A Q&A with Emily Fern

Yorkshire-born soul-pop…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘Christmas Dream’ was sat waiting for us — myself and co-writer Adam Reece. We sat by the piano and the lyrics just came together so naturally. The song is about love and peace, a message that we as people should never tire of sharing.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
The scale of it, definitely. It spiralled from a simple piano song that Adam and I wrote in my little home studio into something so much bigger — recorded in Studio Two at Abbey Road, a room where so many of my musical influences have performed. We were joined by 52 members of the London Symphony Orchestra, Bez from Happy Mondays and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital. Despite feeling quietly confident, there’s always that little pressure that sits on your shoulders. But I think moments like that remind you of why you do it — when you push through the nerves and trust what you’ve always believed you were meant to do, you find a confidence you didn’t realise you had.

Who produced the release – what did they bring to it? If you produced it yourselves what do you enjoy most about producing your own material?
The song was produced by John Barrett at Abbey Road Studios. Working with John felt like a real privilege. With over a decade of experience at Abbey Road, he’s worked on huge records and with incredible artists, so it was an honour to have him on board. Having someone of his calibre involved made the whole project feel elevated. He brought such focus and warmth to the process and really helped bring the best out of every performance.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
I always hope people can feel something genuine when they listen. All of my music is raw and real, and I do my best to not hold back — no matter how vulnerable it takes the direction of the song. I want my lyrics to connect in a personal way; it might not be the story I wrote it about, but if someone can find their own meaning in my words, that’s what matters to me. I just love writing lyrics that can be interpreted differently so everyone relates to them in their own way.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
It starts with a feeling or a lyric that comes to me quite naturally. I write from real experiences, emotions, or something I feel strongly about and put it in a song. It’s the only way you can beautifully portray something that might not have once been so beautiful. Once that first spark hits, everything starts to build around it.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
I’ve always been inspired by artists who can tell a story through their music without holding back. RAYE is a huge influence for me because she writes with so much honesty and emotional depth — she’s fearless with the words she puts out. I also love the timeless storytelling of Elton John. There’s something so powerful about the way his songs capture real emotion while feeling universal at the same time. That balance of truth and connection is what I always try to bring into my own writing.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
The Royal Albert Hall will forever be a dream venue for me — even more so after recording with the London Symphony Orchestra. Performing in a space like that would feel really full circle. The first concert I ever saw as a child was Jessie J’s Alive tour at Sheffield Arena, and I think my dream of performing to a huge audience in a huge space grew from that day.

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
It would have to be ‘Christmas Dream’. It captures everything I love about music — emotion, storytelling, and that beautiful blend of pop and cinematic warmth.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
I want to keep growing as an artist and continue releasing music that feels real and meaningful. I have so many songs yet to release, and yet to resonate with my audience. Recording at Abbey Road with the London Symphony Orchestra was an absolute dream come true and a huge moment for me. I’d love to build on that and get back within those four walls.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Thank you for having me! blows a kiss

Find out more about Emily Fern at @emilyfernsinger