Written by Cherrelle Johnson
EMELINE is an artist I've been following for a few years. I can’t begin to remember when I started following her. What I do remember is that the first song I ever listened to by her was “cinderella’s dead.” When I saw that she was releasing a new album, I knew from the jump that I needed to take a listen and even write a review.
Emeline Easton, or EMELINE for short, was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. She got her start with music after being part of a band and writing her own songs. She’s always known that she wanted to go far with her music. Aside from her love of music, she’s always been a theater kid. It wasn’t until 2017, when she moved to Los Angeles, CA, for college, that she slowly started to get her foot in the door in the music industry (and acting).
It wasn’t until 2020 that EMELINE released her debut single “6 foot deep.” From there, the rest is, as everyone likes to say, history. About six years later, on March 6, 2026, the singer released her debut album Emotional Virgin. The album consists of thirteen songs about love and heartbreak.
Tracklist:
1. “PORN STAR”
2. “heartbreak 65”
3. “Against The Gates”
4. “CHOOSE UR FIGHTER”
5. “FAMOUS”
6. “Obvious”
7. “Dance With My Demons”
8. “Your Friends Like Me Better”
9. “romance..”
10. “Vintage Girl”
11. “CRYING SELFIES”
12. “Emotional Virgin”
13. “30 Wives”
“PORN STAR”
“Every time you look at me
I feel just like a magazine
I'm not here, I'm just a doll here”
Women are exploited and objectified every day in some capacity. It can take a toll on women and even bring them trauma. EMELINE starts Emotional Virgin off with the emotionally powerful track “PORN STAR,” exploring what it could be like. The song explores themes of objectification, emotional exploitation, and trauma. “PORN STAR” finds EMELINE calling out a man for treating her like an object.
While she's trying to tell him how she feels and what she's going through, he feeds off the trauma and pain she's going through. She compares how he's treating her to her being like a porn star as he sexualizes her. The song’s beat is controlled, yet punchy. The song proves EMELINE isn’t afraid to get confrontational and put someone in their place.
A playlist about female rage, empowerment, or rebellion would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/h96hu4eXyhE?si=QTlEEm_6EZNRFe5L
“heartbreak 65”
“Do you bite the bullet
Or go screaming down the drain into the night?”
Heartbreaks can feel as if one’s world is crashing down around them. Things feel heavy, and one can start wishing to feel numb to the pain. Sometimes they have you questioning yourself and seeking validation from others. “heartbreak 65” sees EMELINE after a heartbreak. The song explores themes of heartbreak, self-worth, and validation. She finds herself getting consumed by her thoughts and seeking solace in men. She’s using them to forget the heartbreak that she’s currently going through.
One could say she’s being self-destructive. She’s shielding herself from getting hurt or feeling everything she’s feeling intensely. Wanting to shut off your feelings comes with getting heartbreak. EMELINE paints the picture with the lyrics, singing over a haunting beat.
A playlist about heartbreak, loneliness, or emotional pain would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/E2e2s8bgysU?si=EkR12KGiRDm3dPqc
“Against The Gates”
“When they say it's a sin, let's kiss in front of them
If we go to Hell, at least we'll be together”
Queer people are always told they’re going to go to hell by anti-LGBTQIA+ people. However, despite people doing so, LGBTQIA+ will always find ways to celebrate who they are every day. “Against The Gates” is a song about being in a queer relationship. The song explores themes of forbidden love, self-acceptance, and devotion. In an Instagram post, EMELINE explained, “This is the story about how accepting myself is the holiest thing I’ve ever done.” “Against The Gates” is a powerful, dreamy track representing the beauty of queer joy. She uses religious imagery throughout the song to explain the connection between her and her partner.
Some religious people may see queer love as something forbidden, but in the eyes of queer people, it’s something sacred. Anti-LGBTQIA+ people viewing queer love or even being queer as a sin can take a toll on LGBTQIA+ people and make them want to hide who they are. EMELINE is taking control and accepting who she is instead of allowing people to control the power she has over who she’s free to love. We get a good grasp of the devotion and intimacy she has with her partner through lyrics such as “When they say it's a sin, let's kiss in front of them.”
Overall, EMELINE shows us that LGBTQIA+ people are allowed to show their queer joy and love everywhere, including in religious settings. She’s making not only herself but other LGBTQIA+ people feel seen. It’s important for queer people to feel seen because there’s so much intolerance towards the community and a lack of representation in the media. If EMELINE's message was to empower others, especially the LGBTQIA+ community, she did that.
https://youtu.be/T7N4NAvQRUY?si=us_3dXLuWNu5sf5l
“CHOOSE UR FIGHTER”
“If they're making you cry then you better not blink
'Cause, baby, only one fighter makes it out of the ring”
Choosing a partner isn’t something that comes easily. Many people want someone based on their external appearance and forget to think about what’s internally there. Because of this, many people jump in headfirst and risk getting blindsided. EMELINE is telling listeners to tread lightly in “CHOOSE UR FIGHTER.” The song explores themes of relationships, heartbreak, and resilience. She lists the types of exes that she’s had before and how each came with different types of love, but essentially, each broke her heart.
EMELINE compares how choosing a partner can be like choosing your next fighter in a video game. One must be wise about their decision, as each fighter comes with its pros and cons. Going solely based on looks and not the good things the fighter has to offer may leave you with concerns. If you take time to think about your choice, weigh the strengths and weaknesses out, it could lead to beautiful moments. She wants listeners to put thought into choosing a partner like they would if they were to choose a fighter. “CHOOSE UR FIGHTER” is an upbeat and catchy song that sounds like it could be part of a video game’s fight scene.
A playlist about relationship lessons, compatibility, or reflection would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/0bVcyKroFx4?si=lqODg_mwQSHIiJqP
“FAMOUS”
“You won the lottery, lottery
One day you'll be a page in my biography”
Being famous might seem like a great thing, but it comes with its challenges. The fifth track on Emotional Virgin, “FAMOUS,” is an insight into the territory of what being a celebrity is like. The song explores themes of fame, living in the moment, and self-confidence. This album might be EMELINE’s first, but she’s confident that she’s on the brink of being famous. Because of this, she knows she wants to enjoy everything she can in the moment, including being intimate with the song’s love interest.
EMELINE is enjoying her privacy for as long as she can. The singer knows what's to come, however. People love following the lives of celebrities, after all. She notes how she’ll be in magazines and having people follow her every move. EMELINE also lets the subject of her song know her fame will affect them. She’s ultimately warning them about the road ahead. “FAMOUS” is a flirty track where the production gives off bold and upbeat energy.
A playlist about ambition, celebrity culture, or confidence would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/4nlDkNiG-2o?si=QuP72WsZb1WfNRax
“Obvious”
“It's like you're messing with my mind
And I hate it, yeah, I hate it”
Some relationships come with mixed signals and “Obvious” explores what it’s like to deal with emotional confusion. The song explores themes of toxic relationships, manipulation, and pain. EMELINE shows how she’s not afraid to sing about the worst side of relationships. Dealing with relationship confusion can take a toll on someone emotionally or mentally. The singer is in a toxic cycle with her partner’s mind games and it heavily impacts her.
She exaggerates desperate measures through her lyrics. EMELINE wants them to make their mind games obvious since they put her through so much turmoil. Some people might see themselves in the lyrics and know they're not alone. “Obvious” is an intense track due to the nature of its lyrics and beat.
A playlist about toxic relationships, despair, or heartbreak would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/amh_Xa6TMZ4?si=Ost40UPzyhuUEp5a
“Dance With My Demons”
“Keep my halo in the attic, tell myself I shouldn't have it
Guilty shadow from my past, it just keeps on coming, coming back”
We all need a good dance session when going through something. EMELINE’s ready to dance with her demons in the dark pop, dance track “Dance With My Demons.” The song explores themes of healing, growth, and resilience. The singer wants to dance through the past trauma she’s endured. She mentions “inner demons” as a metaphor for the trauma. She doesn’t want to forget them. Instead, she wants to grow while confronting them. She sings “Pull away all of the skin from the girls that I have been before,” showing how she wants to grow from her past self. It’s all about her taking control of her life and who she is. She’s healing through the dancing, and that’s a beautiful thing. “Dance With My Demons” is an empowering and energetic track. The song would be great for a dance scene where a character is trying to overcome their inner demons.
A playlist about empowerment, overcoming trauma, or self-discovery would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/6Evn2MqfAh0?si=xz8soU0KWnnDTVhl
“Your Friends Like Me Better”
“I wish you well, I don't mean to sound bitter
But in every breakup, there's always a winner”
Winning after a breakup because your ex’s friends still want to be around you is a great feeling. In "Your Friends Like Me Better," EMELINE is grateful for her ex's friends. The song explores themes of breakups, moving on, and self-worth. “Your Friends Like Me Better” sees EMELINE feeling empowered post-breakup. The friends staying after the breakup gave her clarity. She’s not mourning the loss of an ex, but looking at what, or rather who, she’s gained. Sometimes it can be hard to find a good support system after a breakup, so finding one in an ex’s friends can be quite beneficial. EMELINE, growing close to her ex's friends turned out to be one of the best things for her. “Your Friends Like Me Better” is bittersweet and on the softer side than the other songs on the album so far.
A playlist about moving on, healing, and closure would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/_LZI-Wwk_nA?si=-yrHHPKMvmKlFazJ
“romance is…”
“Romance is walking in the rain
It's a sound overlapped with a thought in your brain”
“romance is...” may have an atmospheric backdrop, but it isn't a song. It’s an interlude. EMELINE recites a poem she wrote called “romance is…” In an Instagram post, she told fans, “i wrote this poem about how beautiful life is!!!!!” It’s a beautiful interlude and poem that showcases how she’s not only a singer and songwriter, but a poet.
https://youtu.be/qpq3igoIuH8?si=e5yzTGm-3VVv5wIC
“Vintage Girl”
“You pour some vino and listen to vinyl (Ah)
Don't really care if they call you old-fashioned (Ah, uh)”
Everyone has different ways of expressing themselves, including through what they choose to wear. We live in a modern world where some people like to keep up with trends, while others like to throw them out the window. “Vintage Girl” is a song that finds EMELINE admiring someone who by definition could belong to another era. The song explores individuality, nostalgia, and authenticity. The song's subject is staying true to who she is.
She loves vinyl records, leather jackets, pearls, and more. She doesn't care about what others say or think about her style. Her style is unique and works for her. The song reminds everyone that there's nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd and doing what you want to do. Trends are cool, but being you is satisfying. “Vintage Girl” is a confident song that could be played when someone’s walking down a fashion runway.
A playlist about self-expression, confidence, or individuality would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/aIRL3zai0g4?si=HHZPRemmgJ_OPIgR
“CRYING SELFIES”
“Lying, cheating, sinning, had to hide it all
The only evidence I had was digital”
Living in a digital world means we can document anything we want to. Some people use their free will to take selfies of themselves going through different emotions and phases of their lives. “CRYING SELFIES,” the eleventh track on Emotional Virgin, has EMELINE reflecting on a past relationship. The song explores themes of emotional trauma, self-validation, and compassion. This is another song where the singer highlights a toxic relationship. While she was in the relationship, she thought things were going well, even though she found herself crying a lot. However, looking back, thanks to the selfies she has, she realizes the relationship was anything but. It was unhealthy.
He manipulated her and hid it well, masking his behavior through other dealbreakers, like cheating on her. She feels validated when looking at selfies of her crying. If she could, she would go back and comfort the person she was then. All she can do is heal her own way.
A song about healing, toxic relationships, or growth after a heartbreak would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/BZ-RLTaLK40?si=DW8SaPHzPyqBQdEn
“Emotional Virgin”
“Now that I felt it, I could never ever let it go
I want you, need you, got to have you, non-negotiable”
EMELINE feels like an “Emotional Virgin” in the dreamy, twelfth track of the album. The song explores themes of vulnerability, emotional intimacy, and falling in love. When talking about the meaning behind the phrase, the singer explains, “Being an ‘emotional virgin’ is about feeling real love for the first time. I’m shocked at the way someone looks at me with such sweetness in their eyes. I feel like a kid with a crush, and I wanted to capture that feeling.” The song is a dedication to her late ex-girlfriend.
“Emotional Virgin” sees EMELINE letting her walls down to allow someone in. She’s learning how to be vulnerable for someone she feels an emotional connection to. It’s not something she wants to lose because she finds herself falling for the person in ways she’s never felt before. That’s a feeling she wants to keep around her.
A playlist about new love, vulnerability, or passion would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/Cju2jBuYXpA?si=u80xGI_BBvcUB0Qz
“30 wives”
“I always say to lead with love
But sometimes that looks like fear”
Life and love can be unpredictable. “30 Wives,” the final track on Emotional Virgin, imagines how her life could turn out. The song explores themes of self-discovery, romance, and freedom. EMELINE doesn’t know what life has planned for her. However, she’s open to all the possibilities that could arise. She tells the love interest of her song that they shouldn’t get too close because while there’s a chance she could fall in love with them, there’s a chance they won’t be the only one she falls in love with.
She’s open to all possibilities when it comes to the world of romance. She sees herself reinventing herself as much as she needs to. Instead of rejecting unpredictability, she’s embracing how nothing’s set in stone for her. “30 Wives” is a reflective, energetic track that should remind everyone there's nothing wrong with uncertainty.
A playlist about personal growth, uncertainty, or transformation would suit this song well.
https://youtu.be/11vBIB9hs2U?si=egbe3y1R5X8rOcx2
EMELINE’s debut album feels perfectly curated to capture who she is. My top three favorite songs are “Against The Gates,” “Emotional Virgin,” and “PORN STAR.” If you haven’t heard of EMELINE or listened to her music, Emotional Virgin is a good place to start.
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