by alex grainger
photo courtesy of emei
Emei recently released her single “Backtrack” to round off her electric pop rock era. “Backtrack” is laced with defiant drumbeats paired with aggressive guitar riffs to sonically push the narrative of aggravation elicited when someone attempts to take back terrible things they’ve said. Although the concept and writing process only took one day, Emei didn’t understand her full connection to the powerful “Backtrack” until months later. She relistened to the song and understood her true emotions towards and reasoning for sharing the relatable story of “Backtrack.” You may have heard this track before it was officially released as Emei used “Backtrack” to open her live shows. This past year the single was Emei’s “good luck charm” as it allowed her to feel comfortable and confident onstage. Read more about “Backtrack” and Emei below!
Can you tell us what your song “Backtrack” is about?
Emei: “The song ‘Backtrack’ is about the frustration and annoyance that comes with someone trying to take back horrible things they’ve said.”
What was the creative process behind “Backtrack?”
Emei: “I wrote this in one day with the amazing Rachel Folmar, Stephen Ordoñez, and James Colla. We first started with the concept of the title ‘Backtrack’ and the chorus. It really fell into place very fast and it was one of those songs that felt so easy to write (which happen to always be my favorite songs). Once we finished writing it, the song sat in my lil demo vault for a few months before I brought it to Myles Avery and Jordan Lewis to finish. We played around with the sounds for a while before we really landed on this final version!”
Why were you inspired to use your love of live performances on this track?
Emei: “This song has been my opening song for every show I played this year (while it was fully unreleased)! The first song of my set is always really important since it’s my transition from being nervous to comfortable on stage. I have to feel confident and have a ton of fun. It’s like my good luck charm for every show. Since ‘Backtrack’ was that song for me all year, I had to have the final recorded version be the same energetic live sounding. That’s why I had to have the studio version also have live sounds and the final raw vocal take.”
How do you feel this sound you have created for this single is reflective and supportive of the song’s narrative?
Emei: “The song’s narrative is being pissed off and frustrated and over dealing with someone else’s BS. The whole song is a journey as well from being in denial and describing the situation to being completely over it. I think the instrumentation reflects that narrative by keeping the energy of the drums and the aggression of the guitars.”
How do you deal with those in your personal relationships who have said hurtful and “messed up” things? Can they redeem themselves or are some words just unforgivable?
Emei: “It definitely depends on the relationship and the things said. In the heat of the moment, I’m sure we’ve all said some things we’ve regretted but when it’s one of those things that reoccur where someone says mean things and tries to take it back, that’s when it definitely becomes toxic and unforgivable.”
“Backtrack” was your last record of 2022. Why did you decide to release this single as your last of the year?
Emei: “This track was a 2022 send off after my debut EP came out. I was actually debating for a while if I wanted to include ‘Backtrack’ on the EP but decided against it. End of an Era is centered on nostalgia and growing up and captures a very specific time in my life. This song felt like it stuck out but still existed in the sound and era (ha) so I definitely wanted it out before the end of the year.”
photo courtesy of emei
Is there a message you are sending to listeners of “Backtrack?”
Emei: “I guess I’m saying to yell and scream it out when you’re frustrated and to NOT TAKE ANYONE’S BS!”
How have you grown as an artist through the creation of “Backtrack?”
Emei: “I had a lot of fun with this track. It was interesting because when I first wrote it, I actually wasn’t sure if it felt totally me. I wasn’t sure if I really related and I wasn’t sure if it was about a relationship that I felt strongly about. But a few months later, I relistened to the song and realized who and what I was subconsciously writing about, even though I didn’t know in the moment. I tend to do that a lot now where I write a song off of a concept (in this case ‘Backtrack’), and as we write, I realize how I’m feeling and why I’m writing about the situation. Songwriting has definitely turned more and more like therapy for me in the last few months.”
After the release of End of an Era and all your 2022 projects, what can we expect from you in the next era and new year?
Emei: “So much new music!!! ‘Backtrack’ felt like the cherry on top of this pop rock sundae that I’ve lived in and now I’m moving back into my silly alt-pop, dark-pop world.”