Jason Brown Interviews EMELINE!

Check out Jason Brown's chat with EMELINE! 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's see here.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hello, It's Jason Brown from The Fred Show, and I
am so excited to talk to I'm Aline today.

Speaker 1 (00:08):
How are you, girl?

Speaker 3 (00:10):
I'm doing great. Good to be here.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Oh my god.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well, I I was guessing you up before we started here,
but I am so obsessed with you, obviously. I think,
like a lot of people, the first song I ever
heard from you was a couple of years ago Cinderella's Dad,
and everyone was like, yeah, it's so viral, it's so
like the writing is so good. But I was like, no,
my girl can sing. Like your voice is nuts. So like,

(00:34):
as I was like following you through and then I
finally heard Emotional Virgin, I was like, I have to
talk to her, because like you're like blowing up and
you're about to be huge, and like I need to
get on the bandwagon now and like talk to you
so like your music is so good, your writing is
so good. I love your vibe right now that is
so eighties, and I want to get into Emotional Virgin

(00:55):
and everything that you have out right now and what's
coming up. But for people that maybe haven't heard of
you don't know the face to the name, what made
you sort of start music.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
I have always been a musician since I was like
a four year old. I just like have been fascinated
with like sounds and yeah, I just like such a
little nerd forever and ever. But yeah, I mean I
definitely am very inspired by like influencing empowerment within women,

(01:25):
and I think I needed to go on my own
journey before the music could really like catch on with everyone.
But yeah, I think that, like there's nothing more powerful
than that.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
So oh my god, everyone I work is like you
love a female empowerment anthem, like exactly, I one hundred percent,
And that's why I'm aligne.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
I mean, you're not like, you know, what.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Like you're not that
far off, but you're still like you know, like it's cool,
like it's viby and cool, but also like I love
you know the way you angle sort of your writing
and and.

Speaker 1 (01:59):
All that stuff.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
I guess, like I gotta ask you about Cinderella's dad
because that probably was like insane time, right like with
it blowing up and getting hundreds of millions of streams
and you know, social media usage, and can you take me.

Speaker 1 (02:12):
Back like what that felt like when that was sort
of popping off.

Speaker 3 (02:15):
I like cry all the time, but like I was
crying a lot from that. Yeah, Like I just would
like wag up and like saw like because I care
so much about my music and I'm one of those
people that, like, you know, I try to have a
healthy relationship with my goals of like what success means

(02:36):
to me, because I really just try to focus inward
on like what it means to me, and like if
that translates to being really viral or really you know, successful,
then amazing. But yeah, like I just try to be
I just try to make work that I'm really proud of.
But then for that specific for that specific song, like
I will cry right now for that specific song to

(02:56):
have had the reaction that it did because it came
from such a personal experience and a personal struggle, and like,
you know, I've talked about it online, but it is
really interesting how that song has reached so many like
the videos of girls basically exposing their abusers, Like what

(03:21):
an what an intense song to be connected to?

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah, yeah, but I mean I feel like that makes
you know, that should be such a feather in your
cap and make you feel so good because you're not
only empowered them, but you offered a safe space, right,
and like that you sort of created this community and
and and this you know surrounding of like you make
people feel empowered and safe. But that also like leads

(03:50):
back to like that you do care, right, and that
is translating in your music, and what you're doing is
intentional and you're not just putting shit out to put
it out right, like you care about the moves that
you're making and that's just so cool.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
Thanks. I mean, I think it's all rooted and honesty,
and I think that's why like taking back the power
of like anything that's happened to you that you've felt
shame for, Like shame doesn't belong with someone who has
been hurt. And I think that like flipping the switch
on that and like being super unafraid to say, like

(04:26):
what has happened in my life, it's helped inspire others
to not be scared to say it, and like that
does like take your power back, and that flips the
switch on like you know, every everything, So that that
and then seeing that and like the ripple effect of that,
and yeah, I mean I wrote that song over twenty

(04:47):
twenty when I was going through like the worst heartbreak
of my life. I was going through a breakup with
someone who like might the only time I've ever like
in my life done this, And I truly did forget
I was a bad bitch, but like I attached my
identity to like another human being, So I feel like
I lost who I was. I was like making decisions,

(05:08):
I was wearing clothes that like maybe this other person
would like more than like I lost myself in that. Yeah,
and I have a very strong sense of self and clearly,
like when you asked when did I start as a musician,
like five years old, I knew exactly what I wanted.
So for that to happen to a girl like me,
it was like wow, Like honestly, this can happen to
anyone like this, just like being manipulated like all that,

(05:31):
like falling into that, and then that's what made For
a long time, I was like, why isn't my music
like really connecting yet, Like why has it blown up?
But like I was lying, and you cannot make a
cool bad bitch song if you don't believe it, like
like if you get into the room. There's so many
times where my label would be like okay, like this
is what's working, Like let's get you into the studio

(05:52):
and make another Babbage song. But like if I'm not
feeling like a bad Bache that day, like I physically
like I cannot lie, like in a song, I cannot lie.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well, that's such like a unique I mean, I don't know,
because you're so vulnerable and like you said, real and
honest in your music like it and I don't know,
I don't know how to describe it, but like it
hits different, right, Like you can tell people just putsh
it out to putsh it out, and there's no meaning
behind it, especially in you know, whether it be pop
or whatever it might be like we're just doing stuff

(06:23):
to do stuff, or or maybe stuff that started one
way but then got so contrived and manipulated in this
way and that way that it doesn't it ends up
not translating, right.

Speaker 1 (06:33):
But like I think like.

Speaker 2 (06:34):
Your music and your writing specifically, I'm very much like
a lyrics person that translates right, And you could tell
that you care, which is so real, and I want
to point out that right now you're doing it Indie right, Yes,
I am is nuts that like but and that kind
of rolls into like my next question because I want
to talk to you about like the social media of

(06:55):
it all, right, because I'm assuming I don't know the
ins and outs of the music industry, but you know,
an indie artist doing this independent, a lot of it's
got to be on you, right when it's not only
the music and the production and how it's released. And
it's probably good that you get those decisions, but then
it's probably a lot of pressure too. But from like
a social media side of it all, I always struggle with, like,

(07:15):
oh my god, we have to feel videos today, like
I don't want to do this, you know, Like how
like navigate that and be like okay, like I'm gonna
put the I'm gonna put something out there and it
might get scrutinized or it might get hate comments, but
I'm still gonna do it.

Speaker 1 (07:31):
How do you stay motivated to do that?

Speaker 3 (07:34):
First and foremost, choosing good people in my life. I
think that you know, I've had the like tough love
team before and like that in some ways that can
be motivational. But I just realized, like I am a
very like I'm a sensitive artist, and like, you know,
I need people to understand that concept to her around
me and so I have like sweetheart managers now who

(07:57):
just encourage me, and they don't you know, blame me
if the video doesn't go well, because it's not our fault,
like it's it's the algorithm, and you know, we're all
just throwing paint at the wall. Like so I think
like remembering that, like the views are not a reflection
of the art all the time, and obviously like it

(08:17):
everyone gets really in their head about it. It's like
I I think, like we should have support groups because
like we're all in this and and it's so beautiful
because I do think that, like wow, like it gives
hope to everyone, Like you know, people could be like
in their hometowns and like you literally have an opportunity
to like post online and figure out a way to

(08:39):
get yourself signed from like out of nowhere or like
I wrote, Cinerella is dead in Rhode Island in a field,
like you know, it doesn't like just it doesn't even matter,
Like we all have so much opportunity now. But at
the same time that has made within the last year
or two, like the competition and like how many people

(08:59):
are putting music out there, like it's so convoluted, like
it is different now, and so I do I do
wonder though, like if there will be a shift, and
for me personally, I I have been feeling like a
claustrophobic a little bit with social media. So that's why
I really like, you know, there are other sides to
the business, like TikTok is its own business, like social

(09:21):
media is its own business, and then there's like also live,
and then there's also radio. And it's crazy that my label,
you know, radio is really expensive. They never invested in
Cinderella Staid when independently gold I was doing that social
media completely by myself, like I was the marketing, like
I was absolutely like just posting, like coming up with

(09:42):
all these things and then following the momentum and then
a lot of it was organic. But yeah, so now
I think, like I'm just remembering outside of this, like
this is all gonna die one day. Like I was
a viner when I was like in middle school. I
had like a profile on there, and I remember when
that a disappeared and like I felt like my opportunity

(10:04):
to get success was gone in all these hours that
I had put in. So I've had that like traumatic experience,
so I kind of like go with this with like
the idea of like this will all be gone one day.
What won't be gone is like first of all live shows.
So that's what I'm also putting my focus into, like
I need human connection to balance this experience out. And

(10:24):
also with radio, which is the other side of things,
I am independently investing in that, which is something that
I never did when I was on a major label.
So you know, I just I think that it is
one of those things where like I believe in myself
so ferociously that I have just decided to take those
risks that are really scary and I'm self funding it all.

(10:46):
But yeah, I really believe in it, and I think
what I have to say is important. And yeah, I
appreciate like even hearing you say that, like the lyrics
have touched you, like the like.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
It's it's so cool.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
And I love being able to support artists that literally
are doing your doing it yourself, which is crazy, like
you're making decisions and that's it. It's just so awesome.
And when you're as good as you are, like I
just I want to scream it from the rooftops because
you're like so amazingly talented. I got to talk to
you for I got to talk to you about the

(11:22):
Kissy Lips before we get into Emotional Virgin, because I'm
obsessed with that song. But like, where do the idea
come from? And also is that how you make it
every day? By kissing your hand and putting it on
your neck because you did a video like showing that,
But like why not just get a tattoo? Or is
it a tattoo?

Speaker 3 (11:40):
I have so many answers for you, it's not even funny.
I wrote an essay on this actually that I pin
up because I just have a lot to say. I
will pin up essays that I have written on the
walls at my shows.

Speaker 1 (11:54):
It so awesome.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
It gives people something to do while they're waiting, right,
So like hell.

Speaker 3 (11:58):
Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, so yeah, I have so many
things to answer that With number one, you know, first
of all, I wanted something that felt like a symbol
of what I stood for. And you know, when I
was first with Capital and we were sort of like

(12:18):
picking out like what my kind of style would be,
and I felt very multipleic. I have like lots of
multiplicity within like even my gender and my sexuality, and
you know, like one day I wake up and I
feel really masculine, and one day I wake and I
feel really feminine. That's sort of what my song Equinique
is about. But you know, I think that honestly, I

(12:39):
wasn't around enough gay people, and I don't think they
got it. I was like, this isn't a flan thing,
this is a fluidity thing, Like, oh, I can be
all of these things at once, And you know, we
really leaned into the super like courseted look, which I
love because I think like, when I am speaking on
a lot of feminist issues, it's really cool for me

(13:00):
to be dressed hyper feminine. But you know that doesn't
really reflect the entirety of like my identity. So first
of all, I am the core of my brand is
I want to reject shame, Like that is what I
care about spreading to everyone of all genders is shame
is like such a low vibration. None of us deserve

(13:20):
to feel that. We all deserve to fight through the
fight through that. So for me, I came up with
all those things in mind. I wanted to walk into
somewhere and for someone to be like did she just
like did a girl just like kiss her in the bathroom.
And you know, I honestly I've done looks where I've
made it look like Hickey's because I'm like, I don't care,

(13:41):
Like there's nothing to be ashamed for by being sexually empowered.
There's nothing to be a shame for with you know,
loving another gender. And then it has evolved so much.
There's also something so intimate about someone kissing you on
the next So when I when I first started this idea,
I literally would wake up. I was in my strut era.

(14:02):
I would wake up and I would be like, I'm
going to find a girl today or a guy that
likes to wear lipstick, and they're gonna kiss me on
the next So I would go out without a kiss,
and I would come back home with a kiss, and
I'd be like, I just want a little decoration. So
first of all, it did start as like this like
single era thing.

Speaker 4 (14:21):
And then yeah, and then like you know, when I
wasn't in as much of like a single time or
I was more feeling to myself, I developed it into
sort of this like more just self love.

Speaker 3 (14:32):
So then I would do it myself today though I
didn't want to ruin my white T shirt. So I
have these little yeah, but they look so real though,
just like it's fun too. Like at my shows, I
have people like I'll have them like kiss a canvas
and like art out of it. There's like so much

(14:55):
to it. There's such like magic in that symbol. It's
such a clastic thing. And then the last piece that
I'll answer this is a very long answer with you know,
I found a lot of people being like, oh my god,
I love Strut and I love Cindrella is Dead and
like I love porn Star, but like I had no

(15:15):
idea you were all the same person. And so you know,
I'm like we're scrolling all the time, like we like
all these songs, but like maybe we haven't identified like
someone as an artist yet. Yeah, And so I just
wanted a way that like people could see me and like, no,
it was me on that scrolling on the feed. So
you know, the girls singing Cindrella is Dead will also

(15:35):
be the struck girl because she always was a kiss. Yes,
that's kind of mine.

Speaker 2 (15:39):
And if you don't have do you have branded lip
tattoos that you give out like that what.

Speaker 3 (15:45):
I merch scanned my my lips, So I have made
on Like on my merch on the corner, I put
like a kiss on every single one, which is the
left side. And so oh yeah, but I have much
to go. I haven't done like a lips Lipstic brand
collab yet.

Speaker 1 (16:05):
My god, yeah you need to.

Speaker 2 (16:07):
All I'm doing is on makeup TikTok. I don't do makeup,
but somehow I makeup TikTok and like it's so relaxing
to me, Like I don't know, everyone makes fun of me,
like because I know what a highlighter is. Now, I'm like, well,
it's okay. I don't do drag. I don't do makeup,
but like I like watching it.

Speaker 1 (16:21):
It's okay.

Speaker 3 (16:21):
It's like meditational.

Speaker 1 (16:23):
Yeah, it truly is? It truly is. Anyway, that's a
story for a different day.

Speaker 2 (16:27):
Really, I want to talk about Emotional Virgin. It is
so good because why it caught my eye and like
really like sort of like in my ear, it was
like it's giving eighties but it's also giving like a
little bit of like it's just a good driving song.
Like I spend a lot of my time in the car,
and so like I don't live in the city. I
live outside the city, so I'm always in traffic. I'm

(16:48):
always driving, so like when I'm in my car, that's
sort of like my zen moment, right, So when I
heard Emotional Version, immediately added it to my driving playlist
because I'm like, this song is just so good in
the car. So I wanted you to talk to a
little bit about it because I want to convince everyone
that they need to listen to it, and then all
the radio stations need to play it.

Speaker 1 (17:05):
So tell me about emotional Virgin.

Speaker 3 (17:07):
Okay, yeah, so that exactly is why I decided to
make that the radio song, and I am my management
like we took a leap on it because I was like,
I'm not even necessarily sure if this is like a
TikTok song, And that's why I never originally I wasn't
even gonna make it a single. My producer all my

(17:27):
like co writers were like, have been obsessed with this song.
We wrote it years ago. Actually yeah, so, but that's
why I wanted it to be the radio single because
it does just feel like one of those songs it's
like it feels so comforting, but then it also energizes you.
But yeah, I mean that song is really special to me.
It's obviously it's like the the title track, so I

(17:52):
don't know if you know that, but the name of
the album will be Emotional VIRGINO.

Speaker 1 (17:56):
Okay, I see.

Speaker 3 (17:58):
So yeah, I'm really excited about that. That'll be out
at the at the top of next year.

Speaker 1 (18:07):
My next question is what's coming up that's so exciting?

Speaker 3 (18:09):
Okay, yeah, I know, but yeah, I mean that song.
I have been describing it as my first love song
ever because honestly a lot of my music has been
about like things that I've been through and like you know,
overcoming like internal struggles, and this is like the first
song I've ever put out that is just like pure

(18:30):
and like about pure good love and about like giving
and receiving and there's something and that's why I wanted
it to be about like losing your emotional virginity, because
that is how I felt when you know, when I
was writing this, it was just kind of about like, wow,
like this is this is the first time like anyone's
ever like been that nice to me or like, you know,

(18:51):
especially when you go through something and like your bar
is so low, so then like have something really beautiful.
And I I had a a brief amazing relationship with
this girl when I was twenty two and she suddenly

(19:11):
passed away and it was like this horribly traumatic and
it happened like the week that actually like I got signed,
So it was like the craziest.

Speaker 1 (19:19):
Oh my gosh, like up and down, like yeah.

Speaker 3 (19:23):
It was like so high and lowe at the same time.

Speaker 1 (19:26):
Just got that's crazy.

Speaker 3 (19:28):
It's crazy. It was like a crazy like time in
my life. And so also like putting this music out
feels really vulnerable, Like part of me wants to talk
about it, part of me doesn't. But like when I
talk about her, it is really beautiful that like I'm
investing in a song that I feel like her energy
is in and like the fact that like it can
be heard all over the world, you know, like when

(19:49):
you've lost someone that you know, like you know what
their energy is and you know, like especially if you're
an artist, like I know when I'm like, you know,
alluding to her or like adding her into a song,
or like if she's staying in the room with me,
like on a more spiritual level, Like it is really
cool now to be at this point where I'm putting
out that music where like I just feel like I'm
like I don't know her glitter is like spread around

(20:12):
the world, and it makes me feel related.

Speaker 1 (20:14):
You know.

Speaker 3 (20:14):
It's such an honor to her. Got her name was Claire.
She was also an artist, and yeah, so like so
tragic obviously, but also like she we for each other.
We were like that love where we were both like
in horrible relationships before each other, and so when we met,
it was like, oh my god, Like it was just

(20:36):
like so healing to be like loved in that in
that way, and like it yeah, it like melted everything away,
and you can really hear that where it's just kind
of like, you know, it feels like my heart is
being touched for the first time. Like everything before this
wasn't real.

Speaker 1 (20:53):
Yeah, it didn't feel like this. Yeah, and that's how
you know, And and.

Speaker 2 (20:56):
It's so tragic, but it's also like so amazing that
you get to sort of like have her story and
those memories and everything sort of live on in something
and such an amazing piece of art. Like you should
be proud because that that's really awesome and you paid
amazing homage to her, Like I didn't even know that story,
and like I'm like ready to cry, Like it's because

(21:17):
now like think knowing that and thinking going back and
like listening to it, it's like, oh wow, like that
it's so powerful.

Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah yeah.

Speaker 3 (21:25):
And also like when you do put it in perspective
with like all the stories I've shared before about relationships,
like I don't know, I feel like I'm really proud
of myself, like how far I've come, and like that
is the ultimate act of self. Love is choosing the
people around you that love you in the way that
you deserve. And if that's my ethos, like I better
be acting on it. And I want to inspire my

(21:46):
fans too, after they've had their Cinderella's Dead a reclamation moment,
like I want them to go find their love, you know. Yeah,
I think we all deserve that love with yourself. Like
fuck a relationship, righted, nobody?

Speaker 1 (22:00):
Fuck it me relationship, No.

Speaker 3 (22:02):
Fuck it. I'm deeply, deeply in love. But I want
people to do.

Speaker 2 (22:08):
But all I listened to is sad girl anthems and
break up music. Maybe that's like the dichotomy I need
in life.

Speaker 1 (22:15):
And that's on growth, That's what I gotta say for you.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
Okay, Like that's on growth, Like oh my god, Okay,
so you've already spilled the beans. We have an album
coming well at the beginning of the year. When are
we getting some live shows? And when are you coming
to Chicago? Because I need to make a request. You
also need to come here, like you need we need
like summer vibes, maybe like around Pride time, but also
like rooftop summertime Chicago show, like we need to like

(22:41):
do that, like that would be mere. Yeah, so what's
coming up?

Speaker 3 (22:46):
First of all, I will not be coming to Chicago
in the winter, Okay.

Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah, don't girl, don't stay away, stay away.

Speaker 3 (22:53):
So not gonna happen. But I definitely will be coming
to Chicago. I played shoo was last time I was there.
Such a cool fun But I'm ready. I'm just like
so ready for that. I actually literally after this have
a meeting with my agent to about tour dates.

Speaker 1 (23:12):
But there will get my request in for Chicago. Putting
my request it you.

Speaker 3 (23:16):
Know what RCP link in the biogrel, you know, but
I know I'll put you on the list. But it'll
be really fun. I mean, I I will be doing
a tour. It will be the Emotional Virgin tour the album.
So you're we're getting like a proper rollout for this.
This is my first like full body of work I've

(23:37):
ever put out. So everything has been like SIMP singles
and then you know, I did an EP last year,
but it also wasn't like intended to be an EP.
I honestly think it was kind of like it was
kind of like something that was like super A and
R if I'm being completely honest, obviously, I uh, I
wrote all those songs from my life stories, but this
is the first song like I own. This is the

(23:58):
first album I almost like eat it like behind my
labels back, which like those are always gonna be.

Speaker 1 (24:03):
The those are the best.

Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah, it's like in secret no, but yeah, and like
I got to produce a bit on it too, So
there's like, you know, just like some some more experimental,
some more artistic, you're gonna you're gonna be able to
hear like all of the different like sides of my
heart mixed into one, and I think, you know there
there isn't really I don't even feel like an artist

(24:27):
until I've been able to put out a body of work,
like I feel like this is the beginning for me truly.

Speaker 1 (24:33):
Well, I'm so I'm so excited.

Speaker 2 (24:35):
I can't wait to hear it, Like I just know
you're gonna take me on a ride and I don't
know if my heart and mind are ready, but girl,
we're gonna go through it together. Emlyne, thank you so
much for hanging out with me right now. The single
Emotional Virgin, it's everything to me, Like, okay, so my
shuffle that I'll tell you this before we'll go. I'm
sorry keeping you so long, but like your song Emotional Virgin,

(24:57):
I'm my favorite driving playlist this morning into dat Sport
Confessional and I was like, wait, this makes sense, Like
it's like like I'm like I'm cautging it thing like
this song could be in like a Laguna Beach episode,
Like like that's like the vibe that I just like.

Speaker 1 (25:11):
I love it, Yes, I love it.

Speaker 2 (25:16):
Thank you so much for sitting down with the Emotional
Virgin of sing is the single Emmeline. I can't wait
to just watch you explode because you're so so, so,
so so good. So check her out wherever you get
your music and we will see you on.

Speaker 1 (25:28):
The road soon. A girl cho Yes, thank you so much,
have a good day.

Speaker 3 (25:33):
Rights bye.