Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Afre
Hi Emily, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Emily Afre. I am a Cuban-American singer-songwriter from Miami, Florida.
From a young age, I was dedicated to pursuing music, despite being self-taught and having limited resources. I began writing and performing original songs in high school and participated in choir and musical theatre programs. My first local performance at a dive bar was at age 16.
Early in college, I hit a terrible dry spell. Between karmic lessons and a personal identity crisis, I had entered the ‘dark night of the soul’. I felt lost, and depressed, and struggled with a serious case of imposter syndrome (and still do). If you ask me now, I think many creatives feel this way when they’re not actively creating. I was a little defeatist back then.
College radio changed my life. I was a DJ and director at WRGP, FIU’s student-run radio station. This was the first time I understood the meaning of community. (Long live WRGP!)
During my time at the station, I found my best friends and started a band called Womanhouse. This was a transformative period; I began questioning if I was on the right path, and Womanhouse ignited a fire in me.
We performed in several venues across South Florida and self-recorded and released an EP. Sadly, we disbanded at the start of the pandemic. I will always be grateful for the incredible support we received from Miami. It is a challenging, but rewarding experience to be in a band. I am fortunate to have shared that with Womanhouse, and to still maintain close friendships with two of its members, Björn Roland and Steve Montoya. We continue to make music together.
In 2020, I decided to work on new material under my self-titled project – aiming to write, produce, and release my debut EP. I had been working on 11 songs and narrowed it down to five. Steve, Björn, and I had two unreleased Womanhouse songs, “Lonely Man” and “Déjame.” We didn’t want them to remain locked away, so we reimagined them for the record.
We recorded at Hollywood Vintage, Moso Studios, and at home with bandmates and engineers/co-producers, Adrian Garcia and Travis Morin. The record was mixed by Maryam Qudus (La Luz, SPELLLING) and Mauricio Cano, who also mastered all five songs. My sibling, Elene Afre, created the artwork!
The EP was finally released on September 20, 2024. The following night, we celebrated the release with a full band performance alongside Eldest Daughter and Viper, at Gramps inside Shirley’s Theater. It was a sold-out show!
We put a lot of love and work into this record. I hope you get a chance to listen.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The EP took five years to complete from its inception. It was a very grueling yet inspiring process. When making a record, you have to be willing to bend with the wind. Many things do not go according to plan; no matter how discouraging it may be, you must have faith in divine timing.
Recording and producing the EP involved a significant learning curve. There was much experimentation, and while this yielded magic, it also produced unwanted results. Lots of trial and error.
As the only woman in the studio, I often had to overcome feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. I learned to speak the language, convey my vision, and be open to feedback, without compromising what I felt was needed for the songs. I am fortunate to have a supportive and collaborative team of friends I can trust.
It was also difficult working with someone I was no longer in a romantic relationship with. Some of that lore is in the music – awkward!
I am blessed to have had a dedicated team of friends, who motivated me and collaborated with me throughout the making of the EP.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a singer-songwriter, musician, and producer. My music blends elements of Southern Gothic, Old Hollywood, and 70s rock. Growing up, my mother loved Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley, while my father’s favorites were Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplane. I sang along to their songs whenever I had the courage.
My influences include Kate Bush, Björk, PJ Harvey, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. I draw inspiration from gothic and romantic literature, confessional poetry, classic horror films, and surrealism. I tend to connect imagery from these sources with my own life experiences.
Practicing shadow work is essential for me to understand what I want to express in my music. Currently, the theme of “the house as self” is prominent in my writing. On the EP, you may hear references to objects that make up a home – along with the question of what or who should be kept inside…or out.
It is important for me for my songs to be visceral, raw, and emotional. I want to create a world you can see yourself in.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
As a musician, you take risks with your sound, vision, destiny, and livelihood. The fear of failure is very real. While music-making has become more democratized, making it easier for us to record and produce songs outside of traditional studio settings, it is difficult for new artists to be discovered.
It was a huge risk for me to commit to a self-titled project. I am still struggling with some of the discomfort that comes with having my personal identity merge with my public persona.
When it comes to my writing, there is a lot of risk involved with the decisions I make – what stories to tell and how I should tell them. I have the responsibility to be an honest storyteller. It’s vulnerable, but vulnerability is a risk worth taking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/emilyafre
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyafre/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1gbbYTu2BCagO7N5KpZ5ES?si=GE2BRl1hTx-F-eiJwfz5Jw
Image Credits
Harold Lopez and Katrina Akirmaian
