Emma Elizabeth – Higher (2022)
Known for her soothing melodies and engaging lyricism, Emma Elizabeth is one of the more intimate artists of our time. Based in the UK, the singer-songwriter mixes the intimacy of Joni Mitchell with the contemporary edginess of, well, someone else. While this is the first time I have come across Emma Elizabeth, the London-based songstress has turned heads in her approximately 10-year musical career (including a few years hiatus). Featured in Sinusoidal Music, Motion News and several playlists, Emma is building a following on an international scale. The latest addition to her critically acclaimed discography is ‘Higher’.
Following her heartfelt track ‘A Place To Call Home’ (read our review here), Emma Elizabeth adopts a more hard-hitting sound in ‘Higher’. Unlike the softness of the folk-pop ‘A Place To Call Home’, the new single has a heavier indie-rock meets pop-rock style. This may be due to the collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Danny The Indie adding a pounding drumline atop screeching guitars and underlying piano. The melodic arrangement might be considered a punch in the face, but it has an elegant gruffness with an edgy contemporary attitude.
Working together with Danny The Indie, Emma Elizabeth throws herself headfirst into a new genre. Typically presenting soothing ballads about personal issues, Emma is more Taylor Swift than Paramore; however, she proves her innovativeness by channelling the inner rock goddess. Continuing to use personal narratives as a connection with audiences, ‘Higher’ has a kaleidoscopic expression in a cinematic soundscape. Not only that, but Emma’s vocal execution has a reminiscence to Hayley Williams, so I guess she really is embracing her skater-kid side in this smooth single.
In addition to the single, Emma Elizabeth and Danny The Indie released an official music video for ‘Higher’. A simplistic visual representation of ‘Higher’, the footage shows the pair performing in an empty skatepark. Unfortunately, the image movements to represent a heightening emotion in the song was a bit rapid and I could not watch the video in its entirety. Please note: the video does use effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
For more from Emma Elizabeth check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
