We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lena Embry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I would like to say that every composition I write is a meaningful project. However, some songs teach me more than others. Often and oddly, I find myself writing music/lyrics about something before that situation has come full circle. I can usually finish the song and tie it in a bow before the situation itself has come to a close. Once it all plays out in real time I see that I already had the answers in the song. This always feels meaningful because I think it shows me that my intuitive emotions are ahead of everything else. Writing then becomes this very spiritual process of trying to intently listen to all those little whispers.
Lena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up in quite a musical household, with parents who encouraged me and my brothers to pursue whatever we felt most passionate about. Quickly, that thing became writing music. I studied music at an arts high school to further surround myself with the tools I needed to continue creating. I started gigging around Los Angeles at the age of twelve, always taking any and all opportunities to meet people and broaden this community. I am currently studying Jazz Voice and Songwriting at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and recently won the national competition YoungArts for Singer-Songwriter. I am most proud of my work when people listening connect. Though that sounds quite obvious, it is a very weird feeling to have others cry to some of my most personal sentiments. Here, is where I find my purpose and desire to continue pursuing music professionally. I am also very proud of the work I’ve been doing to get my music out on streaming platforms. I worked with a close friend of mine Spencer Lemann to bring the tunes to life. Seeing them live their separate lives, a part from me has been a very fun and surreal thing to watch. Currently, I have two singles released under the name Lena Joy and am working on two separate EPs which should be out soon!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
When I first started writing more seriously, I was pretty hard on myself when I wasn’t feeling creative, or didn’t have any exciting new ideas. I think most people go through feeling like they are in ruts. However, I noticed that the more I believed I was in a rut, the longer it would continue. One day I was watching an interview with Angelo Badalamenti, who composed for almost all of David Lynch’s films. He admitted to often waiting until the last moment to compose a song Lynch had been waiting for. But he said something along the lines of believing the vision is constantly brewing even when he’s not working. This changed my perspective. I found that trusting myself and allowing myself to intake the information around me isa critical to developing full-circle ideas. The more I practiced taking the pressure off, and trusting that the vision was in fact “brewing,” the less I experienced so-called artistic ruts.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the community it builds. When vulnerability is at the forefront of a community, the walls we instinctively have up can be easily broken. A good friend of mine started an open mic night at a venue in Los Angeles called PDA. I was a loyal participant, but the audience changed every month. I saw many people share their art for the very first time. Watching others open up through their art, and getting to discuss how they have crafted their own metaphors to explain their values, philosophies, and hardships is an astonishing thing to watch. After every open mic, I got to watch friendships form and saw many ones of my own form.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lena.joy
- Instagram: lena.embry
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenajoymusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-567483777-30617180
Image Credits
Mario Sosa, Ava Grimes