SPOTLIGHT: EMILY O’NEAL

Meet Emily O’Neal and tune into her new single “That’s How I Know”

“That’s How I Know” captures the wild, messy excitement of catching feelings. What inspired the concept behind this single, and how did you land on that balance between playful and intense?

Some of my past experiences with having crushes, plus some over-dramatization was the inspiration, taking an overwhelming feeling and making it even bigger. 

Your writing is so real yet relatable. Did any real-life moments spark that lyricism?

Thank you! It’s a combination of my real-life experiences, stories I’ve heard from others, and things I’ve invented.

You’ve described the song as “dramatic, sugary pop with grit.” How did you and producer Jaan Kohm bring that sound to life in the studio?

We wanted to accomplish a very sweet sound in the verses, to represent the singer hiding her obsession with her crush, and contrasting that with big, driving drums in the chorus, which would be the singer’s inner monologue, to compliment the story of the song. Showing how she’s presenting on the outside versus how it actually feels.

“That’s How I Know” marks a new era for you musically. How would you describe the evolution from your debut album Bird’s Eye View to this single?

I’m leaning more into pop with my current music, on the album I explored some other genres like rock and indie. Lyrically I’m also being more ridiculous and playful.

Your music often mixes humor with honesty about relationships and emotions. How important is it for you to keep that sense of playfulness in your songwriting?

Honestly, it’s something I started doing accidentally. I would write songs from a very honest and straightforward place, and then I’d perform the songs live and people would laugh at the lyrics. So then I thought maybe I should lean into it more and try doing it on purpose. But since I’ve started writing that way purposely, I’ve really enjoyed it, it allows me to be more creative.

You’ve already had some incredible milestones, opening for Olivia O’Brien, selling out the Bluebird Café, and releasing your debut album. How do you feel this new release represents where you are now as an artist?

I’m leaning more into the joy of writing and creating music! Just having more fun and allowing myself to make less serious songs.

TikTok has been a big part of your journey, especially with the success of “Villain.” How has social media influenced your creative process or connection with fans?

At first it felt overwhelming to “have” to post all the time, but now I’m having a lot of fun with it! I love connecting with people who’ve had similar experiences, and also meeting  other writers and artists who are going through similar things. If anything, TikTok makes me want to write even more, it inspires me to see everyone else following their passion!

What was your favorite part of conceptualizing the writing for “That’s How I Know”?

I loved throwing ideas back and forth with my co-writer Jaan, seeing how ridiculous we could make the lyrics and then honing them in when it got too weird haha.

You’ve written everything from heartfelt ballads to empowering anthems. What draws you to the pop sound specifically for this new chapter?

I’ve always wanted to have a big pop moment. As I got older I was drawn to other genres and tried out other sounds, which was amazing and I’m sure I’ll do that again someday, but this time I really wanted to lean into pop and make the kind of music I’ve always wanted to.

Looking ahead, how does “That’s How I Know” set the tone for what’s coming next, are we entering a new era of Emily O’Neal?

We are! You can expect more pop songs with quirky lyrics ahead.

Listen to “That's How I Know” here.