Meet: Emily Victoria - Memorise

Image credit: Brendan Schoenmaker

Following up her 2022 debut single Humming Heart (that we premiered last November!) is Naarm/Melbourne-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emily Victoria, with the dreamy sounds of Memorise, out July 11 but premiering on Pilerats today.

A layered cut of reverb-drenched pop with influences from shoegaze and psych rock, Memorise features a deep, bubbly, mesmerizing bass line alongside swirling synths and guitars, a galloping drumbeat and Victoria’s ethereal, honeyed vocals. Coming in at a perfectly poppy three and a half minutes, Memorise builds to a satisfying climax and conclusion as the drums and guitars both up the ante and energy of the track.

Speaking on the meaning behind Memorise, Emily explains  “Memorise is about time passing and the seasons changing. As we move forward , memories are distant…how consistent are visions of an event that occurred many years ago? What images are we reflecting on? And it’s also about nature following a cyclic progression. My intention was to compose a song that resembled a cycle structurally. There are no defined sections, the verse unfolds into the chorus and then the chorus concludes sooner than anticipated and the beginning of the idea surfaces again (round and round). Like a clock. Every time the cycle recommences , new paths are explored thus new lyrics, instrumental layers and additions surface. Like memories, culminating in new layers of thought, connections made, ideas appear.”

To celebrate the release of Memorise, we got to know Emily Victoria - have a listen and read below!

Tell us about yourself?

I am 25 years old and live in Victoria. I love long drives in my car, looking at scenery and listening to albums. At the moment I am attracted to white and pale green and my bedroom is quite minimalist. I've been hand stitching on a lot of my clothes recently and would love to learn how to use a sewing machine! If I have an afternoon to spare, I enjoy taking things quietly, redecorating my space, writing and watching documentaries on Kanopy. I have a black and white cat called Tuxedo, my sister is a florist and recently I've been researching mid-century furniture and animal sculptures. My favourite finds include concrete swans and planet lamps (like the ones you see on the Pixar ads, they're the best!). I also like jewellery shop windows, black and white tiles, love hearts and going into the city to see a show!

How did you first get into making music?

I have been in love with music for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are of people singing to me and records playing. When I was young my dad was a part time choral singer and I remember waking up in the morning before it was light, and he would be learning all his parts in the living room and we would listen to heaps of classical music together. I learnt cello via the Suzuki method as a child (which is an amazing method by the way!!). Most of my holidays I attended workshops and there would be international guests who would visit. Some of the visitors from Japan could speak very little English and would continually ask me, 'is that good sound.' To meet such passionate people at a young age was life changing and cemented my love of music.

In primary school I started learning chords on the guitar and thought this was really amazing. I had written songs about insects on the cello before, however the guitar was completely separate from the classical world and it felt like there was more room to do my own thing. I would rehearse songs with friends every lunchtime and one of the teachers at the school noted our enthusiasm. I remember him introducing us to The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac and buying us fish and chips after school. We started rehearsing at a music store with beautiful metal work in the windows and red lighting. It was there that I started writing and recording music and met some of my greatest friends. The store was like a second home at the time and once school was over, we would all go there and make music.

Tell us about your creative process?

At the moment I tend to write music on my own and then play them with my friend Anthony who intuitively knows what to do (he played the beautiful guitar parts for both Humming Heart and Memorise). We met at university studying Jazz and made an Experimental Jazz EP called 'The Creature You Are' with some friends. We also worked together as part of a harp/guitar/cello/double bass quartet playing improvised sea shanties, writing short pop hooks to beats and a haunting song called 'Water Feature' which is a twenty page arrangement that builds towards a spoken word section. I usually write jazz music through singing and recording on my iPhone without any accompanying instrument. With Emily Victoria, the guitar is the canvas, so the chord progression comes first, then the melody and lyrics last (the lyrics usually unfold naturally while working on the harmony and melody).

Tell us about your new single Memorise?

I wrote Memorise a few years ago and remember loving the melody so much. The song is about time passing and the seasons changing. As we move forward, memories are distant...how consistent are visions of an event that occurred many years ago? What images are we reflecting on? And it’s also about nature following a cyclic progression. My intention was to compose a song that resembled a cycle structurally. There are no defined sections, the verse unfolds into the chorus and then the chorus concludes sooner than anticipated and the beginning of the idea surfaces again (round and round). Like a clock. Every time the cycle recommences , new paths are explored thus new lyrics, instrumental layers and additions surface. Like memories, culminating in new layers of thought, connections made, ideas appear.

I wrote the song in my room and then the lyrics on Chapel Street. The song was recorded to tape at Soundpark Studios in Thornbury with Anthony Farrugia (guitar), Jacob Long (drums) and Sam Clarke (bass). The song was produced by Nao Anzai (at Soundpark and Rollingstock Studios), Lewis Moody and additional vocal production by Gareth Thomson. Specific tracks that inspired the production of this track include Massive Attack’s Unfinished Sympathy, Acopia’s Holding On, Purient’s WBWU, and City Moon’s Love Spirals Downwards.

What's coming up for the rest of the year?

This year I am writing, recording and releasing more songs! I'll be heading to the snow for a while. In addition, I will be developing my business Emily Wilson Music Tuition further as it continues to grow (send me a message if you're interested in some face to face (Melbourne) or remote sessions) including a workshop series.

How can fans best support your music?

Look out for EV updates on Instagram (@emvictoria__ ). I post all my updates here.

What have you been listening to lately?

Heaps of New Order, Caroline Polachek, Lush, Cocteau Twins, Charli XCX.

Emily Victoria's new single Memorise is out July 11

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