Most radio hits follow a standard formula of vague-yet-resonant, exaggerated lyrics about a devastating breakup, an overly passionate lust, a glamorous life, or another topic along these lines. However, January 2022 saw something entirely different, from a brand new artist no less. Em Beihold’s “Numb Little Bug” directly tackles the subject of mental health, telling the singer’s personal story exactly like it is - no brownie-points-seeking high notes, no flowery metaphors, no sugar coating. From battling intrusive thoughts, to taking pills daily, to struggling to make it through every day, Em covers it all.
This bold single preceded her debut EP, Egg In The Backseat, which established her central brand: “anxiety, but make it pop.” The whole EP blew us away, but its dynamic (and at times outrageous) title track stood out - it uses a special and innovative lens to describe falling for someone.
Image credit: Universal Music Group, graphic created by Karly Ramnani
YOU'LL LOVE EM BEIHOLD IF YOU LISTEN TO: Katy Perry, Julia Michaels, AJR, Baby Queen, Alec Benjamin, Tate McRae, Selena Gomez, Sabrina Carpenter
Her latest release, “Rollercoasters Make Me Sad,” only builds on that. It’s actually inspired by her response to the viral success of “Numb Little Bug,” which suddenly thrust her into the spotlight. An unplanned session, ironically, yielded the relatable anthem. Employing techniques of social commentary and personification, Em captures the feeling of not being able to enjoy yourself the way your peers can.
We recently got the privilege to chat with Em about her songwriting process, doing a bit of a deep-dive on “Rollercoasters Make Me Sad” and “Egg In The Backseat.” We love the perspective that she gave us, and the unique ways she incorporates real-life experiences into her music.
You had mentioned that “Rollercoasters Make Me Sad” is about the crazy, unexpected response that “Numb Little Bug” received last year. How long have you had “Rollercoasters” in your back pocket? Did you start writing it in January 2022 itself?
I wrote it in May of 2022. It was actually right after I came back from the Anson Seabra tour. It was a concept that I had been sitting on with my collaborators before I left for tour. Even just the title. We had a conversation about theme parks, actually, and how it related to the music industry. When I get to the top of a rollercoaster, I don’t get scared. I literally just get depressed. [My collaborators] were like, ‘Oh yeah, that totally makes sense, with everything you’ve been saying about music.’
I love the motifs and metaphors you use in your songs! What helps you come up with such specific and easy-to-visualize images? Especially with “Egg In The Backseat,” that has to be a favorite.
Growing up, I always had my hair in a tight ponytail, and you couldn’t really see my hair. So I just looked like an egg, and my friends would call me “egg” for “egg-mily.” It’s something that I just kind of related with for a while. When we were writing “Egg In The Backseat,” we were talking about how this guy broke through my mental walls. I think the lyric we were trying to rhyme with was “cracked me.” My instinct was “like an egg in the backseat” - totally as a joke. I was like, “That makes no sense. We can’t say that.” And they were like “But you can say that.” And I was like “I guess!” I don’t necessarily know what it means per se, but it just felt right. And sometimes lyrics be like that.
Em is more than just a mental health advocate - she goes above and beyond to make those with anxiety feel seen. Putting herself on the same level as us, she reminds listeners that more people identify with your struggles than you think. Hopefully by now, we’ve convinced you to add her to all of your playlists - here’s one that we’ve curated to help you get started!
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