Australian Pop/Dance Songstress, EMILY PERRY, Discusses New Music, Last Year’s High School Nation Tour and More!

Get to know the talented new pop/dance artist named Emily Perry!

Emily is a singer and professional dancer who originally hails from Sydney, Australia, and now resides in Los Angeles. At the young age of 19 she already has three Billboard Top 20 dance hits to her name, including two that peaked at #9 and one at #13 (“Boom,” “Walk in Silence” and “Summer On Lock”).

Her hit songs have been remixed by popular DJs ranging from Hector Fonseca (Sia, Lady Gaga, Rihanna) to 2016 Grammy Winner Dave Aude (Bruno Mars, Beyonce, Adele). She recently released her newest single, “So Bad” and had a new Christmas song called “Jingle Jingle,” which was featured in Hallmark’s Christmas movie, Homegrown Christmas, with Lori Loughlin.

Perry has a significant social media following (@theemilyperry on Instagram), and recently wrapped up headlining more than a dozen cities around the country on the 2018 High School Nation Fall Tour, which raises awareness and funds for arts and music in public schools. She has performed in LA, NY, Miami, at Philadelphia’s Fourth of July Parade, at Chicago’s Market Days at the House of Blues, Atlantic City, Denver and Minneapolis

Connect With Emily Perry Here:

https://www.emilyperry.me/

Learn more about Emily Perry in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you now? Is there music playing in the background?
Thank you so much for having me! This interview finds me in Sydney, Australia and yes, of course, some Miguel is playing in the background!

Now that the new year has started, how do you think 2018 treated you and your career? What was the one goal that you had last year? Did you accomplish it?
2018 was a life changing year for me. I had 3 songs on the Billboard Dance Charts, went on my very first Pride/club circuit across the US and completed my very first tour around North America. Going on tour was a goal of mine and an absolute dream. I also got to create a few hype visuals that I had so much fun with!

Growing up, how important was music to you in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a musician? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?
My music actually stemmed from my dance background. I’ve been a dancer since I was a little bubba! My music is an extension of the feelings that I express through dance. I started to really develop as an artist and plan for a career in the music industry during my teenage years. I released my first original single in 2016 and have been putting out music ever since! It was an easy decision for me to make. It’s certainly not an easy career choice but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I not only want to create music for myself, but for others.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?
To be honest, I don’t know if there were too many surprises. I’ve grown up in the performing arts and knew what I was getting into as far as the hard work required, long hours, the highs from being on stage, the isolation and being away from home. I guess the biggest surprise is loving it more than I ever thought possible. After completing this last tour, I honestly wish I could just tour constantly because it was the most incredible feeling traveling and being up on stage connecting with people everyday.

How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown and where you live today?
I loveeee Australia so much. It’s my home … and now I have a home here as well! It’s nice to have two places I can call home. Australia was such a special place to grow up. It has a really laid-back, relaxed culture. I think it definitely has given me a different writing style as well as given me a strong foundation when it comes to training, which I’ll always be grateful for. Being in LA this past year has definitely been a big change for me. But above all it has been a one of a kind experience. I think everyone I’ve had the privilege of working with has definitely helped shape me as an artist. Everything I have experienced and had the opportunity to be a part of has 100% influenced my music and persona as an artist. The dance community in LA has also been a big part of improving my overall performance ability/style.

Let’s talk about your newest song “So Bad.” What was the inspiration for this track? How do you think it shows the growth that you have gone through as artist over the years? What has remained the same?
I instantly fell in love when I first heard the track. It really fit my musical style and I was just so excited to lay it down and perform it! I think it definitely shows a different level of maturity compared to my past material. We have a remix for “So Bad” coming very soon and on top of all that I am also very excited that the “So Bad” music video will be dropping early 2019.

When do you hope to release more new music and a new album of new songs?I have a new single coming in the next couple of months! I’ve got plenty of music ready to go in 2019.

What was it like the first time you heard a remix of one of your songs? Did you instantly love it? Remixes are such a fun part of the process! I love that a remix basically moves your music into a whole other genre which in turn opens you up to a whole other audience. And obviously as a dancer I love a good remix! I’ve actually put together some dance videos to the upcoming “So Bad” remix that will be out very soon!

How fun was it making your Christmas song, “Jingle Jingle”?                                                                   “Jingle Jingle” is my very first Christmas release! ‘Jingle Jingle’ was one of my favorite group projects! The idea was the brainchild of my co-writer Cindy Valentine. While we were in Denver for my Pride Week performances, we teamed up with local producer Jeff Warnock to lay everything down in his studio. Although we were all in love with the track, we felt it needed a little something extra to really create a fun Christmas anthem with an underlying pop/dance flavor. We brought in one of our favorite producers, Niko The Kid who spiced up the track to deliver what is now ‘Jingle Jingle’.

Since the beginning of music, people have turned to it for support and as an escape from their realities. How do you want your music received and appreciated?
You can’t escape reality but listening to music which speaks to how you’re feeling can support you as you work through the sad times, struggle to move out of the hard times, ignite your creativity and celebrate the good times.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all of the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all? What would you say is your favorite way to connect with your fans now?                                                                                                                                                                                    I love that I get to interact with my fans one-on-one on social media. It’s definitely an upkeep but I try not to overthink it as for me, that’s not really the point of it and I prefer to be more organic and authentic. My fans are one of the reasons I make music and I’m so grateful to have them on this journey with me. Talking with fans on Instagram is a personal fave for sure!

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future?
I’m constantly inspired by the people close to me in my life as well as everyone I have already had the honor and privilege of working with. Some artists I’m vibing with at the moment would be Ella Mai, Astrid S, Dua Lipa and Anne Marie.

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island forever, what musical item would you take with you and why?
A piano for sureeeee! Probably because it’s the only instrument I really know how to play and because it’s my favorite way to write.

If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in?                                                                                                                                                                            My single, ‘Jingle Jingle,’ which came out in December 2018 was actually in a movie – a Hallmark Christmas movie, Homegrown Christmas. It was super cool watching a movie on TV and hearing my song playing in it! As for a TV show or movie…keeping the style of my music in mind, it would have to be an upbeat comedy with some bad ass females for sure.

Do you have any tour dates you would like to tell our readers about? How will you be spending your winter?
I’ve been spending the winter and the holidays back home in Australia enjoying a very hot summer, which has been great! I’ll be heading back to the US in the next few weeks! No tour has been set yet but definitely working on putting together some dates. I can’t wait to get back on the road soon!

How was your 2018 High School Nation Fall Tour? What was it like being a part of this important tour?                                                                                                                                                                                         Yes, I have just finished the High School Nation Fall Festival Tour which was 25 shows in 5 weeks across the US and I loved it! It was an amazing experience – being on the road, performing, meeting so many students and connecting with my fans on a more personal level. At each school, as a thank you for having us, we provided the gear and software needed for a fully functional on-campus recording studio worth $10,000. Partnering with the top brands in music production, we gave the students access to today’s newest technology and the opportunity to learn and create their own music. It was an incredible feeling to be a part of something so special.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? I’d like to know more about how you want your music to be timeless?                                                                                                          I want people to feel related to, understood and listened to. I want people to take away whatever they feel they need to in the 3 minutes and 20 seconds that they’re listening to my song. Whether that’s to get them pumped up, to help them cry it out, to make them dance, what ever it is, I want them to be able to fully connect and feel it. And ultimately above all I want people to feel happy! Most of my music that’s out at the moment and that’s coming is upbeat and groovy, so I want people to be able to feel that energy when listening. I will always continue to make music because there is always something to say and a story to tell.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?  Thank you so much to all of you who took a peep at this interview today! I hope you got to know me and my music a little better. New music is coming and it’s definitely my most exciting stuff to date! More visuals and remixes will also be dropping this month! I have a lot of crazy exciting stuff coming up this year so you can keep up with everything I’m doing on all social media under @TheEmilyPerry and at my website www.TheEmilyPerry.com.