Rumia just dropped her latest single 'Emergency' last week, alongside an electric new music video. To her, authentic artistry is the center of her music, and drawing from her own experiences never fails to make her music that much stronger.
Departing slightly from her usual sound, ‘Emergency’ is a playful blend of trip-hop and classic jazz sounds. Written as a response to Frank Sinatra's 'It Was A Very Good Year'. Both sonically and lyrically, the track nods to the past while being firmly rooted in the present, fusing soundscapes of longing and expansive storytelling.
Rumia sat down with FLEX to chat about the new single, and teased her upcoming album.
Congratulations on 'Emergency'! To start with, tell us about the conception of the song.
Thank you! The song really resonates with a tough period in my life when I was battling mental health issues. I have OCD, and while it's more under control now, I used to struggle a lot with it. I avoided spending too much time alone and often went out with friends. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing to be social, but in my case, I was trying to run away from my problems instead of facing them.
How does the song compare to everything you've released before?
I feel like my melodies have evolved in a more playful and intriguing direction. I love blending different sounds, especially mixing acoustic instruments with electronic elements. I also collaborated with Denis Granan on this song, and the chords he chose are such a reflection of his unique style. I never would have picked them myself, which is why I love the final result so much!
Who were your influences (if any) while making the track?
In my case, I was really channeling a lot of Portishead’s vibe, while Denis drew inspiration from Chet Faker. It’s fascinating how both influences blended together, bringing two different energies into the song.
You mentioned that the creative process for this song was different to your usual process, because you worked in collaboration with Denis Granan. What was that like?
We had worked together before on a different electronic project, but this was the first time we collaborated on something for my own project. It was such a great experience; I feel like we complement each other perfectly. He's incredibly talented on the piano and always open to experimenting with new ideas alongside me. Meanwhile, I can fully focus on crafting the melody and lyrics, which makes the process flow really smoothly.
You mentioned your experiences with mental health struggles have influenced a lot of your music, particularly 'Emergency'. Is it difficult to draw from such personal experiences in your work?
I used to struggle with being honest in my songwriting. Over time, though, I've found that you seek out the truest essence of your music. As a result, sharing personal experiences becomes almost inevitable
What does 'Emergency' symbolise to you in the trajectory of your career?
I see it as a reflection of my evolution, and it makes me really happy to have found the right direction for my sound.
How did writing and making 'Emergency' help you to grow as an artist?
I believe that working with new people always offers something valuable. Each collaboration brings fresh perspectives and insights, and you inevitably learn and grow from the experience and from those you work with.
You also have a number of shows coming up in Seoul. That's huge! Tell us about those and how they came about.
I’ve been wanting to visit Seoul for a long time, so it was incredible to finally make it happen. I reached out to venues there, and it was amazing to see their interest in having us perform. Having those connections from so far away made the experience even more special.
Can you tell us anything about what's to come? Upcoming shows, more music, an album maybe..?
Right now, we’re focused on preparing for those concerts in Seoul, and I’m also excited to share that I have an album coming out at the beginning of next year!
Which artists are you really excited about right now, and what's currently on your playlist?
I'm not sure if it’s related to my trip to Seoul, but right now my playlist is packed with K-pop. I discovered this group called ILLIT and I'm loving their music! NewJeans has also been one of my favorites for the past year.
If you could go back in time and speak with the version of yourself who she was just starting out, what advice would you give to her songwriting or music-making wise?
To be truly patient and give yourself time to learn while being kind to yourself. Sometimes we believe we need to know everything from the start, or else we’re not talented enough. I’m done with that mindset!
What do you hope listeners will take away from 'Emergency'?
I hope they let themselves be swept away by the magic of the song and really feel its flow!
Listen to 'Emergency' here:
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