Dream Pop duo Emerger (Emma de Goede and Gerry Matthee) have released “Urban Wilderness (Reimagined)”. It’s the first in a series of new offerings from the duo since their debut EP “Bloom”.
“Urban Wilderness (Reimagined)” is an up-tempo alchemy of 80’s synth-pop and modern electronica in which dancy grooves and vocal stutters are drenched in melancholic synths. Multi-instrumentalist/producer Gerry’s funky rhythm guitars sparkle around slap-bass licks, while Emma’s captivating lead vocal soars above the nostalgic soundscape.
The song is written as an homage to Cape Town, the duo’s beloved hometown, and South Africa’s famous Mother City. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the city, with contrasts between nature and urban sprawl, alluding to both the thrill of traveling the world and a nostalgic longing for home – a bittersweet love letter.
More info about Emerger
The songwriting duo met in high school and went on to study music at the University of Cape Town. It was during this time in which they formed E.merger. Emma graduated with a BMus in Jazz Voice and Gerry with a BMus in Classical Composition, which is indicative of their signature sonic palate – a soundscape of dreamy synth-driven melodies, cinematic progressions, powerful pop vocals and punchy beats.
After graduating from their studies in 2016, De Goede and Matthee started working on the project, writing material that would soon become their debut self-produced 8-track EP, Bloom. Released in May of 2018, the EP garnered a lot of attention, not only in the South African music scene but also internationally. Two of their songs, “Hindsight” and “Nomadic Love,” have been played on BBC Radio and featured as part of the BBC Introducing show. Their debut single “Break & Fall” was a winner of the Avid and Abbey Road Studios International Song Contest, chosen from 5000 entries across the globe.
Soon after the release, Apple Music showcased Emerger as their New Artist Spotlight, featuring their songs on prominent playlists on the streaming platform, including “Apple Music’s Best of 2018” playlist.
In February 2020 Emerger made their festival debut performing on the main stage at Up The Creek Music Festival. The rest of 2020 also holds several new releases, including brand new singles, music videos and numerous live performance videos.
Watch the video for “Urban Wilderness (Reimagined)” below:
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