You don’t have to be sad to write a sad song and you don’t have to be in love to write a love song: A Conversation with Emilee Flood
Collage by Hajera (@hhappytoastt).
I first noticed Emilee Flood when she came on my FYP. Singing Sinatra’s, I Love You Baby, Emilee’s voice sends a soft, nostalgic feel. The 20-year-old Arkansas-raised and Seattle-based singer had recently become a prominent figure on both Tik Tok and YouTube, and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It’s been so fun talking to Emilee about her plans and the dreams she’d set for the future!
JOOD ALTHUKAIR: Emilee, our third issue is about dreams and how they define us. Your song, Feels Like a Dream, coincidentally carries the same theme. Could you tell us more about how you started? Has singing always been a dream you wanted to pursue? Did you start practicing it at a young age, or was it discovered later on?
EMILEE FLOOD: I have always loved singing ever since I could remember. My mom was a singer, so I was always around a musical environment. I even remember writing a paper in seventh grade about how my biggest dream was to be a pop-star. I grew up singing in church and just jamming out with my family. It wasn’t until March of 2019 that I started pursuing music seriously, and released my first song called High Hopes. Then Feels Like A Dream came out, which got on multiple Spotify editorial playlists and is about to hit 2 million streams!
Your cover of Sinatra’s I Love You Baby is a frequently-used and loved audio on TikTok, and we can see why from the softness you convey. Tell us how you managed to find the right pitch to your voice.
It took a few times to find the right pitch actually. I always like to find different ways to make my covers sound different than the original, so I played it a few times until I found a melody that fit my voice. The response was overwhelming and the cover turned out sounding unique and smooth, which was the tone I was aiming for.
Feels Like a Dream has surpassed a million streams on Spotify; congratulations on that, by the way! What inspired you to write it and how did you feel after finalizing the official version?
Thank you! I wanted to make a song that made people feel happy every time they listened to it. I knew I wanted the production to sound more retro, because that type of music always makes me feel good. When I heard the beat and started writing, all I could think about was the word dream. So I just went from there and was so happy with the finished product.
Describe your writing/creative process. What inspires you and how often do you write?
I always start with writing the chords. Depending on how the chords sound/make me feel, I’ll either write a sad song, a love song, or anything in between. I always like to say, you don’t have to be sad to write a sad song and you don’t have to be in love to write a love song. I’ve written the saddest songs while in the happiest relationship.
What was the tipping point that made you realize that you love singing and want to pursue it professionally?
I think I realized I wanted to pursue music professionally after I graduated high school and started recording my songs. It never really occurred to me that I could actually make a living off of doing what I love. I am very lucky to be able to do what I do.
Thank you for having this interview with us! We finally want to ask how you plan your 2020 to be. What message are you planning to spread through your music this year?
No problem at all, thank you for having me! My 2020 is planned with new music, (hopefully) a tour so I can meet all of the amazing people that support me, and just new experiences. I’m still very new to this lifestyle so I have a lot to learn and see. This year, I want my music to spread love and positivity. I want people to listen to my music on a rough day and feel a weight lifted off of their shoulders. I’m very excited to see where 2020 takes me and my career. ◆
Jood is the founder of this site. Find her on her Instagram here.