Q&A: Emei Delivers Whimsical Touches and Intense Breakdowns in “RABBITHOLE” Release
FROM DREAMLIKE MOMENTS TO CATHARTIC BREAKDOWNS – Pop singer-songwriter Emei takes an exciting leap forward with the release of her new single, "RABBITHOLE," a track that explores both sonic and emotional depths. Working alongside producer Boy Blue, Emei pushes into fresh, dynamic territory with this latest release, signaling the start of an exciting new chapter in her evolving career.
“'RABBITHOLE' sounds and feels like falling, panic, and your mind racing,” Emei explains, capturing the track’s frantic energy. The track captures the disorienting experience of being overwhelmed by anxious thoughts, using a blend of whimsical, almost dreamlike elements, contrasted with moments of intense breakdowns and racing sounds. These sonic shifts mirror the unpredictable nature of anxiety, as the mind struggles to regain control but instead slips deeper into turmoil.
Emei draws from personal experience, reflecting on how familiar coping mechanisms like mantras, affirmations, and breathing exercises often fail to alleviate her anxiety. “They just make me fall deeper and deeper into the rabbithole,” she reveals, adding a raw, vulnerable layer to the song’s narrative. The track's sonic landscape mirrors this downward spiral, with cascading beats and frenetic production that immerses the listener in the chaos of spiraling thoughts.
Known for crafting deeply personal and relatable stories within her songs, Emei has a gift for turning vulnerability into captivating pop anthems, and "RABBITHOLE" is no exception. It’s a hauntingly catchy and emotionally charged track, a true reflection of Emei’s artistic growth and bold approach to storytelling.
The intensity of "RABBITHOLE" captures not only the complexity of Emei's own experience but also resonates with anyone who has felt trapped by their own thoughts. The racing rhythms, dynamic shifts, and intricate layering of sounds evoke the sensation of spiraling deeper into one’s mind, making "RABBITHOLE" a visceral and impactful exploration of mental health.
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar with you yet, what kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
EMEI: For sure. I think my songs are mostly a reflection of my brain, so oftentimes it feels a little chaotic, but also soothing in a sense. I love putting in ear candy. I love having a beat. I love making pop music.
LUNA: What drives your music? Can you talk about the core emotions or themes that fuel your songwriting?
EMEI: Definitely, I feel like most of my songs do tend to be about anxiety and stress. It depends on what phase of life I'm in, because I would say every project is a different phase of my life, but the upcoming music is really about times that I've been in a dark place and trying to get out of it.
LUNA: What inspires you to push boundaries within your sound? Are there any specific experiences, artists, or moments that have encouraged you to explore new musical territories?
EMEI: I aim to be as excited as possible about my music, so oftentimes, I’ll get bored of a sound, and then that will push me to experiment a lot more, and try new things, and go out of the box that way. I think, as an easily bored person, that's what really drives that.
LUNA: You just released your latest single “RABBITHOLE” and it definitely sees you pushing your own sonic boundaries. Is this a sneak peek into what your listeners can expect more from you in this new era of music?
EMEI: I love “RABBITHOLE” so much, but it is very much the intro into this next era.
LUNA: What is the inspiration behind “RABBITHOLE?”
EMEI: I wrote it on my birthday last year, and I am a pretty anxious birthday girl, so it was about trying to stop myself from spiraling on my birthday. It describes my anxiety and tendency to have panic attacks once in a while, and that's what “RABBITHOLE” is about.
LUNA: “RABBITHOLE” touches on experimenting with different affirmations and breathing exercises. Which practices have worked best for you, and how do you find intentional ways to connect with yourself amidst everything?
EMEI: I definitely have a lot of breathing exercises that I do, and also little tactile things that help me stay grounded and in place. I love affirmations, like positive mantras and things like that. Those are the things that I tend to use, but before shows, I give myself a pep talk at every show in the green room, so that always helps as well.
LUNA: You have collaborated with producer Boy Blue for “RABBITHOLE.” Can you share more about your creative partnership and how it influenced the overall sound and direction of the song?
EMEI: Boy Blue is so, so talented, and this next project, he worked on a lot of it. For me, a song unravels very much with and because of the collaborators in the room with me. It's not just for me. It's very much from the beginning of the song, it's me and the producer and the writer and oftentimes it just starts all together and ends all together. Boy Blue is awesome, and so are all the collaborators on this project.
LUNA: What do you love most about “RABBITHOLE” and is there a certain lyric, message or element that you gravitate towards the most?
EMEI: I am obsessed with all the little ear candy and the little transitions between parts that Boy Blue does. The moment I heard any of those, I loved them instantly. They feel like spiraling, and they feel like moving from one phase to the next. I also have a very soft spot for the outro of the song as well. I just love it so much and how it changes.
LUNA: Are there particular moods or themes you find yourself gravitating towards when writing and performing? How do you channel these into your music?
EMEI: With this project, it's very much centered around anxiety and me learning to be a musician full time, and how that feels, and also the pressure that I put on myself and the pressure that people around me put on me and the expectations that come with it. So that's really what this project is. It’s also inspired by Alice in Wonderland loosely as well. It feels very whimsical and almost a little animated. Those are the themes for this project.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
EMEI: I'm feeling great. I'm so excited about all the new music. I'm currently in London and going to fly to Australia on Saturday for tour. Touring is all very exciting. I'm excited to play more shows and do more fan meetups in the fall. That's where I'm at right now. I'm sitting on a bunch of music and really excited to show everybody.
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