Last time we checked in on Emika, she was busy soothing our ears with her first single and a clear favorite for track of the year “Drop The Other.” Fast forward a few months and Berlins new “It Girl” is fast at work on a highly anticipated debut, an incredible new single ‘Double Edge,’ in which she decided to stop by the cafe and premiere.
H.Q. How did the title Double Edge come about?
EM: Good question, its like singing, its something I do and is based on feeling and moments, the hook just came out of my mouth when I was vibing with my piano. I guess if I really analyze its origin, it comes from my piano which is so battered and old. Certain keys make percussive sounds which inspired the pattern of syllables in my lyrics. “You cut me like a” can literally be heard in my piano – if you listen deep enough.
H.Q. There’s a very interesting story behind this track, explain.
EM: I recorded some of the vocals at a place in West Berlin called Die Teufelsberg which is an abandoned listening station. There is this incredible dome which is such an awesome space. Depending on where you stand inside, it can sound like you are speaking to yourself from behind your own head. It was wild to sing in there as for the first time ever I felt as though I could hear my voice coming from the dome not my own body. You can see pictures of Teufelsberg in the video to Pinch’s remix of the track, and hear the vibe in my record.
H.Q. You wrote and produced the single, are you also creating sounds for the whole full length?
EM: I don’t consider myself to be making sounds as such, I am interested in taking acoustic sounds like my voice and processing them to behave unnaturally. The sound phenomena all ready exists and I seek to produce it in a way that is signature to me. I spend more time listening, comparing urban noise and sounds of nature, then actual synth preset design.
H.Q. The piano intro is amazing, have you been playing more classical pieces as of late?
EM: At the moment I have been composing some small piano pieces for children. When I was learning piano as a kid I was never compelled to play because pieces for children are often about farm yard animals for example. When I used to teach piano to children, they would always fall in love with Für Elise by Beethoven, which is simple to learn and has incredible depth, so I am taking inspiration from this when composing.
H.Q. What’s been the most interesting part of your life since we last spoke?
EM: Definitely my job at Native Instruments, there are so many awesome talented people working there and it is interesting for me to be part of a big team, as opposed to producing records in my bedroom home alone. Also listening to Marcel Dettmann’s album, in which I’ve had that on repeat for weeks, its such an interesting record I love it.
Emika- Double Edge (Maroon Cafe Premiere)
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