Emma Taylor’s songwriting feels so authentic and she perfectly embodies the feeling of birthday blues in her new song “Unhappy Birthday.”
[embedded content]
“Life is weird, and so am I. I don’t want to have a party when I’m done with 365,” her delicate voice sings over soft guitars. It feels particularly vulnerable. The chorus at the end of people singing “Happy birthday” in the distance feels looming, that feeling like another year has gone and another year older. The mid-20s angst that plagues young adults on their birthday isn’t uncommon, but Taylor’s voice feels so genuine. It encapsulates that feeling of entering adulthood and the problems that arise with it.
The video, directed by Sarah Midkiff, echoes the sentiment. Taylor hides under a table while the birthday party goes on without her. She opens presents like “taxes” and “overdue bills,” just emphasizing her ongoing existential crisis. While she cries into her cake, life simply goes on. Her meltdown goes unnoticed.
This is Emma Taylor’s first song in three years and is ushering in a new era for the Los Angeles artist. Known for her effortless melodies and vulnerable lyricism, Emma Taylor is definitely an artist to keep an eye on.
