Abu Dhabi World Trade Center, Kadriorg Palace, Philly Joe's Jazz Club – you’ve performed in quite a few places. Do you have a specific venue where you’d definitely like to perform in the future?
I’d love to perform at the Swissôtel’s Horisont restaurant. They host the Monday Jazz concert series curated by Guido Kangur, and I’d really like to take part in that. On the other hand, while I’ve performed at the Alexela Concert Hall as a soloist before, I dream of giving a full-length concert there with my own work.
You’ve acknowledged your fondness for nature — both desert oases and the sea. How important is nature in your creative process?
While nature certainly plays an important role in my work, my primary source of inspiration is still the human being and the emotions and thoughts that stem from them. That said, humans are a part of nature, and the two can’t be separated because a person’s presence gives meaning to their surroundings. Nature is elemental and unpredictable – every living organism can interpret it in its own way. If a moose stumbles upon a sacred grove while wandering in the forest, to it, it’s just a patch of woods. But for a human, it’s a holy place from which to draw the strength of their ancestors.
You’re working on a new album – can fans expect a continuation of your earlier work, or is something different coming?
To my current listeners, I’ll say this much: the new album, “Songs of the Silver Wolf”, based on texts by writer Vahur Afanasjev, will have a different sound. The record will blend blues, funk, and literary influences. The flowers and butterflies of the past are behind me, replaced by a more distinctive and lively energy. Some songs talk about things like whiskey, tipsy women, freedom, and death. There’s also support from Grigori Rõžuk, who plays guitar and co-writes.
If you could collaborate with any artist of your choice, who would you pick?
Every singer dreams of collaborating with a masterful pianist because it sparks new emotional outbursts. It gives you great creative influences and lets you see the world through a different lens. I can play the piano myself, but working with a virtuoso would elevate me as a singer too. Some talented people in my orbit include Kristjan Randalu or Joonas Haavisto, a jazz pianist from Finland. I’ve also thought about Puuluup, whose nu-folk style could create an interesting combination. It’d also be cool to work with Nils Frahm, who blends electronic and classical music.
You’ve mentioned hesitating between academic and musical higher education. How did that resolve for you?
In my final year of high school, I made a tough decision and chose to dive deeper into music, which had been a hobby. Today, I’ve studied at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, focusing on composition and music pedagogy with a choral conducting emphasis, and I don’t regret it for a second. While studying music has helped me immensely, I still feel that what I learned in school sometimes restricts me creatively. It should be spontaneous and fun – not a science. Once you’ve studied music, it’s hard to hold onto that pure, innocent childlike quality, but it’s incredibly important. Everyone has to find their own path in creative work.
You’re very versatile in your music-making. Where would you place yourself?
I’m really glad that as an artist, I’ve been able to create such diverse music and collaborate with many artists. I’ve tested myself at events like Viru Folk, August Blues, and Juu Jääb – all festivals with different audiences. That’s helped me grow as an artist. My sound engineer recently said he could see me doing grunge music, and I’ve heard comparisons that I’m somewhere between Kadri Voorand and Mari Jürjens. Right now, I’m searching for my own sound that makes me me.
Which album or piece of music has inspired your work?
As a teenager, I listened a lot to singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s albums Blue, Court and Spark, and Night Ride Home, as well as Norah Jones’s Come Away with Me. Among male singers, I love Nick Drake, and I have to mention the legendary Ray Charles, whose album Genius & Friends left its mark. From Estonian musicians, I deeply admire the work of Hedvig Hanson, Ines, Vaiko Eplik, and Mari Jürjens, but classical music, like Ester Mägi’s, has inspired me too. Tõnis Mägi’s Siirius deserves praise as well.
What helps you create music?
Reading – especially at night – recharges me tremendously. Right now, I’m in the middle of Anett Kontaveit’s biography Fighter’s Soul and Lii Unt’s The Best Actor in Town. I try to dive into them whenever I have a free moment to gather new ideas. Exercise is also key, which might come as a surprise, but I think athletes and musicians have a lot in common. A musician’s life is often intense, and I feel I have so much to learn from athletes – you don’t get anywhere in music without discipline either. It’s not directly tied to sports, but I recently wrote a song after attending a gong meditation. Inspiration really is everywhere.
Is there a trend in the music scene you miss and hope returns, or one you’d like to see fade away?
I want live music to become important again. There’s a great example from music history when a composer at court wrote a new piece every week, and everyone came to listen. A few decades ago, live music was more popular because vinyl was hard to come by, you had to record from cassette players, and the internet wasn’t overflowing with streaming services – there was no other option! I’d love to see parties or evenings where people gather to listen to music, with someone bringing their favorite vinyl. You could listen, enjoy, and discuss it together with friends. That’s what I miss.
On the flip side, I’d like to see less gossip around musicians or their personal lives and the shock therapy that comes with it. For me, music should be uplifting and elevating, not a secondary thing next to scandal. Estonian artist Kitty Florentine plays with that line well. Her slightly sensual, theatrical, and captivating character feels like it’s from another world, yet she maintains elegance, style, and mystery. I still don’t know her real name! Music should be something where the listener has to put in a little effort to understand it. Things left unsaid – that’s what makes art interesting!
Do you have a favorite dining spot in Estonia you visit often?
One special place I warmly recommend is NOA. It offers both a culinary and visual experience, and I suggest taking your time there with good company. The family restaurant ANNO has also stuck with me. It’s near Tallinn’s harbor in a limestone building, with high-quality food and an incredibly cozy atmosphere. On weekends, I often indulge at Karjase Sai. I also praise Ristikheina Café – go order their pancakes with ice cream! Viljandi’s food scene is noteworthy too, including places like Rohelise Maja Shop and Café and the Novell book café.
Invite Emma Johanna Lepasoo to your event.
Bookings: info@partyfy.eu