Following on from the glorious success of her self-titled debut EP, which earned itself over 350,000 Spotify plays, Australian singer and songwriter Em George has now returned to unveil her eagerly-awaited follow-up collection 'Wolves'.
With a wide array of influences that include Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, 'Wolves' makes for an incredibly humbling and uplifting initial listen. With her own bold and soaring voice wrapped up in a wave of dream-pop and indie-rock vibes, her latest material sees her grow into one of the most promising emerging artists we have heard so far this year.
So with her new EP available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has inspired her most of the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Singing if it counts as an instrument...I've been obsessed with it as long as I can remember and sung constantly all the time. I also used to play the violin as a kid but would turn it to the side and play it like a guitar instead so that's a close second!
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
Listening to the work of other songwriters, connecting with particular songs that influence me to write; they shift and change all the time depending on my mood so it's hard to choose! Famouse Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen is one, River by Joni Mitchell, These Days by Nico but sometimes it will be a really cheesy pop song.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
I was obsessed with The Beatles, I bought their entire catalogue and listened to them every day without fail. I also loved Etta James.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
There were a few but the main one I really remember was At Last by Etta James, I think my grandmother played it for me? Or it was in a film and I fell in love with it.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
I like to get up and ready to music that gives me some energy. It's a mix of artists but there is always some Led Zeppelin in there, The Gossip, The Beatles, Primal Scream, The Strokes, probably some Spice Girls in there somewhere too.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
All my songs are written from my own life experiences or people in my life. A few exes I've wasted time on, and then beautiful friends who inspire me all the time. My Grandmother too.
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
My new EP has had some great reviews from Triple J here in Australia which was an amazing cool moment. But my first EP had over 350.000 streams on Spotify which was my fave moment so far.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
I'm an Art junkie and always have been. I've studied Art for my whole life and love everything about it.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
Definitely something in the Arts, an Art Curator or Art Director. I also love styling too, so a stylist would be a cool move.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Just to always be open to learning new things and experiences in the music world. Also if you're wanting to record your songs but can't afford a studio; music schools always need singers for their student projects. It's how I used to get my first demos done and get some studio experience.
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Em George's new EP 'Wolves' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.