Katrina Rees
2017 is the year that prolific songwriter Emily Warren made a breakthrough in the music industry as a solo artist. For years, she has been the talent behind some of our favourite songs – think Jessie J’s ‘Masterpiece’ and Shawn Mendes’ ‘Aftertaste’ for example. However, this year we’ve been able to get to know the real Emily. Whilst she’s continued to share her songwriting gift with the world through other artists, we’ve also been blessed with three poignant solo singles which showcase Emily’s soulful vocals.
From co-writing some of the year’s biggest hits, to pulling at our heartstrings with her solo debut, here’s some of Emily Warren’s biggest moments of 2017.
The Grammy Awards
2017 kicked off in the best possible fashion for Emily. On February 12, she attended the 59th annual Grammy Awards as ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, the song she co-wrote for The Chainsmokers and Daya, was nominated for Best Dance Recording. They deservedly won the award, and since then the track has gone on to achieve astonishing success. ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ is currently certified 2x Platinum in the UK, 5x Platinum in the US, Italy and Sweden, 7x Platinum in Australia, 9x Platinum in Canada, and Diamond in France.
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The Chainsmokers album and tour
Having worked with The Chainsmokers a lot in the past, including on the Grammy-winning ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, it was no surprise to hear that Emily had collaborated with the EDM duo on their debut album. Memories…Do Not Open was released on April 7, peaking at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Emily co-wrote four of the songs: ‘The One’, ‘Wake Up Alone’, ‘Don’t Say’, and ‘My Type’, whilst she was also the vocalist for the latter two.
Additionally, Emily’s vocals caused a little chaos in the music industry when The Chainsmokers released ‘Paris’. The track features uncredited vocals from a female artist, with speculation suggesting that it could be anyone from Selena Gomez to Luane. However, Emily eventually claimed the vocals as her own, and it left us all wondering how we could have mistaken her breathy tone in the first place. Emily joined Drew and Alex for a performance of the track on Saturday Night Live in April.
Unsurprisingly, Emily was asked to join The Chainsmokers on their mammoth Memories…Do Not Open tour. Kicking off in Miami on April 13, the North American leg stopped in numerous cities before coming to an end in New York on June 10. Performing night after night, Emily had the opportunity to showcase her incredible talent to packed audiences.
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Going solo – ‘Hurt By You’
On May 5, Emily launched her solo career with her haunting debut ‘Hurt By You’. The track gave us a true insight into Emily’s world, showcasing a different side to the singer-songwriter. ‘Hurt By You’ is armed with painfully honest lyrics and laced with Emily’s captivating vocals, setting the bar high for her future solo material.
Speaking to us after the track’s release, Emily said: “I wrote “Hurt By You” with my homies Scott Harris and Nick Ruth, and the concept sprung from a conversation we had in which I was telling them how I was scared at the time making myself vulnerable to the person I was falling in love with, when every example of a relationship in my life seemed to fail – whether it be divorce, or infidelity. It seemed crazy of me to think that my own relationship would be exempt from the same issues. This song, however, is a reminder to myself that falling in love with the right person is worth whatever risk you might be taking.”
The music video was shot in the iconic Sun Studios in Memphis, which has entertained the likes of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
‘Something To Hold On To’
Two months after releasing her debut single, Emily wowed us again with her second offering ‘Something To Hold On To’. Once again, the singer-songwriter showcased her ability to deliver a song which is both emotionally haunting and raw.
Speaking about the track, she said: “At the time, I was dealing with a lot of anxiety. And, watching my boyfriend smoke cigarettes when I felt like he was the one tangible thing in my life that I could rely on and hold on to, was something that hit me pretty heavy.”
Co-writing success
Having co-written some huge songs over the years, 2017 saw even more songwriting success for Emily Warren. Among her many co-writes which charted well this year are Little Mix and Machine Gun Kelly’s ‘No More Sad Songs’, Charli XCX’s ‘Boys’ and Noah Cyrus’ ‘Stay Together’.
However, the biggest co-write came in the form of Dua Lipa’s ‘New Rules’. The track pushed Dua to even dizzier heights, becoming her first ever UK number one single back in August. In fact, it was the first song by a female solo artist to reach the top spot in almost two years. ‘New Rules’ is certified Platinum in countries such as the UK, Italy, New Zealand, and Canada, and 2x Platinum in Australia and Sweden.
With iconic lyrics such as “You know you’re gonna wake up in his bed in the morning, and if you’re under him, you ain’t getting over him”, it’s easy to see why ‘New Rules’ is one of 2017’s most memorable offerings.
In October, Emily also featured on Austrian producer and songwriter filous’ EP For Love. She co-wrote the track ‘Already Gone’ and also delivered the vocals. Speaking to Billboard about working with Emily, filous said: “The few days I spent with [Warren] in the studio were some of the most inspiring times I had making music. Emily is one of my favorite singers and writers, and it’s such a great honor to have her on the EP.”
‘Already Gone’ is incredibly heartbreaking, with Emily revealing that she wrote it after her grandfather. As quoted by Billboard, Emily said: “This song is about my grandfather who passed away this year. He was not fully himself for quite a while and while he was physically there, he wasn’t the person he had been his whole life.”
‘Poking Holes’
Some people will say that all good things come in threes, and Emily certainly proved this during 2017. After releasing two incredibly strong solo tracks, she blessed us with a third called ‘Poking Holes’ in October. The track is a little more upbeat in its melody, although lyrically it is poignant as it discusses a relationship which is slowly breaking down thanks to the same mistakes being made by a partner over and over again.
So don’t blame the liquor
For the things you say that you don’t mean
The small things, get bigger
You’re poking holes in you and me
Forbes’ 30 Under 30
In November, Emily was named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. The coveted list showcases the biggest and brightest singers, songwriters, and creatives in the music industry. Skylar Grey, one of the judges on the panel, stated that “Her sound and style of writing is so fresh, and I find a lot of other writers trying to emulate it. She’s young, but she’s been in the game for a while, so this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan writer. I think she’ll be killing it for a long time.”
Holiday shows and New Year cover
Over the past few weeks, Emily has joined The Chainsmokers for a number of their holiday Jingle Ball shows. Most notably, she performed with them at the iconic Madison Square Garden.
To round the year off, Emily shared a little Christmas/New Year gift with her fans by posting a cover of Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” – it’s safe to say that we cannot get enough of Emily’s dulcet tones.
2017 has been an incredible year for Emily Warren. We’ve truly enjoyed seeing her come into her own as a soloist whilst also continuing to share her gift with other artists. We can’t wait to hear more new music from her and we’re certain that 2018 will be even more special for the talented singer-songwriter.
Keep up to date with Emily Warren on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
What’s been your Emily Warren highlight of 2017? Let us know on Twitter @CelebMix
