Vince Leigh’s Single Review: Leave You Like A Man by EMEREE
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
The music industry is a vast, cluttered space, oscillating between true artistry and fickle virality. Here, amidst the haze of fleeting chart-toppers and algorithmic echoes, stands EMEREE: raw, unapologetic, and refreshingly authentic.
Her debut track, Leave You Like A Man, isn’t just a flirtation with the zeitgeist; it’s a thunderous announcement that she’s here to attempt a rewrite of the rulebook. Drawing inspiration from her personal odyssey, EMEREE admits, ‘The song was inspired by a series of mediocre men I encountered in my first experience as a single adult after ending my six-year relationship.’ This isn’t mere lyricism; it’s an unfettered diary entry chronicling ‘female empowerment, sexuality, and heartbreak/anger.’
The resulting sound is a concoction of Motown’s soulful charm and the audacious energy of contemporary R&B. Every note, laden with intent and emotion, strikes deep. Her voice – that gritty, mellifluous tone – doesn’t just navigate the intricacies of her music; it commands them. Pair that with her innovative self-produced rhythms, and you’ve got a soundscape that effortlessly bridges generations, echoing the grandeur of the past while eagerly anticipating the future. While the behemoth that is Spotify has quantified her growing influence in towering stream counts, EMEREE’s essence is far more expansive.
Witnessing her live is like watching a masterclass in presence. Whether she’s sharing the stage with established acts like Thelma Plum, JACOTENE, Confidence Man, JK-47, and Genesis Owusu, or casting her own magnetic spell solo, she embodies her self-proclaimed passion. Further solidifying her place in the pantheon of promising artists, her tenure at the APRA AMCOS 4000 Studios was an exploration and fine-tuning.
Reflecting on the nuances that shaped Leave You Like A Man, she asserts, ‘With my experience as a female producer/engineer… I was dealing with these enormous male egos… The song was really a chance for me to take back my dominance and sense of control.’
Listen on Spotify
