2015’s no average year, Emma Hewitt’s no average Pride diva
In many ways, Emma Hewitt is a classic diva – a perfect San Diego LGBT Pride headliner. With a legendary electro-mezzo vocal style, Australian-born Hewitt owns the descriptors “haunting” and “yearning” and has every right to claim them in her bio.
But it turns out Hewitt’s alighting on top-billing atop an impressive array of artists slated to perform on the Pride main stage Sunday, July 19, was anything but a chosen career path.
As Hewitt notes, “music was a form of escape for me and not something I ever consciously set out to follow as a career path. I was always inspired to ask questions; of myself as well as others and I guess over time those questions just sort of grew wings and turned into songs.”
It’s been a long, hardworking ride from her native southern Australia coastal town of Geelong to the moment when working with acclaimed British electronic dance music guru, Chris Lake, Emma Hewitt knocked Britney Spears from the dance-music airplay charts in the U.K., where Spears had sat perched for 50 weeks.
That ride continues; but it only happened after she was able to shake off an attempt at reshaping her music to fit corporate marketing strategies and financial bottom lines that came with an early, big record company contract.
Hewitt says that as an artist and an individual, she is fiercely passionate about equality and is humbled to be headlining San Diego LGBT Pride this of all years on the heels of the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling in favor of marriage equality.
San Diego LGBT Weekly is grateful to have secured the following Q&A with the illustrious Ms. Hewitt. Be sure to check her out at Pride 2015 and visit emmahewittofficial.com after reading on …
San Diego LGBT Weekly: How does it feel to be among the big name headliners at one of the world’s largest Pride festivals right after the Supreme Court rules in favor of marriage equality?
Emma Hewitt: It is an absolute honor to be performing at this incredible and iconic festival, especially now that the Supreme Court has legally recognized that everyone should have the right to choose who they wish to love and marry. The timing couldn’t be more perfect to make this year’s San Diego Pride Festival one of the biggest and most memorable celebrations in history. I am beyond moved to have the opportunity to be present and perform in this moment.
Justin Blau seems really, really excited about working with you on “Alive Again,” which he says opens a whole new musical chapter for him. How do you feel about working with him and the product that emerged from that collaboration?
I am a huge fan of Justin’s music; he is creating fresh and somewhat groundbreaking sounds which are defying genres and carving him out his own very unique path. I was really excited about the potential of what we could create, and the final finished track has exceeded my expectations to be honest. I think with this song we have both done something that is pushing the boundaries for each of us creatively. I am really looking forward to sharing this with the world.
Your music is at once moody, even haunting, but also thumping. If you had to choose one, would you contribute that successful marriage of timeless sound with energetic rhythm most to a) your vocal prowess? or b) your talent overall, as a musician or c) good sound engineering and arrangement?
I believe it is a combination of all three and perhaps more. When a track just works something in the writing of it seems to flow from another place, as though the song spirits take on a life of their own and almost dictate how they want to be heard. When everyone involved in the creation of a song/track is tuned into this same muse and hearing the same direction in their heads, then magic and alchemy can happen. This only happens very rarely, so when it does I appreciate it greatly. I know now that even if one song realizes itself in the most beautiful way, there is no formula and the next songs still may not happen so gracefully.
As an Australian who now lives in Southern California, are you hopeful that your home country will turn away from its sharp-right turn toward conservative, sometimes anti-gay politics. Asked another way, do you think Oz will soon have marriage equality too?
We can only hope. Australia does tend to often follow America’s lead when it comes to major political decisions, so many of us Australians are holding out hope that in this case Australia will also follow suit and make the right choice to support equality and freedom of choice.
Who are you most looking forward to hearing and seeing perform at San Diego Pride?
The lineup is fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing fellow Aussie Ruby Rose on Saturday, she is gorgeous. And I am a huge fan of Taryn Manning so it would be awesome to see her set too.
2012 was a breakout year for you, with several hits from Burn Down the Sky, including “Colours,” “Foolish Boy” and “Still Remember You.” However, you’ve been a fixture in the world of trance and EDM a lot longer than one might expect for someone whose not yet even 30. Can you tell us a little bit about your musical journey from, say ’07 when you were still playing music and writing songs with your brother, through today?
I was always involved in music from a young age, playing in bands in high school and from then I went on to work with various mentors in the pop song writing world after I signed my first publishing deal. I cut my teeth learning to write for quite a few years and my brother and I used to get by playing acoustic shows.
I had rock bands and pop acts that were signed to a couple of different major labels in Australia, but it wasn’t until 2007 that I ventured into the world of electronic music, when on a writing trip to London I met and worked with producer Chris Lake. The song that was born of this meeting, “Carry Me Away,” seemed to be well received and I loved how it worked with my voice in a way that rock music never seemed to. From then on electronic music became my love and my home.
Your lavish, asymmetric bangs are kind of your fashion trademark. What first inspired you to adopt what just happens to be one of this writer’s favorite looks?
Oh thank you! (Smiles). Actually I always had very long hair, and one day out of the blue I got a little bored and decided to shave half of it off. I didn’t do this overly well myself, so a quick trip to a brilliant hairdresser ensued and the short style he gave me just kind of stuck with me from then on.
Can you share a little about your love life?
One thing about music and touring being my first love has kind of meant that relationships in my life have often had to take a back seat and have often suffered as a result; in the end I always felt music was too important for me to compromise. The logistics of trying to keep something serious going have often been tough and complicated, even though I have had some wonderful relationships and learned a lot. However I am discovering now that perhaps the right kind of person will understand.
What songs will you be performing at Pride?
This will be the U.S. live premier of the new song with 3LAU “Alive Again.” I am so looking forward to this, especially being that the key line in the song is “This Is Where The Rainbow Ends …” I couldn’t imagine a more perfectly suited moment to perform this for the first time in the U.S.
I will also perform another new track, a couple of my favorite collabs I have done and a few mashups too.
Any surprises as far as other artists joining you on stage – just asking.
(Laughs) No there won’t be any other artists joining me onstage. However, I am likely to pull a few drunken audience members up with me if I can get away with it. This is going to be a celebration and I intend to enjoy every minute of it with all who turn up to be a part of the festivities.
What would you like to add?
I would love to thank you for taking the time to chat with me, and for including me in one of the world’s most exciting Pride Festivals during this monumental time in American history and in the advancement of global human rights. We are living in a moment of wonderful change and it truly is the greatest honor and I can’t wait to celebrate with you all down in San Diego.
Catch Emma Hewitt on the Stonewall Main Stage at the San Diego Pride Musical Festival Sunday July 19 at 6 p.m.
For the latest news on Emma Hewitt visit emmahewittofficial.com
