Interview by Geno McGahee
Emily Daccarett has a definite mission in her approach to music, creating a certain look and feel that has earned her a following that is growing at an impressive rate. Scared Stiff was able to sit down with this artist and get into her career and message and was able to have a really great discussion with this popular artist…
GM: Can you introduce yourself to the public? How would you describe your band, your style, your message?
Hi! My name is Emily Daccarett and I’m a fashion designer turned singer-songwriter.
Music and fashion for me cannot exist one without the other. I try to use the two to create an atmosphere of mystery and nostalgia. My band goes for more of a rock/cabaret feel and it’s all about creating a specific mood which is a blend of innocence and seduction, much like the 1970’s in LA. While we lean more towards synth pop, we infuse it with a gritty rock sound. I try to tell a story with my music and create a sort of escapism for people.
GM: What got you into music?
From the start of my fashion brand I wanted to incorporate film and music. I produced a short film to show the story behind the collection and worked with film composer S. Peace Nistades on the music. We became friends and have collaborated on almost every project since then. I loved working on the music but felt limited in what I could do. I wanted to write my songs the way I design. I decided to enroll into the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles to learn how to produce and arrange myself.
GM: What musicians/bands were your inspirations?
David Bowie is a big inspiration. He was constantly changing his persona, creating characters each with their own unique sound and style. He was a visionary and even when he reached global recognition, he still would keep on changing and evolving. I’m also inspired by Blondie, Kate Bush, and Vanessa Paradis; I love the aesthetic of French pop.
GM: Talk about your latest album. What should the public expect?
My ep Cannibal has been a long time coming! I spent over a year on it, constantly evolving the songs until I felt I finally found my sound. It has a modern futuristic sound but still has retro elements from 70’s rock and 80’s pop. My friend S. Peace Nistades came on to co-produce the ep. We really pushed ourselves and have grown from this experience. The way I would describe it is think of Blondie and David Lynch having a baby in 2025. Coming from a film background, we kept a cinematic vibe within the songs, while still being very pop.
GM: What has been the best experience you’ve had being in the business?
My best experience thus far has been seeing people react to the ep so positively. I kept the songs private, so most people didn’t know what to expect. I was worried people would think, “why is she wasting her time on music, when she should be concentrating on designing women’s clothes”. Having people connect with my music is just such an amazing feeling.
GM: What has been the worst experience you’ve had?
The worst feeling is hearing that you can’t do something. I hated being in a recording studio and having little input because of the skills I was lacking. I had graduated from two fashion schools in Paris and was used to being hands on everything I do. However when it came to music, besides writing lyrics and melody, I didn’t know how to arrange my own tracks or produce. I knew not being able to experiment on my own would keep me from growing as an artist.
GM: With the changing mediums in the distribution of music, how difficult is it to make a living in the business?
Well it seems like you are putting in way more than receiving. As an independent artist the challenge is getting people to hear your music. We are competing with giants that dominate the market and overshadow smaller artists. To make an actual living it has to come from merch and ticket sales. Streaming is wonderful because it gives us access to a wider audience, but it doesn’t really pay until you have the big numbers and with the ever growing number of new artists its difficult to stand out and not be hidden by the countless songs being released daily.
GM: Any final thoughts?
I think it’s important to trust yourself, and its something you have to constantly remind yourself to do. Doubt has a tendency to creep in easily, but we shouldn’t let it stop us from doing what we love.
LEARN MORE
https://www.instagram.com/emilydaccarett/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/emilydaccarettmusic/?modal=admin_todo_tour