Emerson Snowe is an apt name for someone who is cool as fuck. He talked through his first times with us and some other bits and bobs, enjoy.
First song you ever remember listening to…why did this stick in your head?
The first thing that comes to my mind feels like it should be a track by Neil Diamond, as my mum absolutely loves him and he’s always been sonically in my life growing up. But if I take the moment to actually think of the song I vividly remember it would be Merry Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon. I remember a lot of early Christmas times.
First song you ever wrote…the title, the theme of it, the narrative, the sound, what age were you?
It would have been around the age of 14 I think, I can’t remember what the title was but it was when I was living on a farm and it was about the rain coming down and watching it fall on the grass outside my window. Rain still is a huge part of my writing.
First instrument you played? How long did it take to learn? What was your teacher like, if you had one?
Guitar at the age of 9 or 10 I started playing, I had a teacher at school who taught me classical guitar, she was really lovely. I gave it up for a few years as I just got bored of it, as a child usually does. Before my grandfather passed away he said I shouldn’t have given up on it because it’s something that will stay in my life forever. I started playing again and here we are.
First band you ever saw live…age? Where? Can you describe the feeling, the smells, the sensations?
The Wiggles — It was in a small auditorium in Townsville (where I grew up). I still have a signed ukulele from all the original members. It could be worth some dollar now?
First gig you ever played? Where? What happened? Did it go smoothly? How did it feel?
The first gig I played would have been outside a local PCYC in Townsville, I forget what it was for but I remember covering ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ by The Cure and ‘First Day Of My Life’ by Bright Eyes. It felt good, it was nerve-racking. But I don’t look back on it in a negative way. I have been writing music since a really early age and I was in about 5 different bands constantly during school – some of those shows were bad because I took myself too seriously. But that’s what it is.
Getting into the present, you’re an honest songwriter. Do you find your writing quite cathartic? A chance to figure out whatever is going on in your life?
100%. What I do started as I needed a way of releasing something within myself. I think I feel as though I can really explain to myself how I am feeling with however the song is sounding or turns out. It’s a good way to capture a mood and maybe make sense of what is going on with me – even if in the moment of writing it I am blind to my emotions.
Would you ever write fictional songs? If so, what would they be about do you think?
I have written fictional songs, I do still from time to time. Sometimes when I get into writer’s block I create a whole new band in my head – I have a few albums where I’ve made up different bands with full backstories and written full albums for them — it’s a good way to get myself creating when I myself have self-doubts.
You cite Lou Reed, Nick Cave and Patti Smith as influences. Firstly, what is it about their music you like, that influences your own music? Then, why are these three so important to contemporary music do you feel?
Lou Reed for his literal take on society, Patti Smith for her beliefs in creating to create and Nick Cave for his baldness to look back on his youth and not judge himself for things that happened. It is easy to look through a facade a band can put up – not being able to talk about certain issues in interviews – having an image that everyone has to stick with. I’m sick of seeing it and it brings me no joy or interest.
Finally, what’s next for Emerson Snowe?
I’ve finished my next release – just starting to get into the mixing and mastering. I’m basing myself in Europe now! It’s time for a change.
You can find Emerson Snowe on Spotify and Apple Music, Twitter, Youtube and Facebook.
