INTERVIEW: EMM Opens Up About “BLACK DIAMOND,” Autism, ADHD, and Unapologetic Self-Love
EMM’s musical journey is a testament to the power of resilience, creativity, and unapologetic self-expression. From her earliest days as a child prodigy writing songs at five years old to her current status as a trailblazing artist and producer, her path has been marked by an unwavering commitment to her craft.
Her latest album, “BLACK DIAMOND,” is a multifaceted exploration of identity, empowerment, and the societal pressures that shape us. “BLACK DIAMOND” defies easy categorization. It’s a sonic tapestry woven with threads of pop, electronic, and dark underground influences, creating a sound that is as innovative as it is immersive. But beyond its musical complexity, the album is a deeply personal narrative.
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In this interview, EMM delves into the inspirations behind the album, from her classical music roots to her experiences as a female producer in an industry that often marginalizes women. She shares how her upbringing in a conservative, evangelical environment shaped her understanding of self-expression and faith, and how her move to New York City as a teenager opened her eyes to a world of diversity and acceptance. Through her music, EMM seeks to create a space for misfits and outcasts, reminding them that they are enough just as they are. “BLACK DIAMOND” is more than an album—it’s a manifesto for anyone who has ever felt rejected or misunderstood, a celebration of the power that comes from embracing your true self. Join us as we explore the making of this groundbreaking project and the mind of the artist behind it.
Your journey in music is fascinating. How did it all begin? Was there a specific moment or experience that led you to dedicate yourself to music?
Thank you…. I started writing songs the week I had my first piano lesson at 5. So writing has always been an instinct for me. I started a girl group at 8 and started saving up babysitting money to record when I was 11. So it’s really been my whole existence. A pivotal moment that comes to mind for me is seeing Beyoncé on TV performing Ring the Alarm at the VMA’s. Something in her energy felt really familiar to me, almost like a calling. And I haven’t stopped working since.
You come from a classical background in guitar, piano, and voice. How did that foundation influence your current sound, especially in an album like BLACK DIAMOND, which is so bold?
For BLACK DIAMOND, the challenge was actually to let go of those roots and allow myself to just flow creatively. My ego always wants to prove something—that I can really play, really sing, really produce. But BLACK DIAMOND wasn’t about proving; it was about channeling. Surrendering to a character without judgment. I’m always grateful for the foundation that classical music gave me, but I think sometimes it’s easy to get snobby about musicality instead of allowing yourself to be in service to whatever wants to come through.
You’re one of the few female producers in a male-dominated industry. What has your experience been like breaking into this space, and what challenges have you faced?
The very first project I released in 2016 was called Burning in the Dark. I wrote it on my apartment floor (I didn’t even have a bed at that point) in North Hollywood on my laptop. I wrote, mixed, produced, recorded, and mastered the entire thing. It was out of necessity. Because at the time, in every big producer meeting I had, I would go in and play the music, and I got so many backward comments. Comments like, “Oh well, if this is your production, it sounds like you know what you’re doing, so why do you need me?” Or I would have an idea, and the producer would feel threatened and get weird if I played it.
Luckily, now I’m surrounded by incredible producers and can be more hands-off when I want to be. For this album, the executive producer Nydge is so phenomenal—I really didn’t do much production-wise except give my opinions. I’m really grateful to be around people who are teaching me so much. When I’m ready to produce my next project, I feel like I will have so much new wisdom from them.
Let’s talk about your album, BLACK DIAMOND. The title carries a strong and evocative meaning—what does it represent to you, and how does it capture the essence of this project?
Each of my gemstone music projects—EMERALD, RUBY, SAPPHIRE, and BLACK DIAMOND—are also characters in a superhero universe I created. So BLACK DIAMOND is the villain. Personally, it’s been a really healing project for me to create. Last year, I was diagnosed with level 1 high-masking autism and ADHD. I’ve been rejected my entire life over and over again and never really understood why until now. I always have been someone who is naturally divisive, even when I’m trying my hardest to be palpable. I spent way too much of my life trying to shrink and be accepted. BLACK DIAMOND was me letting go of all that and completely leaning into being disliked. And celebrating that I’m finally okay with that because I really genuinely do love myself. The project is an extremely exaggerated version of that self-love with a villainous, psychotic lens over it. It’s brought out so much rage in closed-minded people, which is really fascinating and exactly what I expected. But it’s brought me nothing but joy.
Songs, like THANK YOU FOR RUINING MY LIFE, MASTERMIND, and EAT MY ACID, have provocative titles. What inspired the lyrics behind these songs? How do they connect to the overall message and theme of the project?
BLACK DIAMOND really exists as a performance art piece to be a campy representation of the traits in women that are vilified most in society. So all the lyrics have a huge “fuck-you” undertone. There is a ton of arrogance in the music because the character is a psychotic, narcissistic supervillain set on interdimensional universal domination. She is meant to be triggering to anyone who doesn’t want women to be powerful, like themselves, be loud, or take up space. The entire project (music, content, stage show, and visuals) is meant to force the conversations about misogyny and bigotry that most people would rather not examine.
The sound of BLACK DIAMOND is a mix of pop, electronic, and dark elements. How would you describe the evolution of your sound in this album compared to your previous work?
For BLACK DIAMOND’s sonic vision, I started with my obsession with the underground genre Phonk and wanted to integrate that intense energy into pop. In 2023, I did sessions with 20 different producers, explained my vision, and we created together to see what would happen. But I felt like with Nydge we found the sound very quickly and effortlessly. He produced nine of the ten songs on the project. And I think a lot of the incredible, intense energy on the project is his sounds, most of which he is creating from scratch, which is incredible to witness.
You’ve mentioned that BLACK DIAMOND is a camp representation of the traits in women that society often vilifies. How do you hope this album will challenge those perceptions and empower your listeners?
My hope with BLACK DIAMOND is that people will feel where they are triggered by the music or performance art and examine why…
WHY does it make you angry when she takes up space unapologetically? Is it because somewhere in your life, you’ve been shrinking yourself for others?
WHY does it make you uncomfortable when she says she is brilliant? Is it because you have slept on your own brilliance?
WHY do you hate that she showed skin? Is it because you haven’t looked at your own body as a masterpiece but rather as something existing for the judgment or approval of others?
The list goes on and on. But my hope is always to start a conversation. And for the people who are ready, I hope it helps them realize that they can be free of everything in their life that they constructed to please other people, too. I want all of us to be on our deathbeds someday, like, “Fuck yeah. We didn’t shrink for others. We showed up for ourselves.”
The project addresses themes like misogyny, self-expression, and redefining female power. How has your personal experience, including your childhood and your faith, influenced the creation of this album?
Growing up homeschooled in a really evangelical conservative environment, I feel like I understand the fear that people have around self-expression, strong women, and the queer community. I was raised with all the talking points, all of the fear and anxiety, and all of the shame that is never spoken about openly.
I’m from a small town where everyone in my bubble had the same views. And it’s hard to love people and understand their challenges when you don’t actually have any friends who are really different from you. At such a divisive time in history, I think more than ever it’s so important to emphasize that love without any manipulation should be at the center of any healthy faith. Wrestling with those big questions and making friends that you’ve been taught to judge is the most beautiful way to build your faith.
I left home as a young teenager to move to New York City to pursue my dream. I met and befriended so many queer people, black and brown people, trans people, immigrants, etc. And I realized that everything I had been taught was so far from the truth. I found that God was WAY bigger, grace-filled, and more accepting than any of us can wrap our minds around. This album is meant to be triggering, but it’s also meant to remind the CULT—any misfit who was rejected like I have been—that they are welcome to sit with us. And they were always enough.
The concept of BLACK DIAMOND as a supervillain is intriguing. Why did you choose this archetype to represent the album’s message?
The next album in the series was going to be DIAMOND—the ultimate superhero in the universe I created. BLACK DIAMOND was originally just the villain in those stories. But really, I think every woman has a moment in her life where she steps into her power, sets boundaries, says no, cuts off toxic people, etc.—and is villainized and judged for it. I wanted to create something to remind them that all the best women in history have been burned at the stake—sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically—for stepping into their power. And they deserve something to scream in their car to remind themselves how incredible they are when they need it.
What’s your favorite track on the album, and why?
It honestly changes all the time… I have an emotional attachment to PYTHON because it’s about how much I’ve been through to get here. And how I’m finally stepping into my truest frequency instead of running from it. I love that DON’T FORGIVE ME is really the only moment of vulnerability we see from BLACK DIAMOND. I wrote it in a flow state (no plan, we just hit record), and I feel like you can sense that magic in there. I love Mastermind because women don’t brag enough about being smart, and I need that reminder a lot personally. I love the guitar solo in DON’T FEED THE DEMONS. I love them all. Too hard to say!
