When was the last time you met someone new and allowed yourself a little fun? Well, Emi Araishi has a song that will motivate you: a bubbly, relatable pop wonder that punches well above its weight. Drawing inspiration from global icons such as Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, and Mae Muller, ‘Sugar Honey’ is exactly what it says on the tin (its title)… a flirtatious, feel-good jewel that captures all the excitement of a new romantic fling.
Built on a mainstream pop production with a keen nostalgic twist, ‘Sugar Honey’ also shares a certain dreamy character, with Emi Araishi’s luscious, hypnotic vocals completely capturing the listeners’ attention. Born in Singapore to a Japanese father and Singaporean mother, the talented songstress holds a lot of potential for the future.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Araishi to learn more about her artistry and next goals… Interview below!
Hey Emi, thanks for chatting with us! Let’s dive straight into your latest single, ‘Sugar Honey’. You make no secret of the track being inspired by major popstars. The result is indeed highly enticing and uplifting, as expected. Are you proud of how the track turned out?
Thank you so much! With ‘Sugar Honey,’ I wanted to explore the playful, flirtatious side of pop, so I wrote a bubblegum dance-pop track about a girl ready to take a chance on love again. I had so much fun playing with the idea of being sweet yet seductive, with a touch of class and a little bit of naughty.
Getting this track ready was quite a journey! We had to switch mixing engineers, and it felt like computer ghosts were haunting the project with random glitches. It was definitely a wild ride, but I’m really happy and proud of how it turned out!
The lyrical theme that propels the song is rather playful and tongue-in-cheek, yet also bold and empowering, in a way. Is there a particular inspiration behind it?
I think the song reflects a little shift in my own attitude toward love! I’ve always been cautious about romance, usually waiting for someone to approach me rather than making the first move. But as I’ve gotten older and more confident, I’ve become more open to spontaneity and taking chances. That’s where the playful confidence in ‘Sugar Honey’ comes from: a girl stepping out of her comfort zone and enjoying the thrill of a new romance without overthinking it too much!
From a stylistic standpoint, ‘Sugar Honey’ is quite different from the R&B-inspired territories of its predecessors, ‘Not Your Baby’. Going back to ‘Daydream’, we find a different vibe, too. Would you say that you are slowly finding your identity as an artist?
As both an artist and producer, I tend to draw inspiration from whatever I’ve been listening to recently, so my sound naturally shifts depending on what excites me at the time. I also love challenging myself by experimenting with genres I haven’t explored before. Of course, I know it’s important to have a recognisable identity and a cohesive sound, and I’m gradually working towards that. I’ve always been drawn to feel-good music, especially dance-pop, so I think that’s a direction I’ll continue to explore while leaving room for experimentation. For me, it’s about finding that balance between discovering new sounds and creating music that feels uniquely me!
Your vocals sound really precise and controlled; did you receive any formal musical education?
Aww, thank you so much! Yes, I started learning classical piano at the age of four, and music has been a big part of my life ever since. I later studied Music Production at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan. I’m also currently working with Varya, my vocal coach, who guides me through recording sessions, helping me fine-tune vocal delivery, phrasing, tone, and emotional expression to bring out the right character and feeling in each song.
Widening the discourse, I’d love to know what motivated you to pursue music in the first place; is there anything or anyone that influenced your musical journey during your younger years?
I’ve loved singing ever since I was a little girl, and I think that passion naturally grew into wanting to pursue music more seriously. Growing up, I was really inspired by amazing artists like Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, and Michael Jackson, who showed me how exciting it could be to express yourself through music and performance. My mom has also played a huge role in my journey. She’s always encouraged me to pursue the things I love and has been incredibly supportive of my dreams. I think having that encouragement gave me the confidence to keep exploring music and follow my passion!
Take us into your creative process; Do you prefer writing alone or collaborating with others? Do you also produce music?
I usually write alone because I enjoy exploring my ideas at my own pace, but I also love collaborating with other artists and seeing how different perspectives can bring a song to life! My previous release, ‘Daydream,’ was a collaboration with a girl from the States, and we actually wrote the song together over Zoom!
I also produce all of my own music, from songwriting to building the production and shaping the final sound. I really enjoy the process of bringing the vision I have in my head to life!
The music industry nowadays is a complex space to decode, and even obvious talents such as yourself can have a hard time navigating it. How has your experience been so far?
Honestly, I’m still figuring things out! I have no idea how to promote my music haha. I know social media is important in today’s industry, but I don’t post that often because I try to limit my time on those apps, as they can get pretty addictive!
I’m really happy that Spotify and Apple picked up a couple of my songs in the past. It gave me a little confidence boost and reminded me that there are people out there who enjoy my music. At the end of the day, knowing that my songs can connect with someone is what really matters to me.
Lastly, what’s next for Emi Araishi? Anything new on the horizon?
I’ll be taking a little break over the holidays to recharge, but I’ll be back with a new song early next year! I’m also working on a collab project with one of my Singaporean artist friends, which I’m really excited about. So stay tuned!