While love is the universal language, music comes in as a close second. Insert [Emanuel](https://www.instagram.com/cellulardada/), here to deliver his own version of _ALT THERAPY_, simultaneously spreading love and healing power to audiences all around the world. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, the singer-songwriter recently unleashed his debut album, a culmination of his first two EPs titled [_Session 1: Disillusion_](http://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/canadian-rb-artist-emanuel-releases-debut-ep-session-1-disillusion-today/) and [_Session 2: Transformation_](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femanuel.lnk.to%2FS2transformation&data=04%7C01%7CKevin.Young%40umusic.com%7C2ddc558b443d41c7112c08d92ac05403%7Cbbcb6b2f8c7c4e2486e46c36fed00b78%7C1%7C0%7C637587828701782828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Cg8vqMiTUjTtRozrvhBsCnnTlHUn47i0isdVDOdMLsM%3D&reserved=0).
Emanuel describes himself as “a flawed human being who’s blessed with a talent for singing, writing, and was blessed with the ability to make an album.”
Growing up in a musical family and raised in the church, Emanuel had to overcome his own struggles and traumas, which led to his own discovery of how music can heal the mind, body, and soul. With his distinct, stripped-down version of R&B, paired with the most introspective lyrics inspired by real-life experiences, the rising star continues to defy boundaries in both music and his personal life… which all comes full-circle as he signs with the famed Motown Records. He’s part of their new generation of upcoming stars.
Emanuel’s breakout single “Need You” released last year caught the attention of actor and musician Idris Elba, who went on to become the executive producer of _ALT THERAPY_. To date, Emanuel boasts over 28 million streams worldwide, launching his own renaissance of beautiful black art into the universe.
_Flaunt_ caught up with Emanuel via Zoom to discuss his sound, his upbringing in Canada, why he named it his project _ALT THERAPY_, Idris Elba reaching out, the importance of “Black Woman,” spirituality, signing to Motown, and more!
**How is it over there in Toronto?**
The weather is beautiful, the restrictions are lifting. It’s a beautiful day.
**How would you describe your sound?**
Stripped down. I have a very stripped down sound, that’s where I feel the most comfortable. It’s hard to describe my sound for myself when I think about it. I’d describe my sound as an attempt to sonically express healing tones and healing sounds. A sound that facilitates moments of introspection and healing, and can spark real emotion in people.
**What was a young Emanuel like growing up in Canada?**
I grew up in London, Ontario, 2 hours away from Toronto. I was raised by an amazing mom. I was a happy child. Sometimes I felt like I was limited. Sometimes there were barriers that were hard to overcome as a child, certain traumas and certain things. A lot of that energy, a lot of that healing is really spoken about in the music that I make.
**Biggest influences coming up?**
I was listening to a lot of people. My big go-to’s: I always listened to a lot of Kendrick, a lot of Frank Ocean. The music I remember the most is the most peaceful music, and the music that sparks the most thought.
**When did you realize you could do music for a living?**
I think a combination of people’s responses and a deep yearning, a deep belief that that route is what would make me happy. What I needed to do to fulfill my purpose.
**Your debut album _ALT THERAPY_ is out now. How are you feeling?**
I feel really, really happy and relieved it’s finally out. So proud, so appreciative of the team that I work with in order to get it out at Motown and at Universal Canada. Really proud of what we’ve been able to do, and really happy to see how people are going to receive it.
**What made you name it _ALT THERAPY_?**
In the inception of the music, I realized I’d need to go through a considerable amount of healing in order to achieve my goals, in order to be who I wanted to be and who I thought I was destined to be. I thought I needed to go through a considerable amount of healing and I wanted to tell that story with this album.
**I was listening to the first song, “Need You.” Who or what inspired this record?**
That one was more of a spontaneous record, I couldn’t really pinpoint the person or the specific energy. If I could pinpoint a specific energy, I was speaking about love. I was speaking about a deep yearning in a broad way.
**What’d it mean for Idris Elba to do a visual collage for the video?**
That was really special. We had shot a different video before the pandemic had hit, then we had to pivot. Idris Elba reached out with that idea, we were super happy to be able to put that together.
**How did you guys meet initially?**
He was a friend of a friend. \[laughs\] He heard the music early. He liked the music, so he reached out. He offered his support and told us how much he loved the music. He told us about the ideas it was giving him and the place it was putting him in mentally. How he and his wife had been listening to the music and he just had these ideas. At the time, we were really looking for a new way to communicate this album visually so it was a great moment. It felt like the stars were aligning.
**How’d it feel having Idris executive produce your debut album?**
Having him on the executive side, in the UK pushing new music and showing support in that way is really special.
**What memories do you have attached to creating the album?**
So many. So many highs, so many lows. So many beautiful moments in the studio, getting to meet a lot of amazing people. Getting to share the artistic side of me, getting to share who I am. To be able to speak about things with more substance.
**How important is a song like “Black Woman” during these times?**
It’s important to show love and support regardless of the time. There’s a lot of silence when it comes to black women and the indignity they suffer at the hands of the world, the hands of society. It's really important to speak about those things, to not be silent. It's important to speak about black women in an authentic way: to be able to shower them and support them, love and be able to pay them for their work. Give them the same luxury that certain other groups in this world, that men and other demographics get to experience.
It’s really important to speak plainly about these things, to not be worried about making people feel uncomfortable about the idea of equity and equality. Making a song to be able to start a conversation hopefully, to be able to give the opportunity to say things like I just said. Hopefully as a collective body, speak it into existence.
**Are you spiritual?**
Yeah, most definitely I am. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ. I’m a Christian. I’m somebody who believes that things don’t happen at random, things don’t just happen for no reason. I really try to seek the truth, wisdom, and reasoning. I really seek to live in a way with respect for other things, with respect to myself, and with respect to my creator.
**What do you need at the studio at all times?**
Some saucy co-collaborators, and I need me. I need me to be present. I need to not be caught up in anything else outside of that studio, outside of what I’m trying to do that day.
**How did you find your way to Motown?**
After the initial release of “Need You” and the _Alt Therapy Session 1: Disillusion EP_, Ethiopia and Shawn Barron over at Motown caught wind of the music. I had spoken to some people at Universal Canada on the executive side who had expressed their interest in a partnership. We were able to make that happen and continue to release music with Motown as a partner in the US.
**Motown is a legendary label!**
Such a legendary label. Motown meant the opportunity to create legacy and that reality. Being able to do it at such an iconic label meant so much to come after some of the predecessors that had been on that label. It’s an honor.
**What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?**
Mmm, that’s hard to say, but I definitely have other creative interests. Maybe I’d be in film. I want to act. I want to direct. I want to produce. I want to score.
**Any goals for yourself at this point in your career?**
My goal is to make a second project. My goal is to continue to make music that’s impactful, that’s original, that’s poignant, and that speaks to the times. To speak to people’s experiences in a way where people can relate in a really deep and spiritual way, my music can offer them good things.
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