Hey Libby, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. Could you tell us a little known fact about yourself?

Hello! A little unknown fact about me is that I’ve traveled to over 18 countries.

Congratulations on releasing your debut single! What was the moment like for you when ‘Alibi’ finally went live on streaming platforms?

Thank you! When Alibi officially made it onto streaming services, I was playing a board game in the kitchen, when suddenly at 12 AM, my sister came down playing the song from her phone. It felt really cool to finally see my name and my song actually be on a real app/streaming service, and it was all really exciting.

The song deals with the emotional weight of keeping a relationship hidden, so what were the challenges of writing so vulnerably about something so private?

The challenge really lay in the fact that I was still dealing with this situation while writing the song, and wanted to be discreet enough to be heard while also being able to freely express myself. However, in a way, my distressed state made it easy for the words to come out.

How does ‘Alibi’ fit into the larger emotional and narrative arc of your upcoming debut EP?

My EP strongly showcases themes such as brokenheartedness, longing, and nostalgia. Alibi ties all of these themes together into one and allows for the rest of the EP to branch out in each song’s individual direction.

How did you first get into songwriting and what’s your creative process like?

I first got into songwriting with my longtime vocal coach. She encouraged me to write my own lyrics over existing instrumentals on YouTube. I was around 10 years old when I started writing with her, and about 13 when I started writing more independently. My creative process really relies on an initial feeling. If I want to write a good song, I need to suddenly feel inspired to sit down with my guitar and get into that headspace, often when something major is happening in my life. Once I’m there, I usually play some chords, and let the lyrics and melody come to me as I go.

Growing up in Montreal, how has your hometown influenced your approach to songwriting and music tastes?

There is a ton of cool music around here, especially since it’s a big city, with festivals and artists touring. Mostly though, it was growing up in my house specifically, with musical influence from my parents and curated playlists from my dad that my sister and I would sleep to, that really influenced my approach and music taste.

What’s next for you?

Right now, I’m currently promoting myself on social media while anticipating my future releases. I have my next single, Fortune Cookies, lined up for release on July 18th, and in August, another song will follow. After that, in September, I will release my whole EP and continue to promote myself, hoping to do more live performances as well.

Follow Libby Ember on Instagram.