Canadian country artist Emily Clair has recently released her latest single “The Sobering Truth” to the world, and we couldn’t be happier for her! It’s an incredibly heartfelt single that is full of emotion and heartbreak.
When artists release new music into the world they are often met with feelings of excitement, anxiousness, nervousness, and basically every human emotion. Especially with very personal songs. On one hand, they’re excited for people to hear their music and connect with the song. But on the other hand, they’re also releasing an incredibly vulnerable part of themselves to the world too.
“The Sobering Truth” is obviously one of those songs. We had the chance to connect with Emily Clair to talk about the writing process. Emily is such an interesting artist, and definitely one of the emerging Canadian artists to watch in 2020.
Interview With Emily Clair
Front Porch: First of all, welcome to the Front Porch Emily – we’re excited to chat with you for the first time! Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself –
Emily Clair: First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to interview me, I love the support that Front Porch gives to us as artists!
I grew up in Ajax, Ontario. My fathers side of the family is where my artistic side comes from. When I was about three years old I used to sing myself to sleep, Over the Rainbow and my father always told my mother that he knew I would be a singer, and here I am!
I started singing and piano lessons around the age of 8, and continued to do so for about ten years, playing small room concerts and local talent shows and events. When I hit my teen years, I quit lessons, and decided to learn the acoustic guitar. Since then, everything has slowly fallen into place, I began to write lyrics that I never thought I could write, and everything started to pour out onto the page.
It’s been almost three years since I’ve had a steady band, and two years of live shows. This is just the beginning for me, I have worked very hard to get where I am, but I have so much more growth to do as an artist, as there’s always room for improvement. This is really just the beginning for me, and I can’t wait to see where my music takes me because I’m already blown away with the accomplishments I’ve already made!
FP: We introduced you to the Front Porch audience earlier this year with your fantastic single “Me or the Whiskey”. That song is really special and our audience really connected with it. What is it about that song that you think resonates so well with audiences?
EC: “Me or the Whiskey”, is such a relatable song, because alcoholism is unfortunately an addiction that many people face. This song is my own story, I wrote it because I wanted to connect with people on more of an emotional level, I always write from the heart, the raw and real truth. It’s important to me as an artist to write a song of substance and to be honest with myself, so that people will believe my music when they hear it, because if I can’t believe my own music then why should they? Often I feel vulnerable, emotional or even uncomfortable when I write, but the outcome is worth it if I can connect with myself, because then that means I can connect with you too.
FP: Your latest single “The Sobering Truth” is another really powerful and a strong single. Tell us about the song, and where the inspiration comes from.
EC: It’s a given that The Sobering Truth ties together with my previous song “Me or the Whiskey”. Once again, related to alcoholism, but truly this song has two meanings behind it. This song is about realizing you can’t just stay with someone because you are comfortable, it’s about facing your true feelings, It’s being “stuck in the old and afraid of the new,” and finding the courage to move on.
“The Sobering Truth” all started with the title, and a few heart wrenching lyric’s hiding in my notes, because I had this fear of sharing this extremely dark, vulnerable side of me. This was my past that had been tucked away in the dark for so long, but I needed to bring it back just once more. I wrote this song with a friend of mine, Shawn Moore, and I feel that lyrically this is the strongest song that I have ever written, we wrote it in our very first write together! It’s not easy sitting in a room with someone you’ve never met, only to dig up your past again, and pour out the most honest and darkest feelings you had ever felt onto a blank page. I saved this song for someone who felt strongly about the title, and I took the chance with Shawn. I’m so thankful for him, helping me find all the right words for this song and simply help me speak my truth.
FP: Both “The Sobering Truth” and “Me or the Whiskey” are filled with beautiful and heavy lyrics. It’s clear that you pour your heart and soul into your music. How do you prepare to write songs like this? Do you have a process, or does it kind of flow out once you get there mentally?
EC: Every song that I write is written because I felt those feelings, I cried those tears or I have lived the lyrics. These song’s are my stories that I am sharing with you, and it can be terrifying but also so freeing and calming because music is my form of therapy. I don’t prepare for anything, a song pours out when it want’s to, no force, no time, just a waiting game and when it’s right, I write. There’s not much process, other then writing titles, or sentences down in my phone, or If I hear something catchy and it spark’s an idea! When I’m in the mood it’ll naturally come out, words are such a powerful drug, if you choose them right you will have a beautiful story to tell, happy or sad.
FP: 2019 seems to have been a wild year for you so far! Looking ahead to the rest of the year and into 2020, what’s next for you – what can we expect to hear from you?
EC: 2019 has been great, I have made incredible friendships and connection’s, but most importantly I have done a lot of self growth. I have spent so much time writing new music and really diving into who I am as an artist and how I want to be seen. I think it is so important to know what you want, stay true to yourself, and the rest will unfold naturally. In 2020, I do have a few surprises up my sleeve, but I don’t want to share too much! What I will tell you, is that you can expect an EP sometime in the new year!
FP: And quickly, what are your top 5 songs you can’t get enough of right now?
I always say that if you can listen to an artist’s entire album without changing the song, then they’re the real deal. It’s hard for me to pick only five songs, but I will tell you a few albums I have on repeate:
Devin Dawson
Jessica Mitchell
Kacey Musgraves
Tyler Childers
Chris Stapleton
Hardy
Stream “The Sobering Truth” by Emily Clair
In country music, the Front Porch has long been a place of reflection. A place where you can look at the life you have inside that front door. A place where time almost seems to stand still, where you can get away. It’s also a place where you can go to observe the world as it passes by you. To think about your place out there beyond the driveway.
