We recently connected with Emilio Cole and have shared our conversation below.
Emilio, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
As a creative/artist, I feel so many different emotions and they do indeed come in waves. Somedays I feel confident and like I’m one step away from being the next big thing and then the next day, I feel like I’m far from ever being discovered or listened to. Excited, scared, motivated. So many. I sometimes think when I see other people just living a normal life, “what is it like to not feel as nervous for their future like I do mine?” and the thing is every single person has a different story, different life, different goal. Whether they are rich and famous, wealthy and unnoticed, or just broke and homeless. A life can turn around in the matter of 24 hours. I think so much about that question, subconsciously every day and probably about 3 times a week. I work as a supervisor for K1 Speed, Corona so I get a bunch of random cats walking through. Today on shift, some dude bought $400 worth of races for 9 people with no hesitation, questions, or thought. It makes you wonder what they have done for themselves and their families but everyone is successful in their own way. My conclusion would be you, same with I, should never ever feel any sort of resentment towards someone who’s worked their butts off to provide for family. It pushes me harder when I see someone happy in their shoes.
Emilio, 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?
My name is Emilio Cole, born Emilio Cole Harrington. I’m a 23 year old singer/songwriter based in Riverside County, CA. I started singing at the age of 11 years old to some Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Train, you name it. I grew up on classic rock and 80’s music, along with KIIS FM on the late night rides home, so I had known a couple of my favorite artists growing up. I hadn’t pursued singing until the age of 15, when I first got a guitar. I had discovered Ed Sheeran and his “+” album, and as I grew to love the music I discovered myself, I grew to want to be more of a musician. I had seen him live at Rockin’ Rio, 2015 and from their my drive grew even more. To be able to play guitar was one thing, but to be able to write amazing songs while playing it had always been so intriguing to me. I had written a couple of shit songs in the two years I was learning but then I had created my single, “Abby” (produced by Princess LuzSee) for a talent show. I got it down on my loop station, created a hit which had gotten noticed by a producer under the name of Princess LuzSee, also personally known as JaySee. Jay had enjoyed my song, showed me a production of theirs, and that next Monday we got to work. From 2017 all the way to 2022, we had worked relentlessly on new music for myself and herself. During Covid, I taught myself mixing and honed in on production so I can rely on myself to get a song out when in doubt.
2018, I had learned how to play piano, which extended my musical palette. Thankfully now I am almost a Certified Pro Tools producer. This dream is becoming a reality and everyones pace is different.
I offer any basic music related lessons. Singing, songwriting, guitar, bass, piano, etc. You throw me a price for a certain amount of time and I can work that out.
What sets me apart from others is my patience and teaching. I feel like I’m a little all over the place because I know where my first lesson can lead to. I forget to hone in on the one step and move quickly, but once I get it into the brain of my lil student, we only move up from there. Music is fairly simple, it’s the drive in the student that is hard to install.
I am most proud of the self-driven motivated experiences I have gotten to achieve. From getting up and getting the butterflies out of my stomach and performing at the Whiskey-a-Go Go, House of Blues, Anaheim, and small little open mics, performing with artist like Johnny Goth, Louiche Mayorga (Suicidal Tendencies Bassist), Your Favorite Color, and sharing the same stages that Miley Cyrus, KISS, and many others have gotten their start from. There is a lot to look back on and a whole lot more to achieve.
I am a hard working artist/creative and it shows in my work. I take pride in doing my own work, having only a couple people help me, and making things work in my favor when they should not be.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
PSA: TO SUPPORT AN ARTIST, IT TAKES AS LITTLE AS LIKING, SHARING, AND SENDING A POST TO 2 PEOPLE YOU THINK WOULD ENJOY IT.
That is it. Of course there is more to it but that is the simplest and most beneficial thing to ensure an artist gets shared. Everyone will tell you “TikTok is the move, post on TikTok” but everyones tactic is different and at the end of the day, if you post on the Tok, people are going to be sharing. So share on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat. Shoot, post me as your song on Tinder for all I care, as long as you make an effort!
Another fun fact is Spotify gives you 0.0033 per listen, Apple gives $0.01 per listen so do what you will with that information. Help an artist out! Share with friends, family, and partners! Word of mouth is the best promotion!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is building a fan base, no matter the size. I know for a fact that I have 4 loyal fans: Connor Byrne from Liverpool, Eli from the Navy, stationed out in New Jersey, and Teridee and her husband, Justin from Edmonton, Canada! With that, I am genuinely inspired to keep going. To be able to interact with humans from around the world in which I have never met, but who still are loyal to a base that isn’t even huge yet. It’s a blessed feeling to have.
I was at a hippy festival one time in Los Angeles and I had my first ever fan stop me and talk to me. It was a bucket list moment and one of the best experiences of my life.
Being able to inspire people in your music and words is just the most rewarding and giving feeling ever. To be able to continuously do it as a career? I’ll see you there!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilio.cole/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilioCoole
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyvk-Ym0q2Szvjc4uM4Shg
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@emiliocoleh