Emma Gullo has released a new EP that feels like a cinematic set of chapters out of her life that bring out personal and heartfelt honesty and storytelling that formed over time and build into emotionally driven and hauntingly beautiful songs.
The Storyteller EP is truly the perfect title for this piece of work as each song indeed tells a story.
The songs swirl around you through the air and whisk you away to a completely different place but it also makes you feel like the songs are meant for you and you alone, somehow.
Not sure how she pulled that off, but it's gorgeously performed and the record itself is painted with a wonderful array of sounds that create quite a vivid picture each time.
These songs are amazing at making you feel like you are having some kind of waking dream. They go into such detail that it's like reading a good book at times.
The songs all do take on this massively cinematic feel and tonality and what that means exactly is that each song is one you can easily hear in a film or show.
Once the EP is over you get up and shake it off like you would after going to see a film at a theatre actually.
So, it has this effect on you really.
The vocals are graceful, and the backing vocals are both haunting and angelic at the same time while the music goes through different styles depending on the feel.
With such a gorgeous release, we wanted to have a chat with Emma who, by the way goes under the moniker EGSINGS on Spotify in case you're looking for her now.
Let's find out where this all comes from.
RAG: Let's start with the Storyteller EP. I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Yes! This song is one of my favorites - I wrote “Volcanic” when I was about 16-17, and during that time Sara Barielles was my primary inspiration; her songwriting is excellently composed, lyrically and musically. After her dip into the theatre realm with “Waitress”, I really began studying the way she writes, and her music has inspired me ever since - her authenticity and fearlessness are unmatched.
Recently I’ve expanded my influence pool as I’ve gotten older - I find a lot of appreciation in the late 60s-70s rock genre scene (Elton John, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Lynryd Skynyrd, Linda Ronstadt, Queen), I hope to blend some of those classic sounds with the indie-pop genre I’ve found myself in.
I’m constantly learning from other upcoming and local artists too! There is so much creativity to be found by just listening to the local music around you.
RAG: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with making music?
Music has always been a part of my life. My parents love music, I grew up dancing and performing on stage, not to mention I was just a really expressive kid. Being a performer is in my genetic code, I’ve always loved entertaining people; whether it was on stage or in my living room. I used to clear out the space in our family room, pop in one of our 2000s greatest hits CDs, and dance with my siblings. So, music has always been there, being the constant in my life - but I really fell in love with the path in my late teens; I wouldn’t full commit to the grind until I finally had a revelation that I couldn’t keep “half-assing” a career like this…I’m either all in or it’s time to move on.
My sophomore year of college is when I started to completely dive into music; I told myself I was going to finish the album I’ve always talked about, I’m going to create the beginnings of a brand, and I’m going to write. A spark led to a forest fire, and by my senior year I had connected with the legendary BGR Productions.
Now that the album is out, I’ve never felt more of a creative surge; I’m constantly writing, hearing sounds in my head, seeing inspiration everywhere. The experience has only made me fall deeper in love with music.
RAG: What's next for you as an artist?
Time to climb - I’m ready to take my music on the road, I’d love to start opening for other artists and start building a stable fan base outside of Georgia! I have NEW MUSIC already in the works, I’m learning how to market and promote myself, and I’m ready to MEET PEOPLE! I want to go everywhere, meet other artists and collaborate, write and grow. I’m nowhere near finished, I’m just following the stepping stones.
RAG: What inspires you to write a song?
Very strong feelings and the desire to relate to something; I feel all my emotions very deeply and constantly crave new ways to feel things. I relate to others by using references from things I recognize, it helps me understand how others feel about their personal situations. Growing up, I had a hard time processing my emotions and often let them control my decisions. I’m still working on that part of me, and songwriting gives me a way to translate all the details of a feeling.
RAG: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
In the rare times I’m not focused on music, I spend time with my family and close friends - usually making memories that I’ll use for song material later! ;)
RAG:
RAG: Who are you listening to right now?
Right now I’ve been listening to Billie Eilish, Del Water Gap, The Backseat Lovers, FINNEAS, Orla Gartland, The Eagles, Foy Vance, Jenson McRae, Chelsea Cutler and a lot of singer/songwriters I find through discovery playlists!
RAG: Are you doing live performances?
Absolutely! Anywhere and anytime I can. I have weekends booked throughout the summer and I’m starting to look for more opportunities in the fall!
Open mic nights, gigs, band events, I try to keep my calendar full.
RAG: This EP seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming artists out there?
Don’t rush, you have time.
Opportunities are always out there, just keep knocking on the next door!
In an era where social media is a huge music hub for exposure and opportunity, it’s easy to compare your journey to another person’s. Remember that we are all unique human beings who have an INCREDIBLE story all our own, focus on writing the exciting parts in YOUR story.
Be authentic and be happy. There is a time to play the game and a time to stand up for yourself, know that line. It’s still a competitive business industry, but that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice the best parts of yourself.
Be tough, rejection only means you have more time to do ALL the things you’ve ever wanted to do, keep going.
Let your deep feelings and emotions be an advantage, but don’t let them control you.
Don’t worry about “being original”, just create!!! You find your originality by exploring what is already out there!
RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Hey there :) You may not know me yet, but I am so ready to know all of you. I’m grateful for my lifelong friends and peers, parents of peers, my hometown and college community - you all have been such a sturdy foundation for me to balance on for so long.
To those who will stumble across my music in any way, tell me your thoughts, your feelings, your “looking-foward-to”s…your support means so much, I want to give my fans honesty; honest music, honest feelings, honest unapologetic thoughts.
I have so much more swirling around in my head that I want to share, and if it happens to resonate with you, I guess we both gained a friend.
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