For singer-songwriter Emily Kopp, there are no easy roads, no shortcuts, and no red button to take you to stardom. All she knows is the straight ahead attitude and that every fan you make, every show you play and every song you write is what matters. Grateful for every opportunity she gets, Kopp is sure to make the most out of her journey. Recently, Kopp spoke to us about her rising career, her brand new EP, co-writing, and tons more.
You’ve said that writing music is a release for you. What drew you to music as an outlet?
I don’t remember it ever being a conscious decision. By nature, I’ve always gravitated towards art. I’ve always loved to draw, paint, and create. Whether it was playing on a pots and pans drum kit when I was a kid, or recording little demos in my dorm room, music has always been that constant thing.
You have a background in working in music behind the scenes. How do you feel that has impacted or helped you in your own music career?
It’s given me a bit of insight into how the touring machine works. It’s taught me a lot about the grind work behind the curtain that most people don’t get to see, and really creates a sense of respect and understanding for the teamwork it takes to get onto that stage every night; A true admiration for everyone involved, from those just getting off of the bus, to every venue employee.
Not a lot of up-and-coming artists can say that they got to open for or work for larger artists that inspired them, but you have. What have you learned/gained from those opportunities?
I feel nothing but gratitude for the experiences that have led me to where I am. They’ve been a crucial part of my journey. Working behind the scenes for artists, whether they were up and coming, or large established national acts, showed me that no matter who you are, everyone wants to be able to feel at home – whether you’re stepping off of a tour bus, or creepy white van. The tour life is a weird life for anyone. But I did whatever I could to make everyones day run a little bit smoother. Smiling helps. Opening for larger acts really taught me get my performance chops up – especially my showmanship. Those opportunities were huge learning experiences.
You had to work hard towards building a career in music while you were still in school to get to a point where you could make music your focus. How did you balance school and career, and what was the most impactful part of putting that work in?
I had tunnel vision – which turned my collegiate career a pretty unique one. I interned on days where my class schedule was light, worked at the venue or gigged most nights, and spent my free time writing, recording, or on the computer sending e-mails. It helped that I wasn’t big into the typical “college” life thing, so it didn’t seem like I was missing out on much. I figured out a way to get my schoolwork done, and luckily, a lot of my professors were okay with my tour schedule, so long as I got things done in advance. School definitely took a back seat sometimes, unfortunately. But, the most impactful part, was being able to work for myself after graduation. That’s the kind of freedom I love.
You recently released your new EP Making Sense Of and it’s been a couple of years since your first full-length release. How do you feel you’ve developed as an artist in that time and how do you feel that is reflected on the new EP?
I think that with any craft, the more you do it, the more you evolve and grow. More than anything, touring, and playing for hours on end has developed my chops, and really helped us become super tight as a band. Many things come into play with developing a style and sound – for me, it’s been performing out, getting into different types of music, and figuring out how to showcase something that feels true to who I am as an artist, that can live and breath on a stage as well as on a record. I’m sure it will continue to change and progress.
How do you hope to continue to push yourself as an artist and as a performer in the new year?
I’m sure traveling will shed light on new sources of inspiration. I look forward to having many stories to tell and write about. I won’t have my comforts of home, as I’ll be backpacking around the world a bit, and I think that’s going to push me to create music, and write in a really unique way – in different places, different spaces. I brought along a little mobile recording rig, and I really want to take the time to explore any and every direction of inspiration.
You’ve said that you’ve done a bit more co-writing on this EP. How do you feel collaborating with another writer adds to the quality of your songs?
Sometimes co-writing clicks, and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve had really enjoyable co-writes, as well as sessions where you walk away saying, “Well, we tried! Let’s go get lunch”. However, when a collaboration works, it can really bring a new sense of perspective to a song that might not have been as badass otherwise.
It sounds like you really have a passion for playing your songs live. What different elements do you feel you bring to your performances that listener may not get to hear on a recording?
We love/ I love playing shows – whether it be solo, or with my band. While writing/recording is one facet of being an artist – there’s no feeling quite like the ability to make a strong connection to a group of people that start out as strangers. It’s a beautiful energy – whether it’s in front of 5 people or 500 people. Music can bring a room full of strangers together, and that connection feels really good. I also like making bad jokes on stage, and would like to take this time to thank any audience member who has ever laughed.
Currently you don’t have any tour dates listed, but do you have any plans to take these new songs on the road in 2016?
Definitely. While there are no formal tour plans yet, as I’ll be backpacking abroad with no extensive plans in advance, I will be playing live as much as I can. I’m currently writing from Hawaii – and will be off to New Zealand for 2 months, starting Jan 20th. I’m looking forward to finding music spots in each destination.
What would you say has been the most difficult part of your career for you all personally and collectively?
Even as an optimist, the most difficult part I think, is keeping you own morale high – in between the little victories. There are always bumps in the road when building something – especially in music. Nothing worthwhile comes easy, and sometimes it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come. Keeping yourself in check, and giving yourself a pat on the back is really important.
How did you, or do you continue to, overcome these struggles?
Remembering that the next little victory is just around the corner.
What is the ‘highlight’ of your career so far?
There are a lot – but it’s always an incredible feeling receiving notes & messages from fans and long time supporters. One in particular will always stick with me. Sometimes, we don’t even realize how we might be positively helping someone and playing a role in their world without even knowing. Those reminders open my eyes, and it’s a really special thing.
What is the one dream the moment at which point either personally or collectively you would be able to say yes I’ve achieved this, I’m living my dreams?
That’s so tough to answer because, I’ve realized, sometimes the “dream” is right in front of you. While you’re busy striving for one thing, other things fall into place as a byproduct of that work. Suddenly, you’ve got your dream in your hands; it just looks a little bit different. While I was touring, writing, and building myself as an artist, I so happened to find my now main collaborator – and we write music together for film/TV. My dream started out as one thing, and the journey led me to another one. So, it’s hard to say. I could honestly say I’m living my dream right now.
