An Up and Coming Artist: Emma Andersen

Adeline Williams '26  ~  March 2025

“But now you’re just a face of a passerby I know too well in this life.” That’s a taste of Nashville based singer-songwriter Emma Andersen’s cathartic lyrics. With her incredible lyricism mixed with fingerstyle acoustic guitar, her ballads blend together in a beautiful way, turning every listener into a fan. I was filled with excitement when Andersen agreed to an interview as she is one of my favorite songwriters as of late. Only beginning to release music a year ago, she has over 30 thousand devoted monthly listeners on Spotify and five catchy singles out. 

Life in Nashville as a musician is an eventful and beneficial lifestyle according to Andersen. Attending college in the music capital of the world, she double majors in songwriting and music business. Andersen explained that being in Nashville surrounded by musicians has opened up countless doors for her, particularly because networking is a key aspect of the industry. She expands on what life is like in Nashville, saying, “The writers’ rounds and live music never stop, which is so fun and a little overwhelming.” A skilled networker, Anderson loves to write duets as they strategically help bring two fan bases together. As a growing artist, Andersen has her ups and downs when trying to promote her music, which she describes as the most daunting task of the whole process. She explains that the key to success is consistency. If you are constantly posting on social media or Spotify, the apps will recognize this and hit more people’s algorithms. Andersen confirms that she has seen the direct benefits from posting on social media, which give her the motivation to continue doing so, creating a community of fans. 

Andersen has had a longstanding background in music. Growing up, she enjoyed musical theatre, nurturing her passion for music. She jokes, “I’m an ex theater kid but I try to keep it under wraps.” She took a few guitar lessons when she was little, but with her whole life consumed by musical theatre, she became too busy to continue playing. When Covid locked the globe inside, Andersen found the time to pick up her guitar again and play some covers. For her junior and senior year of high school, she moved in with a friend in San Diego, because she grew up there and missed it when her family moved to Oregon during her freshman year. She describes the experience as “going to college two years early!” Being away from her parents, Andersen found guitar as a comfort during an overwhelming time in her life. She decided to try writing her own songs in the middle of her senior year of high school. Recognizing her talent, her parents encouraged her to continue in college. Convinced she would major in theatre, she is shocked by where she is now. She laughs, “I was belligerent: I said I was never going to go to Belmont but my parents forced me to apply and visit; now here I am!” 

When I asked Andersen for an elevator pitch of her music, this is how she summed it up: “It’s the weirdest blend of indie folk pop. I like to do pop music production wise, but with folk instruments.” In simpler terms, she writes a pop song and switches the instruments around. For example, instead of electric guitar, she adds some banjo. She adds, “I take all of those elements and blend them all together in some weird way.” This “weird way” is specifically why people love Andersen’s music. Her sound makes you feel like you are being transported into a field or some sort of beautiful scenery, similar to the feeling of Noah Kahan’s music. In the meantime, her lyrics are worthy of being belted out when driving around with your best friends, like a Taylor Swift song. 

When it comes to inspiration for her music, Andersen tends to reach for John Vincent lll and Lizzy McAlpine. Andersen ran into Vincent during an open mic at the iconic Bluebird Cafe. She recalls how she fangirled and was freaking out, especially once he invited her to his next release show! His album “Songs From the Valley” has had a monumental impact on her life, bringing her to fall in love with music. Andersen gushed about how she is addicted to Lizzy McAlpine as well, explaining that McAlpine is her go-to when it comes to inspiration for lyricism and production style. 

Andersen has a lot up her sleeve for 2025, ready to take on the music industry with her brilliant songwriting. Her favorite song she has written is constantly changing: she falls in love with each song she writes and is onto the next song rapidly, highlighting her growth and improvement as a songwriter. She is always working on something new, never leaving her fans bored. Be sure to check her out on your favorite streaming platform!