Getting to Know… Emily Daccarett | Interview 🎤

In our 47^th interview, Emily Daccarett provides the scoop on her unique career as a fashion designer & musician and how they intertwine.

“…What makes me unique is that I’m a fashion designer first and how I write my songs is similar to how I design my collections.” Dual threats are always a sight to behold.  For some people, talent comes at a premium, while others possess an abundance of it.  The latter is the case with the intriguing subject of the 47^th interview in The Musical Hype’s Getting to Know… series, Emily Daccarett.  Daccarett gives us quite the scoop on how fashion design and music intertwine.  The aforementioned quote, borrowed from the answer from the first question she was asked, continues, “I try to create a whole world around them and bring the story to life.” Without further ado, here is Getting to Know… Emily Daccarett, Interview #47.

Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype (Faulkner): Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?  

Emily Daccarett: Well I think what makes me unique is that I’m a fashion designer first and how I write my songs is similar to how I design my collections. I try to create a whole world around them and bring the story to life. My songs have a cinematic vibe. I’m greatly influenced by film, and for my EP, Cannibal, I was inspired by Blade Runner, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and film noir. I wanted to have a retro feel with a modern twist. Much like the futuristic designs from the 70’s, it always feels modern never dated. My passions influence each other. To follow up my EP, I am working on an active wear line that coincides with the music. I’ve created anime-inspired characters as mascots for each song and they will be featured in this new line. The best way to describe it is having a 360 experience of music, fashion, visuals, and art.

Faulkner: Awesome! Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your band form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had early on?

Emily Daccarett: I’m not [in/part of] your traditional band and depending on the theme or project, I may have different players with me. Getting to collaborate with different artists is an amazing experience, it keeps me on my toes. I definitely have my main guys: Pedro Asfora (guitars), Vedant Joshi (keys), Maxwell Pierce (bass), and Jake Absher (drums). We met as students in the Musicians Institute in LA and were friends before coming together. Having their individual personalities shine through is so cool, we just have fun with it. The main vision of the band is to create a nostalgic atmosphere of intimate performances much like shows from the 70’s on the Sunset Strip.

Faulkner: Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Emily Daccarett: Hahah well everyday feels like a journey of self-discovery. My main goal has been to tie my fashion brand with my music together and have it feel cohesive. It can be overwhelming trying to keep to a schedule and deadlines but having the creative freedom to express myself through different media is so worth it.

Faulkner: Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?  

Emily Daccarett: Some of my biggest influences are David Bowie, Blondie, Vanessa Paradis, Kate Bush, and Lana Del Rey. David Bowie was constantly evolving and creating new characters to introduce his latest musical style. He also was a fashion Icon, pushing boundaries and creating art with his looks. Lana Del Rey is someone who has done the opposite of what was popular at the time and forged her own sub-genre. Her character was created from her writing style and now she is giving her poetry the spotlight. I look to people who create beauty from grief and try to give us some sort of escape from reality through their work.

Faulkner: Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Emily Daccarett: I design and make my own outfits, which sometimes means working on the finishing touches until the very end. As we were fitting my dress, I wore the wrong heels, so the hem was a little longer than I had intended it to be. I’m a very clumsy person by nature and naturally I got my heel caught in the hem while one stage. I panicked for a second, but luckily it was a slower song and I played it off by dancing and making my way down to the floor to unhook my heel. It’s a pretty sexy song, so it fit the mood just right!

Faulkner: Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Emily Daccarett: I loved recording “Growin’ Addiction.” It was the first song I wrote from my EP. It was going to be released as a single, but I kept writing and working on other songs that it became part of the story. I found my own style while working on this song. My previous songs were all retro 70’s French pop songs. “Growin’ Addiction” became the pathway of bridging my old style with synth-based pop.

Faulkner: Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Emily Daccarett: I can make handmade jewelry! I interned for a French jewelry designer in Paris, while I was studying fashion design. It seemed like a fun internship and I fibbed a little on having experience in jewelry making. I was not at all expecting on my first day to replicate an existing piece of jewelry. I sat at my desk with tools I had no idea how to use. I quickly learned working with metals is completely different from fabric. I kept cutting myself, but I was determined to do it. After a few hours the designer came over, saw I was clueless, and realized I had no experience. She was very kind and taught me all her methods; by the end of the month I was so fast I took over most of the production. I still make custom pieces and make most of my prototypes for my line now. I love working with my hands!

Faulkner: Closing this thing out, what are you currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.   

Emily Daccarett: I have a few exciting projects for this year that I still can’t discuss! For Cannibal, a lot of new visuals will be dropping next month. So please keep an eye out!

Faulkner: Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward.

Photo Credits: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Emily Daccarett