Indie Electro-Pop Artist GIIA Chats About New Music, Her Opera Background and Much More!

Photo Credit- Selbi Taganova

Meet the indie electro-pop artist, GIIA. The operatically-trained songstress recently dropped her fiery debut single, “Burning Game” [prod. MEMBA].

“Burning Game” is an infectious track highlighted by GIIA’s classic vocals and hypnotic melodies. A dark atmospheric track with a grooving beat, it’s a song about toxic relationships and falling back into old habits.

“…any situation that makes you feel stuck. Instead of coming to your senses, getting out of it and moving on, you fall right back in. Falling back into old habits because it’s easier than walking away. When I thought of how that feels I immediately thought of the image of a flame. Something that looks so enticingly beautiful from the outside but when you’re in the thick of it, it will hurt and wear you away. Hence the name ‘Burning Game.'”

Under the alias of GIIA, vocalist Emmy Giarrusso presents soulful atmospheric electronic music inspired by trap and pop. Growing up in Boston, GIIA began singing at a very young age launching her early vocal training in opera. She later attended Berklee College of Music to study contemporary voice. After moving to NYC, GIIA began writing top lines for local producers and was inspired to create music of her own. Her debut feature track, “One” produced by MEMBA, was released in June 2016 and has been featured on AXS, This Song Slaps, Run the Trap, and Dancing Astronaut’s’ Top Trending Chart. GIIA is now gearing up to release a slew of her own tracks, ready to break into the electronic music scene with an intimate blend of electronic and trap with big ethereal vocals complemented with touches of her operatic style.

“I was trained classically in the Opera genre, so that that part of my voice comes out in my music. It’s a unique sound when mixed with the electronic sound. While listening to my music, I want people to be dancing in their rooms, humming the melodies” -GIIA

Learn more about GIIA in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Now that we are more than half-way through 2016, what are some words you would use to describe it? What were some of the highlights of 2015 for you and your music?

So far this year has been full of new beginnings for me. Things are really picking up in all aspects of my life. Two singles out and one more on the way with a really exciting video. My theme for 2016 is “hard work pays off”.

2015 was the real start of my GIIA vision. I decided to get serious about making GIIA into a reality so it was a really memorable year.

How did you come up with your alias, GIIA? Why did you decide not to go by your real name?

I wanted a name that was close to my own. My real last name is Giarrusso so when I was playing with names I came up with GIA. I ended up adding the extra “I” for the looks and now it just fits naturally.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

I have been singing and performing all my life and yes I have always wanted to be a musician. Some of my earliest musical memories are from the music lessons I had with my first singing teacher. She would come to our house and give my brothers and I lessons in the living room. I never thought that I would be creating my own music years later.

How do you think your operatic-training has helped shape the artist that you are today?

I am forever grateful for my training in classical voice. All the hours I spent practicing, taking voice lessons, workshops, camps and competitions have lead me to where I am with GIIA now. The technique that you learn while singing classically is the foundation for all genres of music. My breath control would never be what it is now. I will always have a love for Opera and that style of vocals and am planning to meld that into one of my electronic tracks one day.

What was the inspiration for your newest single, “Burning Game”? And what about your track, “One”, produced by MEMBA?

“Burning Game” inspiration came from an old page of lyrics that I had written years ago. It’s about falling back into old habits again and again. Staying in a toxic relationship simply because it is easier than walking away. It’s a dark vibey track.

While writing “One”, MEMBA and I tapped into the feeling of loosing someone close to you and wondering where they are. What it’s like to wish you had said or done certain things while they were alive. The music is more uplifting and happy than the words, that’s why I love the song so much!

Who are some of your favorite artists and what bands continue to inspire you? Who would you love to work with in the future?

I am constantly inspired by artists like George Maple, Flume, Little Dragon, James Blake. My dream collaboration would be with Mura Masa, he has been my favorite producer for a while now. I just got to see him live and I lost it! (Laughter)

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

 For me what matters the most is that feeling people get when they listen. Whether they had a shitty day and need some music for the walk home or the had the best day ever and want to dance in their apartment.  I want people to think “oh yess, i need to put on some GIIA”.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Look out for my next track, “Fade To Grey” coming in August. A Flume inspired jam.