INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
FEW BANDS HAVE MAINTAINED THE STAYING POWER OF EMERY - As post-hardcore legends, the band has spent decades pushing emotional and sonic boundaries while retaining the unmistakable catchiness that has defined their career. Throughout their discography, Emery has consistently challenged themselves to evolve, refusing to settle into a singular sound or repeat the same record twice. Their latest album, Styrofoam, continues that tradition of reinvention, though in a way that feels particularly unexpected. Trading some of their larger-than-life arrangements for something more playful, unpredictable, and intentionally less epic in scope, the record finds the band reconnecting with the youthful excitement that first inspired them to make music.
Drawing from the '90s rock influences that shaped their earliest years, Styrofoam embraces a newfound sense of freedom without sacrificing the emotional depth and infectious melodies that have long defined Emery. It's a record that invites listeners to sit with its ideas rather than offering easy answers, reflecting the band's enduring belief in music as a catalyst for questioning, reflection, and personal growth. In conversation with Luna, Emery opens up about navigating creative reinvention, trusting their instincts after decades together, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and embracing the uncertainty that comes with making something entirely their own.
LUNA: Styrofoam is described as intentionally less epic in scope. What made you want to pull back, and was that a difficult call given the scale of what you've made in the past?
EMERY: So we've always tried to extend our musical boundaries with each album. I always reference IOAM 'cause that was so much different than the previous album, The Question, and that was intentional. We've never wanted to deliver the same album over and over. With that being said, Styrofoam was similar in inspiration. We wanted to do something new and different for us, without compromising who we are. We had a couple rounds of demos that were typical Emery but maybe with a little less of a spark, so we waited and continued searching for new and exciting inspiration. Once we found these songs, we got excited and wanted to make this record feel youthful, fun, unpredictable and to be a sort of throwback to the 90s when we first started really digging into rock music. But we knew it would have to grow on people and some fans wouldn't take to it of course, but that's ok. There's always our other albums to go back to as well.
LUNA: Writing music that listeners can wrestle with eye-to-eye is a specific and interesting intention. What does that actually mean to you in practice?
EMERY: We have always felt that art should make you think, not just feed you what you already believe. Art is really the catalyst behind all that moves and changes in our culture. We found our calling in music because it moved us. It made us want to ask tough questions and search for what things in life really mean. Same with our own lives, whether in faith or morality or whatever you call it, it's meant to be challenging and inspiring, which ultimately leads to evolving and growing. Music is a place where you can say things you may not say directly, but can arrange words to make sense of something that may not be easy to understand outside of that.
LUNA: You've managed to retain the catchiness that's defined your career while shifting the emotional register. How do you hold onto that without it feeling like a formula?
EMERY: We've always said that we are our own biggest fans. If we don't love the music that we write, then why should anyone else? That being the case, we find the moments in songs that make us feel something. If a song doesn't make us feel, then we generally throw it away. Formulas are good for some styles of music…pop and country for instance. But our genre has always felt like you want to surprise people with what's next. That's why we started screaming. We didn't really just want a scream to be used in just a heavy breakdown part because that's what people do, we wanted the scream to come out because it felt like what you were saying or feeling needed to be said louder or more emotionally than something else.
LUNA: What's your favorite track on the record and why?
EMERY: Personally, my favorite track is "Numbers." It reminds me of old school Foo Fighters. Has a cool tonality shift and is a really fun, upbeat song.
LUNA: After this many years together, how has your writing process changed, and what still surprises you about making music with each other?
EMERY: We've always kinda written the same. Toby and myself (sometimes Matt) will come up with a loose, demo idea. We usually make a voice memo or quick video recording and eventually share it with the rest of the band. Matt has always been an excellent producer/arranger and finds ways to make something simple feel more complex musically with intricate guitar parts, keys, etc. Toby is like an idea machine. He spits out ideas quickly but usually short form versions that need some help finalizing. He's an amazing lyricist as well. I'm more of a start to finish idea guy…which can be good and bad. I tend to have a strong visualization of the song in my head and know where it can or should go. I'm open to shifting and often do, but many times if I feel strongly about the parts or lyrics, it will feel good and eventually the band as a whole finds the potential together. It's a really fun process for sure.
LUNA: Is there a lyric or moment on Styrofoam that feels like the emotional center of the record to you?
EMERY: Tough to say exactly…maybe the second chorus of "Oh I'm Affiliated Alright" leading into the "blah blah blah" part. It basically feels like a real shift from typical Emery sound to something totally different and very intentionally so.
LUNA: What do you hope a longtime fan hears on this album that they weren't expecting?
EMERY: I hope they hear a uniqueness in the album. Something Emery hasn't done before. Find that feeling of fun and youthfulness that we were looking to achieve.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of this year going into 2027?
EMERY: We have some shows left (Warped Orlando and Underoath tour) both which will be excellent. After that, we will take a break to spend time with family. We hope to continue promoting Styrofoam next year with a support tour and then a headliner. It's also the 20th anniversary of IOAM next year, so we have some things in the works for that too!
