Songstress Emma Danner has been crafting melodic pop tracks with a brooding and dark undertone as Red Ribbon since the release of her debut full-length, Freaks Only.
Originally based in Seattle, Danner relocated down the Pacific coastline to Los Angeles last spring and the new move has shaped her upcoming album Planet X – out June 11. While the songs were originally recorded before the pandemic at various studios across the US with renowned metal producer, Randall Dunn, there seems to be a brighter outlook than on her sophomore album Dark Party.
Joined by a nucleus of gifted multi-instrumentalists (Shahzad Ismaily, Monika Knot, Abbey Blackwell and Veronica Dye), Danner was determined to push her creative flow to new boundaries. The album examines the frailty of human life, overcoming personal struggles and the hope that time will heal all wounds. It’s an introspective look into an artist’s world of her own making.
Below, Danner details how the Pomodoro Technique, running and Eartheater’s latest album helped them get through the past year.
I have been in search of ways to break time up in recent days.
The Pomodoro Technique was introduced to me by my friend Abbey Blackwell, who is a master musician. Apparently it was invented in the 1980’s by Francesco Cirillo, after he used a 25 minute tomato shaped timer to divide work into sections, followed by a 5 minute period of rest, then repeat. I use this to practice music or clean when I get stuck in the void.
I like to pretend I am training for space melee. The Nike Run app is free, and I appreciate that it has modest goal options like ten minute runs. It introduced me to fartlek runs, which are a type of speed interval training.
I moved from Seattle to Los Angeles. I was working at an amazing fried chicken restaurant that closed even though I’m a vegetarian. It has been nice to bring on a voluntary challenge amongst the involuntary ones.
Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin by Eartheater was the best record released in 2020. The production is amazing and some moments sound like a dinosaur being born!
This interview has been edited for clarity.