, British singer-songwriter Emily Burns shares her brand new single ‘Are You Waiting?’ and music video, the latest track of her upcoming debut album Die Happy, out on 8th November via So Recordings – pre-order here and stream ‘Are You Waiting?’ here.
Fixed with an essence of late noughties alt-leaning pop, Emily Burns’ latest offering ‘Are You Waiting?’ is an achingly beautiful ode to the bittersweet feeling of being so in love, but not being able to share those everyday moments with your loved one.
Speaking on the track, Emily says: “I wrote Are You Waiting? at the start of lockdown, when I’d just met my partner (who I’ve now been with for 4 years) and we were living on opposite sides of the Thames. Time felt like it was moving so slowly and everything just felt so up in the air. I find it’s hard to get the reassurance you need through a phone call or a text… when all you wanted was a hug, some affection or a hand to hold. It was such a difficult time for so many of us and this song just really takes me back to that.”
On the music video, Emily adds: “As I wrote this track during lockdown, it felt only right to create a video that honoured the pandemic and what we all went through. I’m certain everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing, when they first found out about coronavirus and the world going into lockdown. It was something none of us ever expected to experience in our lifetimes. The loss, the months of being separated from our loved ones, the solo birthdays, the clapping in the streets and cheering on our key workers… My girlfriend and I put together this video and cried our eyes out several times watching it, remembering what it was like. We wanted to honour the hardships people went through but also the joy people felt being reunited after so long.”
‘Die Happy’, the album, is a collection of personal and candid songs that showcase Emily’s clear-cut and beautiful voice. From the soaring first single ‘Balcony Floor’, to the lo-fi electro-pop of ‘Cheating On Her’, it’s a project well worth the wait. Emily explains, “It feels hopeful, there’s definite sadness in it, but overall it feels like love, happiness, growth and acceptance.”. The album, out 8th November, sees Emily team up with Jacob Attwooll (Dua Lipa, Raye, Aitch, Hamzaa), Josh Record (Paloma Faith, Becky Hill, Anne Marie), Nicole Blair (Sigala, JP Cooper) and many more.
Emily has a knack for writing honest and raw indie-pop gems. In her music, earworm choruses are coupled with diaristic lyrics, her distinct storytelling – inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Elton John and Julia Michaels – front and centre. Born in West Lothian, Scotland, and raised in Rugby, Emily started writing songs from a young age. She decided to pursue music properly in her teens, writing her own tunes and playing gigs, eventually moving to London when she was 18 to follow those dreams. In the capital her musical network opened up, particularly when she bagged a job on the front desk of iconic recording studio Abbey Road. Inspired by the huge names that passed through the studio, post-shift Emily would head up to the studio and record tracks, uploading them to Soundcloud as soon as they were finished and starting to build her reputation and eager fanbase.
‘Die Happy’ Tracklist
1. Die Happy
2. Are You Waiting?
3. Balcony Floor
4. Cheating On Her
5. Let It Be You
6 Second Guessing
7. Search Party
8. 8 Hours Behind
9. Give and Take
10. Gone
11. Stay
12. One Day At A Time
Album Artwork: Simone Beyene