If you took the angst ridden anthems of the 2000s and combined them with the truth bearing storytelling of country music, you’d find yourself listening to EJ Carey. EJ’s blend of pop rock packs an emotional punch by reintroducing the sounds of her teen years to the age of Spotify under the guise of confessional plot-driven songwriting.
EJ’s latest single “Old Friends” is a snarky goodbye letter to those formerly involved in her life and is available everywhere digitally now! Tackling the subjects of breakups, breakthroughs, and rising from the ashes, her new EP “Outlier” out on September 24 is reminiscent of Avril Lavigne, Paramore, and Taylor Swift, with powerful vocals shouting out the words you wish you could say.
Getting to know EJ
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
My favorite shower song is “Winner at a Losing Game” by Rascal Flatts, but any song from the Dreamgirls soundtrack is also a very common choice for me.
You are a new addition to a crayon box. What color would you be and why?
Hot Pink because I’m a little bit flashy and possibly unnecessary, but when you actually take me out of the box to draw, you end up loving the color so much because it’s so bright.
Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?
I do. I have had a stuffed bunny since I was three years old that I have been relentlessly made fun of for my entire life. She’s lost her head and her limbs a few times, but she’s still hanging in there.
If you were a member of the Spice Girls, what would your spice handle be?
Shady Spice
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?
Stop being so afraid and stop hiding your talent. There is nothing to be afraid of. You have to let go, or else all the things you want will never come to you.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
The music I make is always poppy, usually a little bit snarky, and always the type of song that must be sung very loudly with your whole chest. If Taylor Swift and Avril Lavigne ever collaborated, I imagine it would sound a lot like the songs I make.
What is your favorite song to perform?
“Old Friends” is my favorite because it makes people laugh and the audience usually will start singing the chorus back to me!
Are you planning any videos for your music?
Yes! My video for my single “I Smile” will be out on September 24!
What has been the most challenging aspect of your current releases?
Coordinating logistics for recording an EP during a pandemic was incredibly frustrating. Bryan Fennelly, who produced this EP, was so accommodating and helped to set up virtual recording for guitar and bass so everyone could remain zero contact and safely get back to work.
When did you start writing music?
I was 7 when I wrote my first chorus, but I was 9 when I started consistently writing and making professional recordings with my mentor at the time. Dedicating all my school years to music really helped me to develop into the writer I am now.
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it?
I am usually struck with lyrics and melody at the same time, and usually it’s the first verse or the chorus right off the bat. If I don’t stop everything I’m doing immediately and go to write everything down, I will lose it, so it’s definitely a time-sensitive task. Generally, the basics of any song I write will come out in 5-10 minutes. After the lyrics and melody come out, I will either make a voice memo of the melody (so I don’t forget it) or I will write chords for it, depending on how much time I have.
Boston based singer-songwriter EJ Carey has released her E.P., Outlier. The 5 tracks E.P. features singles “Rising Tides, Crashing Skies,” “I Smile,” and “Old Friends,” and is available on all streaming platforms this Friday, September 24th. Outlier is written and performed by EJ Carey, produced by Bryan Fennelly, with guitar by Daniel Yoong and Dylan Easter, bass by Daniel Yoong, and drums by Kyle Harris.
The EP takes audiences through Carey’s journey of self discovery and letting go, and it features powerful pop rock vocals and pungent lyrics, serving as a cathartic and raw expression of a young woman coming of age.
Stream Outlier https://linktr.ee/ejcareymusic