EMM is back on digital platforms with BLACK DIAMOND, an album brimming with the energy of electronic music and the emotional depth of gothic rock. This is the fourth instalment in EMM’s gemstone music project, following EMERALD, RUBY, and SAPPHIRE.
Across ten tracks—divided into two parts by an interlude—BLACK DIAMOND unfolds as a seamless sonic experience. Each song connects fluidly to the next, creating an immersive system of sound. Through explicit audacity and a horror-infused aesthetic, the album disguises a profound social critique of patriarchy and the role of women in society.
“‘BLACK DIAMOND’ really exists as a performance art piece to be a campy representation of the traits in women that are vilified most in society. So all the lyrics have a huge ‘fuck-you’ undertone. There is a ton of arrogance in the music because the character is a psychotic, narcissistic supervillain set on interdimensional universal domination. She is meant to be triggering to anyone who doesn’t want women to be powerful, like themselves, be loud, or take up space. The entire project (music, content, stage show, and visuals) is meant to force the conversations about misogyny and bigotry that most people would rather not examine,“ EMM explained in an interview with Galore.
The album kicks off with DON’T FORGIVE ME, a track that blends haunting lyricism with soft piano and layers of synthesizers. Just before the two-minute mark, the song erupts into a pounding electronic soundscape, setting the tone for what’s to come. Despite beginning on the same note where DON’T FORGIVE ME leaves off, the second track, EAT MY ACID, quickly shatters the continuity. With flashes of rap and horror movie-inspired sounds, EMM intensifies the experience, using music as a vehicle for provocation.
“The project is built on the underlying belief that for something to be healed, it must first be recognized and named. The characters, visuals, and music are designed to incite rage and discomfort to bring unconscious gender biases to the surface. My hope as the artist is that the clear contempt and blatant misogyny BLACK DIAMOND receives forces difficult but deeply important conversation that ultimately moves our planet forward toward a more equal and inclusive world,” the artist states.
THANK YOU FOR RUINING MY LIFE seamlessly creeps in during an active listen, but within seconds, it transforms into a full-fledged club anthem. Electronic and metallic elements reach new heights, while EMM’s voice—layered, fragmented, and distorted—fluctuates between spectral whispers and piercing processed screams.
MASTERMIND strips away much of the production’s embellishments, bringing the focus to provocative lyrics that reinforce EMM’s confrontational message. Here, she leaves no room for neutrality, making it clear that her goal is to elicit a strong reaction.
DON’T FEED THE DEMONS follows, offering an even more metallic and electronic edge, culminating in a near-cinematic soundscape where voices dissolve into atmospheric noise.
The album then shifts into DUMB, a track that delivers a raw, rage-filled confrontation against an oppressive force—one that seems to represent a societal structure that conditions individuals through repetitive, guilt-driven messaging.
A stark break in the album’s fluidity arrives with HERETIC, an interlude filled with ascending electronic sounds. It deliberately severs the first half of the record from the second, creating a clear division within the project.
PEACHES AND CREAM and PYTHON COME NEXT, with the former introducing a lighter, more pop-infused sound before winding down into an eerie whisper. This descent in energy offers a moment of respite after the album’s relentless intensity.
Finally, DELILAH brings BLACK DIAMOND to a climactic close. EMM’s expertise in lyricism merges with her signature metallic sounds, delivering a finale that encapsulates the album’s overarching themes of pain and rage.
Since her early days, EMM has carved out a career defined by independence and sonic exploration. Her work defies traditional industry structures, embracing self-produced artistry and a fusion of theatrical and visceral elements. BLACK DIAMOND is a reaffirmation of EMM’s artistic vision. Designed to challenge, confront, and provoke thought, this work seamlessly integrates influences ranging from punk to industrial music, demonstrating her prowess as both a producer and composer. EMM’s music serves as an unfiltered manifesto, exposing the tensions between gender, power, and society.
Connect with EMM: @emminreallife
