Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Sie.
Hi Emily, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved music growing up, but music wasn’t a first choice for me. It was just a hobby and something I enjoy during my pastime. I remember my 11-year-old self listening to a David Foster and Friends tape my dad used to play for me over and over again, and fighting over the last physical copy of Taylor Swift’s Speak Now album with my best friend in the nearest CD shop back home.
But that all changed in 2020 when my music career started on YouTube during peak Covid and quarantine days where I spent almost 2 years confined to my house. I had all the time in the world, so I made the most of it by making acoustic/stripped-back videos of my favorite songs. A couple of my covers surprisingly went viral and my channel kept on growing, granting me exposure through my videos. I got my YouTube Silver Play Button and now I have around 200,000+ subscribers. I am forever grateful with how I started off and have built a supportive and loving community through my channel. It also allowed me to connect with and be inspired by talented creators and musicians from all over the world. From then, I started to write my own songs and today, I’ve garnered 3.5 million+ streams worldwide on Spotify which then lead me to pursuing music more seriously when I realized that I can actually make a living with what I do.
In 2021, when Covid started to die down, I immediately left Indonesia for Berklee College of Music. Being so far away from home the first time after spending almost two years stuck in my bedroom was a really scary experience for me. But in this new chapter of my life, I met people, encountered situations, and experienced so many feelings I’ve never felt before. I penned out these emotions into songs and decided to compile them and release it as my debut EP. I spent most of 2022 finalizing the production of the EP. The EP is called “all the things I couldn’t say” and will be out very soon in a month or two. I started 2023 in the best possible way; I held my first-ever concert back in Indonesia. Tickets were sold out and 180 people came to the show, which isn’t a big number but a good start for me. I’m really excited to be releasing this EP and for what’s to come!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Having established a platform to create and being able to study in one of the best music schools there is, I thought I could only go up from there. But the truth is, I felt constant emptiness trying to always be the best version of myself, both as an artist and as a student. Music, which started as a hobby and something I loved doing, turned to be a job, a homework, and the weight on my back I have to be responsible for. I spent the past year trying to figure out where I’m going with my music and kind of went M.I.A. I was desperately searching for that joy of music that I lost along the way. That’s where I started to write songs for my EP as an outlet to vent out the emotions I wasn’t able to articulate any other way. This EP means alot to me because it’s really personal. And I’m happy to say that I finally found and got back that joy I’ve been looking for.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a singer-songwriter, so I’m a sucker for writing, both for me and for other people. I put a lot of time and effort into my lyrics. I love wordplay and story-telling through my songs – I take heavy emotions I’m too scared to talk about and present them in small and intimate moments, like walking down snowy Mass Ave feeling vulnerable, drinking coffee and hating it, or simply brushing my teeth and thinking there’s more to life than this. These are real situations that happen in my life, and I want my songs to show that transparency. Sonically at the moment, I think my songs kind of fall into two spectrums: sad-girl hour songs that’ll give you all the feels or fun ear-candy-infused bedroom pop. So I’m definitely open for any songwriting sessions! Also please keep a look out for my EP because that’ll be released very soon!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Aside from the weather and crazy good Asian food, I love the city’s rich musical scene and networking opportunities!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.sie/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/emilysie
- Other: Spotify: https://tr.ee/4m0SRS71T9
