Emily Hackett
Photo Credit: Daniel Dmitri
Folk through and through, the music of Emily Hackett is heartwarming. It has the power to rekindle lost loves or mend a broken heart with its profound and raw nature. Based in Nashville, Hackett is best known for her 2014 duet with Will Anderson: “Take My Hand (The Wedding Song),” which has close to 7 million streams on Spotify alone and happens to be her debut single. Since then, the up and coming artist has found herself in the hearts and headphones of listeners worldwide, from Quezon City in the Philippines, to Jakarta and Singapore, to naturally more domestic locations like Broolyn and - you guessed it - LA. Most recently, she released her six-song EP, My Version of a Love Song. We recently spoke with Emily Hackett about her typical songwriting process, how she views her career’s progress thus far, and more! Click the link in our bio to read the full interview!
How did you get started making music?
Instinct. I grew up around it so I was always singing and making up songs as a kid. Doing it full time was much more of a journey though. One that led me to work on the industry side of things for a minute before having a couple doors close and unexpected windows open, sending me on a yellow brick road here. Sometimes I get down on myself for not knowing exactly what I wanted out of my music out the gate like so many others, but I’m big on listening to the universe, and I had to live what I lived in order to tell the perspective I have now.
Describe your typical songwriting process.
If I’m not struck with metaphorical lightning, I usually force myself to sit down in our music room, shut the door and play around with melodies and guitar progressions until I hear something I find interesting. The lightning moments are pretty special though and every writer has them. “Allow” was my word of the year, so I try to give myself the creative space to allow ideas to flow and be captured.
What is the best way to get out of writer's block?
I’m big on pushing the boulder up the hill until it feels like it can stand on its own, but I’m also big on smoke breaks and snacks (and no, I don’t smoke cigs). Also, I find writing at different times of day helps switch up how your brain works. Night writes feel more loose, so you allow more.
What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment in the industry thus far?
It depends on how I look at success. I still feel like getting a great song out of my head and into listenable form is a huge accomplishment. Hearing my song on the radio was a big one for me, and ending up as the only independent artist on CMT's Next Women of Country roster for 2019 was a pretty awesome pat on the back.
Let's talk about "Can't Help Myself". What inspired the track?
I'm always in my head, arguing with my ego. I know good and well what the best version of myself could and should do in most situations, yet I continue with patterns in my life out of comfortability, fear, you name it. I can help myself in a lot of ways, and I mention that in the song with "read all the books," but the reality is it takes putting in the work and that's what makes it easy to keep making the same mistakes.
What is the biggest thing that has changed for you over tenure making music?
I stopped trying to fit in.
What is one piece of advice that you'd give to an up and coming artist?
Be yourself and if you don't know yourself, find that first. Then put out the music.
Who do you owe your biggest thanks to?
So many people have my back as an indie artist. My work-horse publicist, my graphic designer who I ask impossible tasks of, my best friend and producer who I bother for things on a regular basis. It's ridiculous to pick just one, though my husband would be a good one. He not only helps make the music, he inspires a lot of it.
Lastly, what's next for Emily Hackett?
Good question, but I think it's okay not to know. My heart is open and the winds are picking up.
