Inspired by electro movie soundtracks, artist and designer Emily Daccarett takes us on a red light, celluloid journey ahead of her debut EP release.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM
Cannibal is my latest ep! I’m a fashion designer and artistic director to my clothing and accessories brand, but music has always had a strong presence in what I do. I worked with film composer, S. Peace Nistades to write songs that united my projects and fashion shows together in the past. As time went on, I had an overwhelming desire to produce my own songs, not just the film-like scores we did for my brand. Cannibal is my journey to discovering my sound and the next phase of myself as an artist. It was freeing to work on these songs, well it was a mixed bag of emotions, but I love to change no matter how scary it can be.
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT THE SONGWRITING PROCESS?
I started with morning pages, which is exactly what it sounds like ha ha! As soon as you wake up, you grab your notebook and write anything that comes to mind until you run out of words. In a way it’s like keeping a diary. Growin Addiction was the first song I wrote. I then started playing around with some cool space like sounds and created a beat. I was going for ambient trance, but as I kept writing the other songs it changed directions to pop. I try to let this happen organically. I don’t want to force an idea that will later prevent me from discovering something new.
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM?
I was inspired by Blade Runner, 80’s pop, and some of my favorite anime series such as Evangelion, Steins Gate, and No Game No Life for the sound. I love combining that dystopian futuristic look with a Film Noir vibe, it feels so modern. As a designer, I was inspired by Pierre Cardan’s space age designs in the 60’s and I tend to see those influences in anime characters today.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TRACK?
My favorite track is Growin Addiction
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
My biggest influences are David Bowie, Kate Bush, Vanessa Paradis, Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey and many more who are not musicians. I’m influenced by literature, fashion, film….this list is ongoing.
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
I love movie soundtracks. If I have to pick it would be Vangelis scores for Blade Runner and James Horner’s scores for Braveheart. It’s like coming home when I play those soundtracks. I feel like its food for my soul. I know that sounds corny, but it’s the only way to describe it.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE MUSIC?
Working in fashion, which is what I do still! There are different stages when it comes to the fashion industry. I’m not talking about fast fashion or even trendy fashion, it’s the stage that pushes boundaries. That point where people don’t understand or even know how to digest what you are doing. It’s the beginning of something new. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECORD ONE OF YOUR SONGS, AND WHICH ONE?
I would love Lana Del Rey to sing Red Light. She is a character from a different time and one we romanticize. Red Light was inspired by the Sunset Strip in the 70’s. The seedy reality of what it takes to make it in LA and its seduction.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
We all attended the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. We had played together before on different gigs and projects. I’m not your traditional band, we come together for special occasions to play live. The way I create music lets me work with different musicians depending on the record. My latest event I worked with Erika Sorondo, owner of A Part of Your World Events, and created a Mulholland Drive-esque party in the Hollywood Hills. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE STARTING OUT?
Although as artists we are constantly evolving, hold on to that part of you that makes you special and cultivate it. You should not try to fit into a mould, just so it’s easy for people to define what you are doing. Forcing people to question and wonder who you are and what new thing you are trying to put forth in the world, is what we should be doing.
WHAT IS NEXT?
I have a couple of new releases for 2020. I’m hoping to introduce my new active wear line that coincides with my EP.