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NEW exclusive photos: Beatsmedia Catches back up with the beautiful EMMA HEWITT

The ascent of Australian born vocalist/songwriter Emma Hewitt began in 2007 when she crashed onto the international dance scene as co-writer and featured vocalist on the Chris Lake U.S Billboard #1 (Hot Dance Airplay) smash hit, Carry Me Away.

In a further display of versatility, Emma’s acoustic entry in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition was crowned “Best Adult Contemporary” song from a field of over 15,000 being judged by Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, Robert Smith (The Cure) and Black Francis (The Pixies) amongst others which led to a worldwide publishing deal with Chrysalis Songs UK/Benelux.

An extensive touring schedule throughout 2010/11 has included sold out solo performances right across the globe with the most recent show of note being a career defining main stage performance at the Red Rocks amphitheatre in Colorado for the Global Dance Festival alongside artists such as Empire Of The Sun, LMFAO, Skrillex, Kid Cudi, and Nero.

With production now complete on a debut solo artist album, fans will soon be introduced to Emma’s versatility on a double sided disc featuring club mixes by some of the world’s most respected Trance, House and Electronic producers as well as darker electronic tinged pop tracks mixed in the U.K by the legendary Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, The Killers) and David Bascombe (Depeche Mode, Royksopp, Goldfrapp, Ladyhawke).

www.facebook.com/emmahewittofficial

JdmCrush: I would love to know what your background in the music industry is, and how you became one of the most recognizable vocalist names in EDM? How did you get to the point where you’re constantly being sought after by A-List producers?

Emma Hewitt: I began singing in bands when I was about 16, music was all I ever wanted to do from as long as I can remember. I had a rock band in Australia, but I was always working on writing different songs that would hopefully work in other genres too. I travelled to London a few years ago to try and write with some different artists, and I happened to meet dj Chris Lake through my publisher at the time. We wrote a song called “Carry Me Away” together and thankfully people responded well to it. Shortly after that Cosmic Gate got in contact and asked me to work on a song with them, then Dash Berlin soon after. I was really lucky to have such great producers approaching me to work with them when I was so new to the scene!!

I try not to release too many songs just to let each one have the space it needs, so when I am sent tracks by producers I am only working on the ones that I can really draw inspiration from and write something that really fits. Sometimes as amazing as a track may be, the song spirits just don’t visit – it is as much about the track choosing my voice as it is me choosing the track.

Beatsmedia: Was there any specific moment that you made a special bond with Electronic Music?

Emma Hewitt: I always loved electronic music when I heard it, but being from a live band background I never really knew that much about the scene to begin with. But with the first couple of songs I worked on I realized that I could afford to be a lot more emotional, honest and personal with the writing within electronic music. It kind of allowed me to find myself as a singer as well as a writer, so I fell completely in love with the genre.

Beatsmedia: How different is to tour as an EDM singer rather than a Rock Artist?

Emma Hewitt: It’s incredibly different. Instead of having 6 of us with all the equipment and loads of organization and stressful things that can go wrong, it is just pretty much me travelling either alone or with my manager. This allows me to travel to so many amazing places all over the world that I never would have otherwise seen. EDM reaches a much wider audience too, so I am lucky enough to play to big crowds of happy music lovers!! Of course there are other variables that can go wrong now, like missed flights and getting stuck in random countries occasionally, but it all adds to the adventure…

Mlor: Do you listen to your own music, or is it one of those Johnny Depp cases where you feel awkward listening to what you create? More specifically, is it possible for you to listen to what you have created and be emotionally moved to the point that your eyes water and your whole body tingles? Be Your Sound has sent me into a state a ecstasy more times than I can count. I am simply curious whether you can enjoy your work to that extent.

Emma Hewitt: I always aim to get to a point where I can feel emotionally moved either by performing or listening to a recording I have worked on. I feel like if the song doesn’t have that emotional connection or move me to some extent then it is not working, so I always hope that if I can reach that point a little bit myself then maybe other people will get that feeling too. I call upon that initial feeling or inspiration when I am performing live too…

Mlor: On another note, I really enjoy everything you do…trance-related or otherwise. I just discovered your Missing Hours album a few days ago and have been enjoying it since then. I am REALLY excited for your debut album on Armada whenever it drops.

Emma Hewitt: Oh thank you!! The album will be coming out in April after the second single ‘Miss You Paradise’

Charl3y: What is the biggest sacrifice Emma Hewitt had to give for her career?

Emma Hewitt: Probably the first time my brother and I moved from Australia to London when we were about 21 in the hope of working with a producer who had convinced us he would make our album if we moved over. We sold everything we owned, the home studio we had saved for, all our clothes, packed up and moved to London. When we arrived the deal wasn’t really there, for almost a year we kept hoping it would work out but nothing happened, so we just worked in horrible jobs while our Australian dollar savings evaporated until nothing was left.

I guess there have been many times where we have done this kind of thing over and over, we always packed up and left everything behind to move closer to where we hoped the music would be. We have always sold everything we owned or gone into debt to fund the next recording, the next photo shoot or writing trip. We always had to leave our friends and family behind, but I would never change any of it – anything that is going to be worthwhile involves sacrifice of some kind and the positives I have experienced in sharing my music with people around the world is a feeling I am beyond grateful for.

Beatsmedia: Every child dreams with being a singer when they grow up, how did you keep up your goal on reaching a world wide success?

Emma Hewitt: I guess I am just really stubborn! I would refuse to give up on it, there are always so many knock backs and difficult times when trying to do something creative, as there is never a guarantee that all your hard work will pay off. I just kept on knocking on doors and trying different avenues whenever something wasn’t working and it felt like time to give up. My brother and I are a team, we were in the band together, we write all the songs together and now he is my manager, so having the 2 of us really helped, whenever one of us feels like things are too tough the other one kind of takes over for a while and stays positive until we are both back on the path again!

Beatsmedia: What would be the things that most inspire you when singing and writing?

Emma Hewitt: I am usually inspired by my own experiences, or the experiences of the people around me, friends, family…Strangers that I might see on the street. Anything I see that causes me to think about things a little more deeply. Sometimes I am inspired by memories or thoughts of how things could possibly have been if they went a different way. I find the slightly melancholic and more introspective things inspiring. I am not an unhappy person, but I’m less inclined to write about what would generally be considered “happy” subject matter most of the time for some reason.

Kezaia: What do you think separates you from other female trance vocalists?

Emma Hewitt: I just try to stay true to what I do and write songs that mean something to me and hope that they might mean something to other people too, I love listening to tracks by other trance vocalists, but I never really listen to them in a comparative way. There are a lot of really talented vocalists and writers on the scene and it’s just getting better and better – everyone is unique in their own way and has a message or feeling to convey so I guess this is what separates us all, our own way of seeing the world.

Watwotwatwot: How many effects/”helping hands” are added to your voice before the final master of the track?

Emma Hewitt: I am a big fan of some lovely delay on the vocals in the right place, as it makes the voice kind or soar, and I always love a bit of reverb with electronic music. Of course there is also compression and depending on the track, we can sometimes play with phasing/flanging, but as a general rule, I like to stick to reverb, delay and compression. The producers or remixers will of course add their own effects or treat the vocal differently depending on the track, but when the vocal leaves my hands in the studio, I like to keep it relatively simple. I like that up close and personal feel when there are not so many instruments competing with the vocal in a live setting for example, but it can be a lot of fun to play with ethereal effects here and there in the studio as you might with an electric guitar. I consider the voice a texture of the track so it is important that the tonal “mood” really sits with the vibe of the track.

Beatsmedia: What’s it like to work with a DJ & Producer on the creative process when you have to write down the lyrics?

Emma Hewitt: Most of the time when I work on a track I am not actually in the room with the producer. My brother and I write all the melodies and lyrics together. Either the producer will send through an instrumental and we will take inspiration from that and write something around it, or otherwise we will start with a guitar or piano and come up with the song acoustically and then send it across to the producer for them build the track around. It is really quite odd working on tracks with people you have never met in person before. Often the first time we have met has been to do a show or film a video. In saying that most of the producers I have worked with are really lovely people and we have since become friends after finally meeting.

Beatsmedia: Which “Colours” do you prefer the most? Tell us about this song and the powerful message it has for young couples that sometimes don’t stop to see their mistakes.

Emma Hewitt: It’s really hard to pick a favorite!! Armin’s mix is wonderful!, and sounds huge!!! The original is quite emotional to me, and Cosmic Gate have also just done a truly amazing remix that I can’t wait for people to hear, I am just `SO excited by it!! Each version, to me, takes the song emotionally to a completely different place.

The song was written as my Grandpa was passing away. I was thinking about the transient nature of life, how quickly it all passes…Even the things that we take for granted and think will be there forever. And I was wondering what we will remember when we look back over it all, which moments will become the most memorable, which of the faces that we met will we remember the most? It is strange how often the smallest moments create the most lasting memories. These thoughts provided the inspiration as well as the situation my family was going through and amongst all the questions I had and confusion I was feeling this song arrived as a kind of lullaby.

Beatsmedia: Talk to us about your album, can you name 3 tracks from the album that you feel most represent the overall sound, and when will it be released?

Emma Hewitt: The album will be released in April this year. My Dad described it as a “nostalgic look forwards” which I think makes sense. The songs are all very introspective, looking at all the things that could have been, that have been and that may be. Most of the songs stem from memories I have had over my life.

Colours represents the softer side, the second single is called “Miss You Paradise” this song is also very personal to me, it is about always being compelled to leave everything behind in the search for something more, so it is kind of the story of my life. This track is quite emotional but has been recorded in a slightly more pop way than “Colours.”

Then there is the darker side of the coin with a track called “Rewind” which has quite industrial beats and heavier sounds in there, but still has the yearning of something left behind in the lyrics.

Quick Fire Questions:

Kyot: When is your birthday?
Emma Hewitt: April 28…Taurus!! :P
Tallhairyman: If you were trapped on a deserted island and you could only bring one album with you, what would you bring?
Emma Hewitt: Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon
Thejohnnyfine: You’re given an empty iPod with only 3 downloads… What do you choose?
Emma Hewitt: Ooh, tough one!!
“Silence” – Tiesto remix
“Hurt” – Jonny Cash’s cover version of Nine Inch Nails
“Black” Pearl Jam

Beatsmedia: And finally we shall end this interview with one question from us and one from your loyal fans! What are your advices for the new talent that is trying to build a singing career inside the EDM scene?

Emma Hewitt: Write as much as you can, but only release the songs you think are the best representation of yourself as an artist as – you need to be able to stand behind your work. Approach the people you think your sound gels the most with for collaborations, and just keep trying, if you get knock backs (which we all do) don’t lose heart – read biographies of any of your favourite bands or musicians and you will see that they were all faced many difficult obstacles early on and were given numerous opportunities to give up, but simply persevered. Take constructive criticism, maintain your integrity and NEVER give up…or I will hunt you down ;)

HelixR: Dear Emma, could you please please make an awesome Trance collaboration together with Audrey Gallagher? You and Audrey have the best voices for this genre and I currently throwing all my money at my screen to make it happen. Hopefully it’s working!

Emma Hewitt: I absolutely LOVE Audrey, she is an incredible talent and an equally incredible person!! She is one of my favourite writers and singers…there is something quite otherworldly and magical about her voice, isn’t there?

Beatsmedia: It is great to catch up with you once again Emma, you’ve been doing an amazing job, and still continue to be one of the most prestigious vocalists this trance scene has come to know and love. Thank you for your time, we wish you the best in everything you set your mind to.

Emma Hewitt: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, and to everyone for all the in depth questions!!! :D xx

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http://www.chrysalissongs.nl