Hey Emma Louise! Always a pleasure to catch up with you and we’re loving the new single ‘Melodic Harmony’. Can you tell us how you came to be inspired to write it?
‘Melodic Harmony’ has been inspired by a peace that I find when listening to music, no matter what I’m going through. So I thought it would be quite cool to create a scenario then describe how most things in my world are calmed and resolved through music. Hence the chorus and title.
Are there remixes on the way?
Yes! the remixes from DJ Spen & Michele Chiavarini have just hit promo, and I’m loving their dub.
And you’ve also managed to work through the pandemic and complete your debut album ‘Loc’d In Consciousness’ and how hard was it to get it all completed under these restrictions?
Most of it, thankfully was completed before the pandemic. During the pandemic, we were mostly tidying things up and recording live instrumentation, which was done remotely across the world.
You’ve written all the songs and worked with different producers but mainly Michele Chiavrini. Can you talk us through how you came to work together on these songs and the people involved in this stunning debut?
I worked with Michele first on the remix for my 2016 single ‘Elevation’, with DJ Spen. We worked so well, we decided to collaborate on another original, hence ‘Flowered Tears’. After ‘Flowered Tears’, I truly believed that working alongside Michele, with executive production from Spen, brought out the best in me. When I decided to do my album, he was the first person I called to co-write and produce on it with me.
So glad you’ve included your previous singles such as ‘Elevation’, ‘You Gotta Be’ and ‘Falling’ – do you have a particular favourite amongst the tracks?
To be honest, I love every song for different reasons. I can’t really pick out a favourite. I do love ‘Be Your Sun’, because of the fact that I wrote it for my daughter and she smiles every time she hears it.
I’m guessing that you were working on the album before 2020 – a year of so much change – from Blacks Matter Protests to Covid 19, Lockdowns and the live sector being shut down. It feels like most of the album reflects the changes we as a society are going through and your honest and spiritual response. What were some of the driving ideas behind the songs when you were writing them and do you feel your songs have got even more appeal and poignancy since the pandemic?
Oh yes, definitely. Although I didn’t write the songs with the pandemic in mind, so many have said that since the pandemic, the songs have resonated with them. In relation to what both individuals and the world went though in 2020. I always write to inspire and try my very best to make my fans and listeners gain positive inspiration from my music, whether it be for love, life or troubled times. I have had so many messages from people saying that specific songs on the album have inspired them and brought them to tears. Which is what I aim to do!
When we last caught up with you, I believe you had just given birth to your first daughter Lyric. How do you find juggling the demands of motherhood with a burgeoning musical career?
That’s a tough one because I don’t really see it as a ‘juggle’, I just see it as life. I put family first and I make sure my daughter is given enough attention and her needs are always first. Then I just try my very best to manage my time really well. I am militant with my diary and literally try to allocate every minute and hour, down to incorporating rest in my diary! lol. I always love creating music, it’s who I am. It’s just now, I have to schedule it in.
As things start to ease up I see that you’re going to be performing live again with a full live band show for Mi-Soul Sundays at Boisdale Canary Wharf on Sunday July 25th with Vanessa Freeman and Michelle Johns. How excited are you to perform live again and with a full band?
I just can’t wait for the Boisdale and my band are currently learning all the new songs and I am currently getting my voice back to training! The pandemic has meant that I haven’t been singing as much as possible. As I am sure this is the same for so many singers and musicians.
You’ve performed as lead vocal with the Soul II Soul collective, worked with international stars from across the musical genres including Alicia Keys, Omar, Debbie Harry, Jocelyn Brown and Sanchez. Do you have any treasured memories with them?
Oh wow, this is such a hard question. There has been so many….mmmm, I would say sitting down with both Chuck D of Public Enemy and Speech of Arrested Development after shows. Both are so inspiring and were literally just as I expected them to be – full of inspiration and wisdom. I have kept in touch with both of them and Speech especially is so supportive of what I do. I absolutely loved every show with Jazzie, Caron and the Soul II Soul fam. I learnt so much from Caron vocally and from Jazzie in terms of business. Singing one of my songs to a crowd as far as the eye could see in South Africa was definitely one of my highlights while with the collective. I performed with the SOS Band at the Blackpool Luxury Soul Weekender…..That was a phenomenal experience. To be honest, I had to hold back my dancing and singing! I was doing backing vocals and knew every lyric to every song. They are such legends.
During Lockdown, which artists did you find yourself listening to and what makes their music so special?
I have been discovering more Kirk Franklin stuff of late, I really love his music and vocal arrangements. I absolutely love The Internet and can’t wait for their new album. The Internet’s music is so different to anything I have ever heard.
Currently being hailed as the sweetheart of UK soul, what’s next for you?
I am currently pregnant with twins so once the festival season is over we will be plugging probably one more single from the album, then I will be taking a break for about 6 months. I am currently working on collaborations with DJ Spen, Michele Chiavarini and 2 other house producers. So post album, I will be focusing on the collabs, before getting back in the studio for more of my music.
‘Loc’d In Consciousness’ is the debut album from Soulful Emma Louise – S.E.L – and out now on physical CD & digitally. Her new single is the firefly funk winner ‘Melodic Harmony’ and also out now. https://music.apple.com/gb/album/locd-in-consciousness/1567632317
The DJ Spen & Michele Chiavarini Remixes of ‘Melodic Harmony’ are out now on Quantize Recordings
Time Waits For No Dub:
Vocal:
You can catch S.E.L with a Full Live band at Mi-Soulful Sundays – London’s Ladies Of Soul on Sunday 25th July 2021 with Special Guest, Michelle John and Vanessa Freeman. Open from 3pm onwards with Live shows starting at 7pm at Boisdale Canary Wharf, Canary Wharf Shopping Centre, Cabot Square, London, E14 4QT
https://boisdaletickets.co.uk/p/6005
With a universal appeal and standout voice, join S.E.L on her musical voyage. Stay connected at :
Facebook: SELSOUL
