Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Hey!! I’m so glad y’all took the time for this interview, it means a lot! I’m Emma Duffy and I make pop music. I’m originally from Plainfield, Illinois but I currently live in Nashville. Music has always had a profound impact on my life. My dad was a huge musician; he built guitars for years so we always had some form of music around the house. I’ve been songwriting since I was 6, I picked up the oboe in 6th grade and played that for about 7 years. I also taught myself guitar and piano when I was in middle school. Music has always been such a big part of my life and I really don’t know where I’d be without it.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Emma Duffy”?
A: I’ve been doing a lot of promotion on social media, and I’m hoping to start playing shows soon! My music is genuine — from the sound to the lyrics to the album art — and I pride myself on that. For anyone who is just discovering me and my music, I hope they find a connection not just with my music, but also within themselves. I hope they resonate with the sadder songs and realize that they’re not alone. I hope they gain confidence and find comfort.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I pull from so many different musicians when I write. Forever and always, Taylor Swift will be my #1 inspiration. She has inspired me since I first began to write songs. I’ve also been super into Gracie Abrams, sweaterboy, The Band CAMNIO, and Olivia Rodrigo recently. Whenever I’m having a hard time writing, I usually go to Pinterest and browse for a little. They’ve got so many good aesthetics and poems that will help inspire me to write a song. I also keep track of all the little ideas I get throughout the day, whether it’s a bridge or simply a word that would be a cool song title, and jot it down. I have an entire wall at home I call my ‘inspiration wall,’ and it’s full of poems, song blurbs, and random ideas I’ve come up with over the last couple of years. If I ever run out of inspiration to write, that wall is the first place I go to.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “burnt.”?
A: I wrote this song back in January of 2023. I was reflecting on all of my previous relationships and how I felt at the end of them, whether it was my fault it had ended or theirs. I was always left with a lot of anxiety, which I described in the song as feeling ‘burnt.’ I had multiple versions of this song, a couple that I produced myself, but I loved this version that Ryan Smith produced. I think we did a great job at showing the depths of a dying relationship: how on the surface, everything may seem fine, but underneath there’s a lot of questions that leave you full of anxiety. I wrote it for those people who can never 100% get over someone and still feel them everywhere they go.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Honest. I strive to make all of my songs heartfelt and a true reflection of how I’m feeling.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “burnt”?
A: Lyrically and sonically, the song came together pretty easily. The only challenge was the bridge, which typically happens when I produce a song. I’ll come into the session with one idea for the bridge, and then after hearing the rest of the production, I’ll realize that bridge doesn’t fit as well anymore. That’s what happened with ‘burnt.’ I had a completely different idea for a bridge, and I turned to Ryan and went, “Something about this just seems off…give me, like, 5 minutes and I’ll come up with a new bridge.” And boom! We had the bridge to our song, which is hands-down my favorite part.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My goal with music is simple: to help as many people as possible. Music, to me, is a universal language used to bring people together. Music has helped so many people through their issues, from small rough patches to some of the most traumatic experiences one can go through . I want my music to be that for people. No matter what I do in life, I want to help others.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: There are too many to name…Taylor Swift, 100%. I also really look up to Gryffin. He’s an amazing producer and lyricist and I’ve looked up to him for years. I would love love love to work with Maisie Peters. I’ve been obsessed with her since I was in middle school. She is a phenomenal lyricist and her stage performance is uncanny. She seems like so much fun!
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Give it 110%. So many artists are looking for that one video to go viral and start their career, when it really takes so much more than that. Listen music-business podcasts. Post on social media, but have fun and make it authentic. Talk to people in the industry and make connections. Find out what those people did to succeed. Find ways to create a strong relationship with your fans, not just use them for streams. People will listen to artists that they have a genuine connection with.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: NEVER GIVE UP! Since I began writing music, I was told that I would never be any good at it and that I should give up, but I loved music too much to even entertain the idea of giving up. Looking back on the last year, my life has changed so much and I’m forever grateful for all of the good things that have come my way. None of these things would have happened if I did what everyone told me to do and gave up my dream. You can do anything you set your mind to.
