Los Angeles-based indie-folk singer-songwriter Emily Anderson has developed a distinctive musical identity through intimate storytelling, gentle humour and an instinctive ability to find meaning in everyday experiences. Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, her career has taken her across the US and Canada, with her music also featuring in Netflix productions including Virgin River and Love Is Blind.
Her latest single ‘In The Garden’ offers a heartfelt reflection on friendship, the passage of time and the beauty of witnessing someone grow through different stages of life. Inspired by a moment spent holding a friend's baby, the song explores the importance of appreciating the present rather than constantly measuring ourselves against life's imagined milestones.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I grew up with an old upright piano in our living room and one of my earliest memories is plunking on the keys. I loved how expansive it felt - a whole territory I could explore. It also helped that we already had one! My parents are music enthusiasts and found me a local piano teacher, so I started taking lessons at age 5. My first piano teacher had 3 cats, 2 dogs, and a giant turtle so going over to her house once a week was like visiting a micro zoo, which I loved.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My dad always had music playing and I was definitely influenced by his taste - The Eagles, Sheryl Crow, and all flavors of The Beatles were staples in the Anderson household. When my dad put on Pink Floyd, however, I would get scared and hide in the corner. I have since grown out of that.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I remember buying with my own money is Michelle Branch Hotel Paper. That album still rules - it even has a Sheryl Crow duet. It is currently in rotation in my car (yes, my car still has a CD player).
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
This is such a hard question because I think that the song chooses the songwriter in some mystical way, but “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King is such a timeless, beautiful song. I’m glad it exists and I’m glad to live in the same universe as Carole King. Also, any song featured in the tv show 30 Rock is something I wish I had written.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I wish I had some magical formula that I could prescribe, but truly it’s the act of sitting down to write and writing what comes. I’ve learned to capture ideas or song scraps in my everyday life and keep them in a note on my phone or in voice memos so when I have a few hours to work on a song I already have some materials to work with instead of staring at a blank page praying for lightning to strike.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’ve been loving the new Kacey Musgraves album and crying to the new Sara Bareilles record. Phoebe Bridgers’ new record is a triumph. I keep a steady rotation of Alaskan artists in my listening and lately I’ve been enjoying the new songs from Rosie Rush and the new album by Taylor Dallas Vidic.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
If I could open for anyone it would be Carole King - I would love to meet her and thank her. And I would probably cry.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part is definitely getting to connect with people. Getting to meet people at shows or online and hear what resonated with them, hear their story, is one of the great privileges of this job. It’s very rewarding to make people feel seen and understood with something I wrote to help work through my own life.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Only having 24 hours in the day. There is so much that goes into making music - independent musicians are wearing a lot of different hats, so learning how to navigate that and prioritize your time accordingly is a challenge. There is also a gap between how much music is valued on a cultural and community level and how it is valued monetarily through large entities and systems. I’m encouraged by stories like Ireland’s experiment with giving artists a universal income and how that has already been markedly beneficial to their economy and the artists.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best advice I’ve received is from an old professor back in college who said “If you’re nervous, you’re being selfish. Stop it.” At first I felt taken aback and a little defensive - I thought, of course I’m nervous, I’m doing something vulnerable and difficult. But then he explained that if you’re nervous you’re thinking about yourself - how you’re perceived, if you’re liked, if people like the way you look, etc. What you should be focusing on instead is how the audience feels. It’s our job as performers to make the audience feel safe and seen. It’s much more difficult to do that if we’re worried about ourselves. This reframe really helped me approach performing differently and making it “not about me” was very helpful.
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Emily Anderson's new single 'In The Garden' is out now. Check it out in the player below.