Emma Harner’s debut EP, ‘Taking My Side”: The ultimate sad girl summer soundtrack

reviewsmusic
Written By Skylar Sanders

Words by Zara Dosanjh / Graphics by Sabina Anand / Edited by Charis Caraballo


Emma Harner — self-proclaimed “guitar girl” and gifted song-writer — presents a masterclass in vulnerability, resilience and growth in her debut EP, “Taking My Side”. 

British summer has hit its peak, and as I play Emma’s EP, her voice swirls with the warm air flowing through my bedroom window. “Taking My Side” has a sound that melts with the heat of summer, a sound that embodies the longing that corners you on lonely evenings. Her honey-soaked folk sound is warm and fluttery, anchored by the coming-of-age cornerstones of heartbreak, ego death and epiphany. Earthy guitar tones entwine with Emma’s voice, two halves of the heart of her EP. Listening to “Taking My Side” in full is taking a late night stroll through each of Emma’s fluctuating thoughts and feelings, from angst all the way to acceptance. It is a true emotional odyssey. 

The delicacy and vigour of Emma’s voice immerses “Taking My Side” in the grips of raw emotion. Her demand of “give me everything” in the second track, “Do It,” is marked by desperation and grit teeth. Emma reaches catharsis in “Yes Man,” the EP’s emotional and instrumental climax, as well as my personal favourite. It is an ultimately transformative track — the emotional upheaval, frustration and clarity perfectly captures the feeling of growing up. The gentle buzz of Emma’s voice juxtaposes the vigour behind her words. “I can’t escape my brain,” she laments softly, “it’s all corrupted.” The violin’s poignant sound weaves the songs together as a collection of sombre shadows from a summertime past. Emma has a voice that turns you inside out and settles in your heart, with the story of a girl coming to terms with both the world around her and the world within her. 

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@emmaharner we 🧡🧡🧡 u big time!! Read this + other awesome stuff at FemmageZine.com 💻 Graphics by @projectsbysabina ♡ #fyp #explore #newmusicmonday #zine #zinester #feminist #feminism #femaleartists #lgbtq #secretaccount #targetaudience
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