesn’t get there straight away. I find it’s so important to let the song go where it needs to go organically rather than trying to create something that I’ve already put into a box before it’s half finished.
What is the “Emma Yue” life story?
I spend my money on plants and morning coffees, I spend my time writing music and on my hobbies, and I spend my energy on putting into the world what I want to get back out of it. I love wine, pretty guitars and never using the big light in any room ever. Seriously, the big light is automatic ick (I own so many candles). I’ve spent a lot of my life so far fighting for my identity as someone who’s been “othered” a lot. This bisexual neurospicy brown gal has definitely come a long way, but there’s still a bit of a way to go.
Are you looking to tour more broadly?
My biggest dream is go to on tour one day, even as a support act for another musician, so the answer is absolutely.
What’s next for you?
Writing more songs, recording more music, playing as many gigs as I can (it’s really fun). I’ve got so much in the works right now, so the next year is gonna be huge.
Who’s your favourite Adelaide artist/group at the moment?
I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Oscar the Wilde for The Hoist on SYN recently which was an absolute vibe, and I’ve been listening to their music non-stop since.
Interview By Rob Lyon
Connect with Emma Yue
Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Spotify
