FASHION + music find: Emma-Lee
FASHION is completely smitten with Toronto singer-songwriter Emma-Lee, who posted a video for “Just Looking” on our Music pillar recently. The 27-year-old’s eclectic style and quirky accessories are as charming as her song, recorded in a home demo last winter. ‘”Just Looking” will be re-recorded for Emma-Lee’s upcoming summer album - a sophomore effort she says will be “a mix of pop, rock and country-soul.”
What is the story behind “Just Looking”? “I wrote “Just Looking” about being in love with someone who is already taken. It’s quite autobiographical in that I’m generally a risk taker but this was one instance where I left things alone. It wasn’t meant to be!”
Where do you find inspiration for your music? “I’m inspired by truth. Whether it’s an event that happened to me, a friend or a stranger I met, I like writing songs from real stories. At the end of the day I have to stand on a stage and sing them with conviction, so I feel the more genuine they are, the stronger a connection can be between myself and the audience.”
I love the clothing and accessories you wear in the music video - especially the white earmuffs! What are those made out of? “The earmuffs have wool on the outside and rabbit fur on the inside. My friend and I were shopping at a boutique store in Montreal and saw these adorable earmuffs. I was hesitant to buy them as they had a hefty price-tag, but she jokingly convinced me that they were the kind of earmuffs that would attract a boyfriend.”
How would you describe your everyday style? “My style is a mix of late 60’s and early 70’s. Super tight, high-waisted jeans are always a must. I mostly live in my brown, well-worn cowboy boots from Calgary. On stage, I like to glam it up a bit with cute mini-dresses, gold accessories and lots of mascara.”
Where are your favourite places to shop? “For everyday stuff, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Guess, different stores in Kensington (Market). I also do a lot of eBay shopping. For accessories, there’s a store I like called Fresh Collective, a boutique store on Queen West.
Tell me more about the tattoo we catch a glimpse of in the video. “There is a seahorse on the inner part of my wrist, and the tail goes off to the outside of my wrist in the shape of a heart. I got this tattoo about a year ago. When I went scuba diving in Costa Rica, I saw a seahorse in the bottom of ocean and was fascinated by it. I think that what a seahorse looks like is kind of ridiculous and knowing that something like that exists on this planet is a way of reminding me that things don’t have to be so serious all the time.”
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