Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself.
I’m Eemaan Qadri (EMA), an artist based in Toronto, Canada! I’m 20 years old, and have been releasing music since February 2019.
What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
When I was really young, my dad enrolled me in singing lessons and sessions, encouraging me to get better at what I love to do. I started performing live in open mics and family events at age 7, and was convinced that I was going to be a musician when I grew up.
When I began attending high school, I was lucky enough to be apart of an Arts program at Cawthra Park Secondary School; which taught me all I needed to know about music & how to get into the industry.
Tell us about your new music? And what’s the story behind it?
“Love Languages” is my new single, written about the ways in which one expresses love, and how easily relationships/friendships can be affected by the ways you show your affection. I wrote this piece back in late 2020, sitting in quarantine wanting to come up with another original song. I came up with the melody and ran to my producer, Mike Tompa, to make my idea a reality. Together, we began creating the song; but it was quickly put on hold when things with Covid-19 became worse. Eventually, restrictions started to lift and we were able to properly finish the piece and set it to release for the 23rd of July.
What makes your music unique? How would you describe it?
When I was releasing my EP, Friendly Reminder, I was still trying to figure out my unique sound. Each song on the EP had a different vibe to it, from pop to R&B. Love Languages would fall under singer/songwriter/pop, and closely resembles music sung by Adele.
Who are your biggest musical influences? And any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?
My musical inspirations tend to change depending on what’s popular. Right now, I find myself taking lots of inspiration from Olivia Rodrigo & Conan Gray – with minimalist instrumentation and dependency on a strong vocal lead. If I could collaborate with any artist, it would definitely be SZA. Her music is incredibly unique to her own brand, and her voice leaves me in awe after listening to her live sessions.
Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?
I’ve been most proud of my success with my cover, “Heather” by Conan Gray. This cover gained over a million streams on Spotify, and landed on Spotify’s Top Viral 50 (passing Conan Gray himself!) It was amazing to see me, such a small artist, gain so many streams in a short amount of time. The sound went viral on TikTok as well, and I’m grateful for every single stream. Currently, the song is featured on over 10K playlists!
How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?
Balancing music & family has never been an issue for me, because I’ve been blessed with a family who supports my music so much that they would help me with anything I need at anytime! On the other hand, my friends are also incredibly supportive, and are musicians themselves, which means we get to produce amazing projects together. For instance, my first ever Youtube video features my best friend, Alex Michelle – which has over 250, 000 views today!
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
The advice I would give musicians everywhere is that you should always keep those who support you the most, the closest. Over the course of the last 4 years, I’ve felt myself being held back by those who didn’t want me to succeed, or those who didn’t care. They’re only going to wish the worst for you, and it’s better to keep a positive mindset when you’re in an industry like this!
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