Emily King: 'Special Occasion' (Grammy Listening Party)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Emily King – 'Special Occasion' (Grammy Listening Party)

Original Air Date: January 5, 2024
Guest: Emily King (Singer-songwriter)
Host: Alison Stewart

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Overview

In this episode, Alison Stewart hosts a Grammy listening party with Emily King to discuss her album Special Occasion, which is nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song. The conversation delves into Emily’s songwriting process, the personal journey that shaped the album, and her experiences working through heartbreak and creative transition. The episode features song clips and candid reflection, all unfolding in King’s signature open and thoughtful style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story Behind "This Year" and Album Introduction

• [02:40] Emily and Alison open with the album’s first track, "This Year."
• Emily reveals the song embodies her search for self after a breakup and attempts at new love:
  • "I was finding my way out of a relationship and into what I thought was a new relationship, which didn’t pan out...come New Year’s Eve, there I was alone and everyone was thinking they had such a great year. And I thought, well, I could have done better with mine." (03:10, Emily King)
• The lyric about buying new jeans is literal—she laughs about still wearing them as she speaks.

2. The Emotional Core of the Album

• [03:34] Emily discusses the period of independence and confusion after the end of a long-term relationship:
  • "It was a symbol of independence, but also confusion. What am I doing with my life?" (04:09, Emily King)
• She shares how speaking about her breakup is both cathartic and daunting:
  • "Well, it’s saving me money on therapy, so thank you...Somehow it’s easier to talk about history and the past than, you know, what’s going on with me now or even dreams for the future." (04:32, Emily King)

3. Grammy Nominations: Reaction and Meaning

• [05:38] Emily recalls finding out about her four Grammy nominations:
  • "I was in the house I bought, so I went from, you know, tears to...I literally jumped up and down, and I was like, whoa. I didn’t expect that reaction from myself, but it was fun just to have a reason to go." (05:44, Emily King)

4. Crafting the Title Track "Special Occasion"

• [06:01] Discussion of vocal style:
  • Emily talks about embracing her "breathy" vocal style and why she’s not a natural belter:
    • "I sort of, at some point in time, realized in the development of my singing that I am not a belting singer...But it's just the tools that I have in my toolbox. And I just love the sound of a breathy voice." (06:08, Emily King)
• She notes a vocal coach pointed out the mechanics (using more air), and reflects humorously on how this shapes her phrasing.

5. Upbringing, Family, and Musical Influence

• [08:57] Growing up in Downtown Manhattan with musician parents:
  • Emily’s parents (jazz vocalists) passed down a love of melody and the American Songbook:
    • "They were singing the American Songbook when I was a child...One of the beautiful things about those songs...a rise...a melody continues in a phrase and the emotion that it has behind it." (09:15, Emily King)
• Emphasizes absorbing songwriting subconsciously.

6. Lessons from a Musical Childhood: Surviving the Industry

• [10:36] On being raised by professional musicians:
  • "I think the best lesson is that you can survive on very little...If you know you can live on very little, then you’re more able to risk having very little to pursue your dream." (10:36, Emily King)
• She contrasts financial and artistic success, noting the lesson of passion over profit.

7. "False Start" and Writing from the Soul

• [12:27] Emily introduces "False Start" and shares her pride in its lyrics and emotional honesty:
  • "This song, I’m most proud of the lyrics...it was a direct line to my soul in that moment." (12:27, Emily King)
• She also praises the song’s ending soundscape, crafted by producer Jeremy Most.

8. Album Artwork and Imagery

• [15:14] Discussion about the special album cover image:
  • The cover—Emily crouched, holding a camera—was chosen because it captured a moment of self-reliance and reflection.
  • "Here I am alone, and I’m gonna just take this selfie. And the special occasion is me in this moment, trying to be okay with just being alone." (15:26, Emily King)
• The photo was a collaborative work with close friend and photographer Shervin Lainez.

9. The Grueling Process of Making the Album

• [16:42] Emily talks about the album’s emotional and creative challenges, from heartbreak to continuing to work with her ex-partner/producer:
  • "People say breakup, but I say transition...I don’t know if you’ve ever worked with someone that you were also a couple with. That was my situation...there was an agreement of finishing this music together. And I don’t know how we got through it, but...many thanks to him, who’s a wonderful producer, Jeremy Most." (16:42, Emily King)

10. Song: "Waterfalls" and the Role of Joy in Music

• [18:00] Emily introduces "Waterfalls" as a feel-good song, written and recorded years earlier, rediscovered while vacuuming:
  • "I was vacuuming, which I do too often...that song came on. I said, this is a feel-good cleaning the house song. Let’s put it on the album." (18:00, Emily King)

11. Solo Touring, Next Steps, and Fans

• [19:43] Emily discusses her recent solo tour (Northeast) and future west coast plans.
• She describes balancing songwriting, rest, and her love for cleaning, with humor:
  • "Yes, I will be cleaning. Cleaning and making messes to clean. I will be...actively writing and trying to get up the courage to kick my own ass." (19:56, Emily King)
• She affectionately refers to her fans as “the Cuties.”

12. A Lighthearted Finale: The Vacuum Question

• [20:46] Listener question about her choice of vacuum cleaner:
  • "Oh, the Miele. Come on, what’s better than that? I’m putting it on my rider. I want it at every show. It’s my favorite. It’s lasted too, like, years. So hit me up." (20:49, Emily King)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Notable Quote & Context | |-----------|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:10 | Emily King | “I was finding my way out of a relationship...come New Year’s Eve, there I was alone...I thought, well, I could have done better with mine.” | | 04:32 | Emily King | “Well, it’s saving me money on therapy, so thank you...Somehow it’s easier to talk about history and the past.” | | 06:08 | Emily King | “I realized...I am not a belting singer...I just love the sound of a breathy voice.” | | 10:36 | Emily King | “You can survive on very little...you’re more able to risk having very little to pursue your dream.” | | 12:27 | Emily King | “This song, I’m most proud of the lyrics...it was a direct line to my soul in that moment.” | | 15:26 | Emily King | “The special occasion is me in this moment, trying to be okay with just being alone.” | | 16:42 | Emily King | “People say breakup, but I say transition...there was an agreement of finishing this music together...many thanks to him, who’s a wonderful producer, Jeremy Most.” | | 18:00 | Emily King | “I was vacuuming...that song came on. I said, this is a feel good cleaning the house song. Let’s put it on the album.” | | 20:49 | Emily King | “Oh, the Miele. Come on, what’s better than that?...It’s my favorite. It’s lasted too, like, years.” |

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Key Musical Excerpts & Segment Timestamps

• [01:44] “This Year” (album opening track)
• [07:08] “Special Occasion” (title track, Grammy-nominated)
• [13:14] “False Start” (Grammy-nominated song)
• [18:44] “Waterfalls” (feel-good track discovered mid-cleaning)
• [21:11] “Closer to the Morning” (outro track played)

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Conclusion

This engaging episode provides an intimate look at Emily King’s personal and creative evolution during the making of Special Occasion. With candor and humor, she details the emotional landscape behind her art, her embrace of change and independence, and the joy she finds in everyday rituals (and even vacuuming). The conversation, woven together with song clips and stories, gives a vivid portrait of an artist navigating love, heartbreak, and creative rebirth—with a little help from her music, her community, and a very good vacuum.

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Transcript

[Michael's Party Shop Announcer]

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[McDonald's Customer]

I'm going to put you on nephew.

[Emily King]

All right, unc.

[McDonald's Employee / Singer]

Welcome to McDonald's.

[Interviewer]

Can I take your order, miss?

[McDonald's Customer]

Been hitting up McDonald's for years. Now it's back. We need snack wraps. What's a snack wrap? It's the return of something great. Snack wrap is back.

[Interviewer]

For 140 years, MultiCare has been in Washington prioritizing long term solutions, partnering with local communities and expanding access to care. Together we're building a healthier future. Learn [e-mail] listener supported WNYC studios.

[Emily King]

This.

[Alison Stewart]

Is all of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. The 2024 Grammys are just a month away and over the course of the next few weeks we're going to spend some time with nominees. Today my guest is Emily King who received four nominations including the best R B album and best R B song. In those categories, King's album full of love, heartbreak, regret and raw self honesty is called special occasion. Let's listen to the album's opening track this year.

[McDonald's Employee / Singer]

Spent a year trying to get you to love me Put your needs high up above me all night talking on the telephone listening to you crying about being alone Spent summer trying to get you to care Bought new jeans and groom my hair hold me up when you wanna me around but when I needed you you could never be found so this is gonna be about me Never will I have another reason to doubt me this year. This year.

[Interviewer]

Emily King is also one of us. She was born and raised in New York by two parents who were professional jazz musicians, vocalists. So naturally she was raised in the music world. She was certain she wanted to pursue music so she opted to get her GED at age 16 and began her career with me. Now for a listening party for her Grammy nominated album Special Occasion is Emily King.

[Alison Stewart]

Emily, welcome to the studio.

[Emily King]

Allison. Thank you for having me. Hi.

[Interviewer]

So we heard this year in the intro first track on the album, what's the story behind that song and why is it the best introduction for this particular record?

[Emily King]

Well, I happen to be wearing the new jeans that I bought from the lyric and that song I Just looked down, I'm like, oh, I still like these jeans. So I got something out of that that was sort of. I was finding my way out of a relationship and into what I thought was a new relationship, which didn't pan out. But yeah, I did all of these things. Just sort of posturing for the attention of my crush. And come New Year's Eve, there I was alone and everyone was thinking they had such a great year. And I thought, well, I could have done better with mine.

[Interviewer]

Looking back on it, now that you had a little bit of time, what was going on with you that year?

[Emily King]

What was wrong going on?

[Interviewer]

Like, oh, you know, what was really going on with me was what was going on?

[Emily King]

Trying to. Well, it all comes down to loving oneself, I think, at least in my case. And also just trying to figure out who I was, not in relation to someone else, but who I was. I bought a house for the first time in my life, was a huge dream come true, and just walked in and started to cry because I was freshly out of a long, long term relationship. And so there was. It was a symbol of independence, but also confusion. What am I doing with my life?

[Interviewer]

That's why I'm curious, because you know the record and you've been very open about it. About the part of the record is about a breakup and when you're writing the songs is one thing. And then you have to go talk about him.

[Emily King]

Right.

[Interviewer]

What has this been like for you to talk about your breakup while you're trying to talk about your music?

[Emily King]

Well, it's saving me money on therapy, so thank you, but I didn't for years. I think the tone with my relationship with my people I work with, I was very private about everything and I still love my privacy. Somehow it's easier to talk about history and the past than, you know, what's going on with me now or even dreams for the future. But I do find it's helpful to talk about things. And I sometimes kick myself when I leave these types of studios. What the hell did I mean? I was at a party the other night. I was like, why did I say now they know everything. But as long as you know that what you're telling people is going to be repeated and I think it's okay. You're not hurting anyone.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, as long. As long as it's true.

[Emily King]

As long as they're not listening, then it's fine.

[Interviewer]

My guest is Emily King. The album is called Special Occasion. Except for four Grammys. When were you. Where were you when you found out your album had been nominated for that many Grammys. That's kind of great. I mean, you've been nominated before, but that's still great.

[Emily King]

Thank you. I. Well, I was in the house I bought, so I went from, you know, tears to. I literally jumped up and down, and I was like, whoa. I didn't expect that reaction from myself, but it was fun just to have a reason to go. So that's what. That's where I was.

[Interviewer]

Let's talk about the title track and we'll listen to it. It's nominated for best traditional r B performance.

[Emily King]

It's.

[Interviewer]

I'm curious about your choice of vocals here. They're sort of nuanced and soft. What went into that choice of delivery?

[Emily King]

Well, I sort of at some point in time, realized in the development of my singing that I am not a belting singer. You know, it's not something that comes naturally to me. I try to exercise that when I'm on tour because I like the effect of emoting 100%. But it might have been from growing up in the city trying to be quiet for the neighbors, I don't know. But it's just the tools that I have in my toolbox. And I just love the sound of a breathy voice. I think even in the artists I listen to, I prefer that type of sound. But I did talk to a vocal coach one time, and he said. I said, you know, I'm running out of air at the end of. He said, well, it's because it's this breathy voice that you're doing. You're literally releasing too much air into every phrase. So it's. There's a sacrifice, but everything shapes everything. So I wonder even if that shapes my Is why I like rhythmic phrasing. Because you have smaller, shorter phrases. I don't know. I just came up with that.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, let's take a listen. This special occasion from Emily King.

[McDonald's Employee / Singer]

By till the day inside Like a wasted time it's amazing life Special occasion right like we're raising tight never fading wine yeah, we raising high Special occasion Grab your neighbor and tell a friend we going out on a weekend City lights and an attitude look out yeah we going through our on roll seats at our favorite show table Said call Emilio Raise our glasses and have a toast Leave them troubles watch them going oh, it's only love that we've got to give Only life that we've got to live it's only right Right till the day inside Like a waste of time it's amazing life Special occasion Right.

[Interviewer]

That's special Occas from Emily King. It's also the name of her album. We're having a Grammy album listening party. You mentioned being quiet for the neighbors. You grew up here in New York? What part of town?

[Emily King]

I grew up on house in down, you know, Lower east side, soho, Chinatown area.

[Interviewer]

And your parents were vocalists? Jazz vocalists. And you said how they gave you a love for melody. What's your. When you think about writing melodies, what can you direct? What can you trace back to them.

[Alison Stewart]

Or the way that they taught you.

[Interviewer]

About melody and music?

[Emily King]

Well, they were singing the American Songbook when I was a child. My brother and I were in the apartment and they were practicing. And there's, I think, one of the beautiful things about those songs. I mean, they're just so incredible. They're crafted so well. It's masterful songwriting, but there's, like, a rise. And a lot of the melodies start really low, and then they go, what are you doing the rest of your life? Is it, oh, start low? And then it just brings this energy up. And I think that's something I use for. I try to use all the time. There's. There's such a connection to the way a melody continues in a phrase and the emotion that it has behind it. So I think the best way to write a song is to just, like, speak the emotion into the air, you know, instead of scientifically piecing it together. And so I think I was subconsciously taking in all of those songs and melodies and then trying to recreate them.

[Interviewer]

I'm going to ask a practical question. In all of your time working in the music business and the industry, when was a time you knew that growing up around professional musicians prepared you for what it takes to make it or to survive in the music industry and business?

[Emily King]

It wasn't. Well, it was. I think the best lesson is that you can survive on very little. You know, my parents didn't make it successfully financially as musicians, and. And. But they had success in a lot of ways, you know, and I think that especially for. Unfortunately, for a lot of jazz musicians, it doesn't equal financial success. But there is a lesson to be had in that. And I think that if you know you can live on very little, then you're more able to risk having very little to pursue your dream. And I think that one of the things that they taught us is that it's very important to do what you're passionate about, what you love, you know, so that you don't have regrets. And it just happened to Be in line with what they were already doing. So I think there's some luck there.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Emily King will continue discussing her album Special Occasion after a quick break. This is all of it. This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest this hour is Emily King. Her album Special Occasion is nominated for four Grammys, including best R and B album. We're having a Grammy listening party for that album. Let's play another song. This song is called False Start, Nominated for best R and B song. What's something you'd like people to listen.

[Emily King]

For in this song?

[Alison Stewart]

Or something about the musicianship or about the lyrics that you just want people to pay a little extra attention to?

[Emily King]

I'm trying to think if there's any mistakes, I'm kicking myself. This song. I'm most proud of the lyrics in this song, and it was a direct line to my soul in that moment in time. So, yeah, I would say maybe listen to the lyrics, but the. The ending is my favorite part. Jeremy Most, who produced the album, really created this beautiful soundscape at the very end. So maybe listen for that.

[Interviewer]

Okay. I don't know if we're gonna get.

[Alison Stewart]

To the very end.

[Emily King]

Okay. We'll get to the top, but that'll be Just imagine.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's take a listen.

[Emily King]

Okay.

[McDonald's Employee / Singer]

Do I run on back to you Tell myself another truth and fall back what see you believes don't ever know which way they'll fall and I've been sitting Waiting for the call I get lost in what I do I run on back to you Playing myself another tune and fall back with the use but endings never tell you where to start or just how many times they fall apart and I've been sitting Watching where you are It's a false start Almost had my chance New heart started making plans Couldn't take the pain and walk away Back the way I came.

[Interviewer]

That'S false start from the album Special Occasion. My guest is Emily King. So when people go see the COVID work for this album, you're in front of, like, a white psych, and you're crouching down holding a camera. Looks like you're taking a photo of yourself. Are you a photographer?

[Emily King]

I am not.

[Interviewer]

You are not?

[Emily King]

No. But I take many millions of photos of myself.

[Interviewer]

Why did this image seem like the right one for the COVID I have.

[Emily King]

My very best friend Shervin Lanez is actually a professional photographer, and he's amazing, and he's been so kind to take most all of my album photos and covers, and I Went to a studio one day and we. This was the maybe third time that we were attempting to take the album cover. But I didn't really have a concept for the album. I didn't have a title yet up until that day. Finally settled on the title, Special Occasion, which felt for me tongue in cheek because of all of the sort of grueling struggle that went into making the record. I thought, well, it's all a special occasion, you know, and it's a projection. And I said, well, here I am alone, and I'm gonna just take this selfie. And the special occasion is me in this moment, trying to be okay with just being alone. That's what it felt like in that moment anyway. So that ended up being the photo that we used. And it kind of represented this transition for me from, you know, one life to the other.

[Alison Stewart]

Was that the part that was grueling for you and you said in this grueling period of making this record?

[Emily King]

It was. Yes, I was trying to transition. People say breakup, but I say transition because in the hopes that it will become the friendship again. But I don't know if you've ever worked with someone that you were also a couple with. That was my situation for many, many years, up until the making of this record. And at the beginning of the record was the beginning of the real breakup. But there was an agreement of finishing this music together. And I don't know how we got through it, but, you know, many thanks to him, who's a wonderful producer, Jeremy Most. And we got through it. So that's. That's the.

[Alison Stewart]

That's an accomplishment.

[Emily King]

The story in a nutshell.

[Alison Stewart]

That's a big accomplishment.

[Emily King]

I don't know if it's accomplished yet. Oh, thank you. No, it is. It was. It felt. It was bittersweet to finish it, and I am very proud of it, and I'm grateful that it happened.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen to another song, Waterfalls.

[Emily King]

Will you set this up for us? Yeah. So this was a feel good song that we had actually recorded many years ago. It came into the fold, probably just on my notes where I keep old ideas. And I was vacuuming, which I do too often. I'm addicted to cleaning, and it's my joy in life. And that song came on. I said, this is a feel good Cleaning the house song. Let's put it on the album. And he agreed. This is Waterfalls. This is it.

[McDonald's Employee / Singer]

I know your situation. You've been working so hard. I know I've been impatient when I don't know where you are. Oh, it might be difficult sometimes But I still want you by my side so much for waterfalls I think we have to make the climb so much for waterfalls and things always people growing apart it's when I get to thinking I might be losing your heart no.

[Interviewer]

I know you recently wrapped a solo tour around the Northeast, but you have more dates coming.

[Emily King]

I do. I don't have them yet, unfortunately, but I would. I'm planning to go to the west coast with the solo tour.

[Interviewer]

That's very exciting. So what will happen between now and then? Will you be writing? Will you be resting?

[Emily King]

Yes, I will be cleaning. Cleaning and making messes to clean. I will be. Yes. Actively writing and trying to get up the courage to kick my own ass. Can you say that? Oh, I'm sorry.

[Interviewer]

Sure.

[Emily King]

Nope, that's not on the list. That's all good. Okay. Sorry. And just, you know, it's a new place for me because I am making music now by myself, which I think is a good thing. So we'll see how it goes. But the solo tour was definitely a wonderful, encouraging moment for me. And the Cuties came out and we had a great time. I call the listeners the Cuties because they're so cute.

[Interviewer]

Last burning question. Someone wants to know what vacuum you use.

[Emily King]

Oh, the mealy. Come on, what's better than that? I'm putting it on my rider. I want it at every show. It's my favorite. It's lasted too, like, years. So hit me up.

[Interviewer]

Emily King's album Special Occasion is nominated for four Grammys. Emily, thanks for coming into the studio.

[Emily King]

It's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

[Interviewer]

Let's go out on the track Closer to the morning.

[McDonald's Employee / Singer]

Sit up and down in my spinning let's go plan a.

[Michael's Party Shop Announcer]

Party like it's a new year Attention, party people. You're officially invited to the party shop at Michael's where you'll find hundreds of new Items starting at 99 cents with an expanded selection of party wear, balloons with helium included on select styles, decorations and more. Michaels is your one stop shop for celebrating everything from birthdays to bachelorette parties and baby showers to golden anniversaries. Visit Michaels store or michaels.com today to supply your next party.

[McDonald's Customer]

I'mma put you on, nephew.

[Emily King]

All right, unc.

[McDonald's Employee / Singer]

Welcome to McDonald's.

[Interviewer]

Can I take your order, miss?

[McDonald's Customer]

I've been hitting up McDonald's for years. Now it's back. We need snack wraps. What's a snack wrap? It's the return of something great. Snack wrap is back.