Music Review and Interview with E.M. Watson – Spaced Out
What a great piece of music, and such a powerfully artistic video to accompany it. There’s wonderful combination of purity and technology throughout this track. There’s a whole lot of space, but it’s not space that needs to be filled, it’s space for your head to wait and be warmed by the music and the words of the song. It’s space for you to be involved in the music, which is just wonderful. Really original, a tad reminiscent for me of the earlier faithless albums – the more mellow trip-hop side of their music, but only slightly. It’s been a long time since something this experimental and musically free has been put forward to me in such a professionally mixed and mastered fashion.
You really do just get lost in this one. The sound-scape is mesmerizing, the way the music just immediately fills up the room, changes the atmosphere and the mood, without any massively central hook or force-fed melody. Then soon, these words weave their way around your mind, and just as you think you know the deal, you know what it’s all about, the music changes, just slightly – the delicate hint of a new riff, reminding you of change, reminding you not to get complacent. It’s really beautiful, and hugely free in it’s own softly expressive existence. The music creates a wave of peace that washes over everything it touches.
On a personal level, this is exactly the kind of track I’d put on if I were spending an hour or so catching up with some writing and deep thinking. It gives you that perfectly tuned space within which to exist, and admire, and be inspired, and thus create your own pathway of art and expression. It’s really well done, I’ll be looking out for the next project, definitely.
By Rebecca Cullen
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
E.M. Watson: I was born about 30 minutes from New Orleans. I grew up around music because my parents are jazz musicians. I was trained as a drummer and I sang here and there but music was not my primary interest when I was young. I felt that being an artist was not realistic for me and I pursued a career in fitness and martial arts. It was not until 2009 that an experience caused me to shift my interest toward music. Ironically, In 2014 my life took a very sharp turn and it was music that kept me from falling into permanent depression and alcoholism. So now I have dedicated my life to music and entertainment.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
E.M. Watson: My full name is Estebon Miguel Watson and people naturally associate that name to being of Spanish descent. I use to freelance as a film and video game composer and when I would bid for jobs people would assume that my musical style leaned towards the latin community. I didn’t want to be boxed in and I didn’t want people to assume my ethnicity so I decided to abbreviate my name. I was inspired to do so because of author J.K. Rowling.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
E.M. Watson: As of right now most of my music is available on both free and paying platforms. My opinion towards online music sharing is still being formulated because I am trying to understand the rapidly evolving music industry. However, I have come to realize that it is up to the artist to communicate to their supporters what they need and vice versa.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
E.M. Watson: Each genre of music is different so it’s hard to give concrete advice. I suggest networking and researching your targeted market first. Create an EP that can be dispersed to various bands and artists within your music genre and then ask to open up for them for free. Start there and you will naturally discover which path is best for you.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
E.M. Watson: Oh yes! I have done this numerous times and I don’t necessarily condone it. However, the audience does not know if you have made a mistake unless you tell them. We artist are allowed to modify our shows when needed and supporters are always open to being surprised if it is done tastefully. I have learned to always keep calm, keep going, and improvise.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
E.M. Watson: It varies. I usually base it off of something I have experienced in the past. However, in 2016 I will be doing something very different. I am calling it “EMerge; The Experience”.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
E.M. Watson: There are none. Honestly my mp3 player is full of motivational talks and movie soundtracks. I usually go to Pandora for my music selection.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
E.M. Watson: I work with Espeuté Productions, Venerate Studios and my producer, Another Monster. They have made some recent studio upgrades for 2016 so there is no need for me to upgrade as of now. Our primary creative suite is Logic Studio, Pro-Tools and a variety of plug-ins.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
E.M. Watson: I am willing to perform anywhere. But I would really like to perform with The Weeknd, FKA Twiggs, Bjork and Thom Yorke. Their style seems to blend into what I plan to do in 2016.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
E.M. Watson: Yes! This will be the first time that I am revealing what “EMerge” The Experience is all about. I am releasing my debut album called “EMerge” one song at a time. Each song will have a music video and each music video will be a piece to a large puzzle. The album is about a character that I had a dream about and in this dream the character goes through a dark and abstract metamorphosis which causes him to experience a revelation. It’s a story that will be told with 9 songs, 9 music videos and various clues and events will tie the songs and music videos together.
You will only be able to understand the story by watching each music video and if you miss one then you are missing out on the full story. The reason my team and I are calling the project “EMerge” The Experience is because my supporters will help with the creation process. I will have them send content to be used in the music video, have them participate in the filming process and even have them vote on actors, actresses and locations. My supporters will be experiencing the creation process which is why we are calling it an experience. Award-winning director Daniel Espeut will be directing the music videos and I will have a strong creative team to help with the pre-production process.
This will be a project like no other because the musical style will be very abstract yet modern. There will be dancing and action sequences while the colors and environments will be unique. We will have a large pool of talented individuals from which to pull. I can happily say that I am really aiming to create a work of art in 2016 and my supporters can claim it as their own because they helped with the process.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
E.M. Watson: I have created a lifestyle that allows music to compliment the other aspects of my life. It required sacrifice and constant headaches but I am now in a position where I can really concentrate on doing what I love. The entertainment company that I work for is very supportive of my music career and in doing so have invested financially into my art.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
E.M. Watson: “EMerge; The Experience” and some acting. I plan to get more into acting in 2016 so I will definitely be sharing some of the films that I work on.
