#whatyougot

Emily + Shawn are the rising indie folk pop and R&B pop duo from Brooklyn breaking into the music scene unapologetically. They write their music based on their own experiences, shared journeys, and love for the small things. 

Their newest single, “What You Got,” from their upcoming EP, the R&B pop inspired song takes note of the classic sounds of the 60′s and 70′s. It has aspects of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to create an empowering anthem that gets you out of your seat.

We got a chance to speak with Emily + Shawn in this edition of Indie 5-0. Let’s dive in:

You just released your R&B and pop single "What You Got"? What was the inspiration?

Writing this song came out of nowhere for us. We knew we wanted a strong 70s-type diva vibe on the next song we wrote, but didn't have a theme. We were joking around one night about what Emily would do if Shawn ever cheated on her, and that topic ended up fitting perfectly into the strong female narrative we needed.

What was your approach to writing the song?

After landing on the theme for the song, we played around with a lot of classic retro melodies for the hook. We accidentally sang "there ain't nothing I wouldn't do to get to you," and after that the song came quickly. We knew it'd be one of our favorites when we wrote the climactic line in the second verse "when you wonder just what you could get, you remember what you got."

What does "What You Got" mean to you?

"What You Got" is a fun update to the strong female personalities of the 70s and 80s.

Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

We are inspired by such a wide array that it's hard to pick just one group (let alone genre!), but we are consistently blown away by the lyricism and creativity of Kendrick Lamar. He has a unique ability of interweaving so much meaning into his lyrics, and they reveal more to the listener each time you listen.

If you could perform with any musician and/ or group, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Definitely Fleetwood Mac, another huge inspiration of ours. They made incredible music that perfectly blends male and female energy, which is obviously important for us. But Stevie and Lindsey would have to make up first so that Lindsey can rejoin the band.

Find Emily + Shawn via:

Music from the power duo Emily + Shawn is nothing short of honest. They write from their hearts, inspired by their own experiences, both the good and the bad. Their folk-pop sound is playful and a relevant reflection of their lives. Their varied interests, like making cocktails, baking, and making music, imbue the pair’s adventurous spin on the folk tradition. 

They just released their new single “What You Got” from their upcoming EP. It’s got a contemporary 60’s pop and R&B, reminiscent of Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan. You really hear Emily’s vocals shine in this empowering song. She’s grounded and boasts power and strength. As the song progresses and we get to the choral climax, the use of a chorus really exemplifies Emily’s raw vocal ability, as she sings “There ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do to get to you.”

This song originated from a funny exchange in which Emily jokingly told Shawn that she would mess him up if he ever cheated on her. The timing worked out nicely, as we needed a fourth song for our upcoming recording session in upstate NY. Funny enough, this late-minute creative effort became one of our favorite songs we've ever written.

“The song emerged as a female power statement with cheeky lyrics that were different ways of warning someone not to cross them,” shares Emily and Shawn. “We wanted it to stay upbeat so that it wouldn't take on a dramatic or cheesy tone, which would have weakened the personality we were trying to capture.”

Listen here:

https://soundcloud.com/emily-plus-shawn/what-you-got/s-S3BFcITbkFP?in=emily-plus-shawn/sets/unreleased-tracks//s-4bvjD5a3C3d