EMMA BALE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WITH A STRONG DESIRE TO MAKE HER DREAMS COME TRUE WHILE KEEPING THE ABILITY TO STAY CONNECTED TO HER REALITY AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO SURROUND HER. CONSTANTLY ON THE LOOKOUT FOR INSPIRATION, THE BELGIAN SINGER RELEASED HER SECOND ALBUM, 333, LAST NOVEMBER, WHOSE PARTICULARITY IS COMPOSED OF SONGS IN DUTCH, FRENCH AND ENGLISH. ALTHOUGH THE SINGER BEGAN HER MUSICAL CAREER AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, TODAY, SHE AFFIRMS HER QUEST FOR AUTHENTICITY, FOR HER OWN PATH AT THE CROSSROADS OF WRITING, MUSIC AND ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS. EMBRACING CHANEL’S CLASSIC/ROCK LOOKS AND BEING A FRIEND OF THE HOUSE, EMMA CONTINUES TO BUILD HER ALREADY WELL-ESTABLISHED UNIVERSE THAT SHE DESCRIBES AS “PURE, SOFT AND EARTHY”.

You released your second album, 333, last November. How did you start this project?

First, I split with my previous label, then I started to write again without any pressure or demand from anyone. I started doing some sessions with Willem [Ardui], one of the Blackwave boys. At this moment, I was wondering what my sound would be. I started by doing some indie folk music and made more popular sounds. I was happy while doing it, but it didn't completely suit me. Then I thought that I should do music that I listen to and that would fit in my playlists. Working with Willem appeared to be an interesting combination since he's a hip-hop and R&B producer. The first song we wrote together was lavender salt. Then the number 3 started popping up in my life constantly, so I started to wonder what it meant. This number actually stands for being on the right path, in your strength and believing in your intuition. It made perfect sense.

The album is made in three languages: Dutch, French and English. That’s pretty rare! Why did you decide to do so?

My previous label already asked me to do a song in Dutch. At the time, I didn’t think it would be cool with my voice, and a lot of people in Belgium were already doing it. So, I started to wonder which languages I could write in. Then, I participated in the Dutch TV program Liefde Voor Muziek, which invites artists to cover each other's songs. There was this song I made a French translation of, and I got good feedback on. It made me want to write in French. After that, I thought that I should try the Dutch, French and English together. I started to write in Dutch, and that’s how kompas came about, which is still one of my favorite songs. I've been writing poetry since I was little, and I didn't realize it would be this easy to use my mother language to make songs. They ended up being way more layered than the English ones. In French, my lyrics are a little bit simpler, but I'm happy I've done it. It's not a typical choice to do an album in three languages, but it's very rich. The intention was also to get a little bit closer to the audience. I hope that it worked.

This album is kind of a quest for authenticity. What does authenticity mean to you?

Authenticity, to me, is making no compromises. It’s about daring to be yourself without being fearful and thinking about what other people may think of it.

Do you think this is something you can achieve, or is it something we already have inside of us and we learn to develop?

I believe everyone already has it, but it's a matter of getting to know yourself and being totally okay with it. To me, it was the biggest difficulty because I started very young and things went very quickly. I had to take a few steps back to realize what feels right to me. So, it has always been there, but it was a matter of not being afraid of appreciating myself more. I think it has something to do with insecurities and growing up, maturing, trying things out and progressively reaching this feeling of alignment.

Are you fearless today?

I'm less fearful than I was, but I'm still not fearless. My goal is to be on stage and have no fright at all. I want to reach this point where I know who I am and what I can do. On the other hand, I believe it's not super healthy to be completely fearless. It’s important to have this little voice that questions you. But it shouldn't take over, and that sometimes happens to me. Meanwhile, I've never felt this secure since my music is more and more what I feel 100% comfortable with. I have a new band and I really feel backed with them. More than doing the music that I love, there is a positive vibe on stage and so much joy.

I understand that you're very sensitive to image and writing in plural forms. Did you ever think about using another medium than music to express yourself?

I actually did. Maybe I will write a book or play in a movie, for the simple reason that I love trying new things. It makes me feel alive. It's funny because I don't really know what my style is, but I do know it when I see it. For example, I love making mood boards. When I write a song, I immediately see the world that has to be around it.

How would you describe your universe?

Tricky question. The words that come back are “pure” and “earthy” because I love things that are soft, elegant and classy.

What inspires you the most?

Maybe it's too much of an easy answer, but I would say my friends and family. And my therapy sessions. [Laughs] Also, arty movies, travels, conversations with strangers… Everything that comes across is inspirational. I don't want a gray life. I love the fact that my calendar is full with a million different things. I kind of love chaos; I see beauty in it.

What about love?

Love is a big part of my songs as well. Not only love between two people, but love for everything and everyone and all the bonds that come from it. If I wasn't a singer, I probably would have done a degree in psychology because I'm obsessed with the human brain and how relationships work. Also, maybe that's a naive thought, but I believe that if we were a little bit gentler with ourselves and each other, the world would be a different place.

Are you gentle with yourself?

I'm my biggest critic, but I try to be. The gentler I am with myself, the more I am with my family and friends as well. I know I can be quite hard on them, too, because I'm a perfectionist. If I'm softer with myself, I'm more forgiving and understanding to other people as well.

Regarding the music industry, which is such a hard place to be in, what are you dreaming of for your own music?

My biggest dream right now would be to keep on doing this. I've read many interviews of big artists like James Blake or Kate Nash where they all talk about the fact that the industry is falling apart and there are not many income [sources] with streams anymore. It’s worrying me, but at the same time, my dream is not to dominate the world with my music. [Laughs] I’m a bit more realistic. I just dream of buying an apartment one day, having children and keeping on doing what I do. If that happens, I think I will be a very happy person.

This is nice to hear because when you start working in such fields, you easily project big dreams, while reality can be very different. Remaining realistic is probably the best way to be happy with what you do.

Yeah, 100%. It's also easy to get lost and compare yourself, especially with social media. I do it for sure, but I always have to pull myself back and remind myself how lucky and grateful I am for making a living from my music in my country.

How do you deal with social media and all this comparison thing?

Luckily, I'm more and more able to soothe myself. Whenever I get insecure or compare myself to others, I come back to this quote: “Each one has its path.” Again, it’s a very simple sentence, but it helps me to remember that I have my own path and my own time.

It sounds like a good mantra. I’d like to talk about your relationship with Chanel. How did it start?

The stylist Adrien Gras introduced me to Chanel around 2020. I wore Chanel for the first time for the video of Greedy. I loved it! Then we use the clothes for the whole campaign. After that, they kept helping for videos and so on. Now, it turned out into this beautiful relationship where I'm a friend of the house and sometimes get invited to the shows. I think there's no other house that would suit me better than Chanel. It’s a very classy and yet rock-and-roll house. I love the fact that they're recognizable. You can see a piece from far away and know it’s Chanel.

As your last album is talking about self-confidence, what do you feel confident about today? Or what do you believe in?

I'm confident about what is there, even if my head is always saying I can be better. I really believe in myself and I couldn’t say this one year ago. I know that I'm a very hardworking, passionate and committed person who goes deep and doesn’t let go. I'm really proud of that.

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Discover the full story in our SS25 Issue - out now.

Interview by Hanna Pallot

Photography by Oriane Verstraeten

Fashion by Vincent Van Laeken

All clothes & accessories Chanel

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Featuring Emma Bale and Jolan de Bouw at Noah Mgmt

Production by Isabelle Verreyke at Mindbox Production

Hair by Daan Kneppers

Make-Up by Suzanne Verberk using Chanel Beauty

Set Design by Jens Burez