Emily Blue

{{short description|Singer from Illinois}} {{multiple issues| {{Cleanup|date=January 2023|reason=far too much detail about single releases, etc., for a minor and mostly local musician.}} {{Promotional|date=January 2023}} {{BLP sources|date=September 2021}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Emily Blue | image = Emily Blue 2021.jpg | alt = | caption = Blue performing in 2021 | birth_name = Emily Caroline Otnes | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1994|6|28}} | birth_place = Urbana, Illinois, United States | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer|composer|instrumentalist}} | years_active = 2012–2020 (hiatus)<br/>2021–present | awards = Best Chicago Pop Artist | website = {{URL|https://emilybluemusic.com}} | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = {{hlist|Electropop|glitch pop<!--do not change without consensus from talk page-->|synth-pop<ref name=Nelson2019>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=JR |title=Tara Terra front woman Emily Blue drops a newly expanded solo synth-pop EP |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/emily-blue-tara-terra-marian-runk-whpk-blacker-face/Content?oid=69244291 |website=Chicago Reader |date=March 27, 2019 |accessdate=November 5, 2019 |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508021321/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/emily-blue-tara-terra-marian-runk-whpk-blacker-face/Content?oid=69244291 |url-status=dead }}</ref>|indie pop<ref name=Mosk2017>{{cite web |last1=Mosk |first1=Mitch |title=Tara Terra return with irresistibly raw "Ithaca" |url=http://atwoodmagazine.com/ithaca-tara-terra-song-premiere/ |website=Atwood Magazine |date=April 2019 |accessdate=November 5, 2019}}</ref>|hair metal|death metal}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|guitar|synthesizer}} | label = Audiotree | associated_acts = {{hlist|Tara Terra|Max Perenchio|K.Flay|uuskhy<ref name="Maliborski, 2020" />|Moon Mouth}} }} }}

'''Emily Blue''', born '''Emily Caroline Otnes''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑː|t|n|ə|s}}) on June 28, 1994, is an American singer-songwriter. She{{efn|Blue uses both ''she/her'' and ''they/them'' pronouns. This article uses ''she/her'' for consistency.}} has a solo career and is the lead singer of Champaign-based indie rock band Tara Terra. Born and raised in Urbana, Illinois, she now lives in Chicago and Nashville.<ref name="Maliborski, 2020" /> Blue's career is characterized by sharp changes in musical style, and her releases fall into different genre classifications, ranging from synth-pop to avant-garde and death metal.<ref name=Nelson2019 /><ref name=Mosk2017 /><ref name=Rud2017 />

== Life and career == Emily Blue was born as Emily Caroline Otnes on June 28, 1994, in Urbana, Illinois. She wrote her first song when she was 13, and got motivated to become a songwriter. She says her mother was the guiding figure in her home, and that she inspired her by taking a powerful female role in the household.<ref name=Rud2017>{{cite web |last1=Rud |first1=Nico |title=Who is Emily Blue? |url=https://chicagocreatives.co/2017/05/25/who-is-emily-blue/ |website=Chicago Creatives |date=May 25, 2017 |accessdate=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

She met Colin Althaus and Joey Buttlar in the early 2010s and they joined Nick Soria and Céline Broussard to form Emily Otnes and the Weekdays, later renamed to Tara Terra. Otnes changed her name to Emily Blue.<ref name=Mosk2017 /> Tara Terra released their debut album, ''Daughter'', on August 30, 2014.

=== 2016–2017: Solo career and ''Where's Your Light?'' ===

Blue's first single, "No Pain", was released on August 6, 2016, with lyrics about rape culture. The ''Another Angry Woman'' EP, was released on November 4, 2016, with five music tracks and three one minute interview tracks.<ref name="Corrall2017">{{cite web |last1=Corrall |first1=Cody |title=INTERVIEW: Emily Blue |url=http://www.hooliganmagazine.com/blog/2017/6/11/interview-emily-blue |website=Hooligan Mag |accessdate=November 5, 2019 |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106001306/http://www.hooliganmagazine.com/blog/2017/6/11/interview-emily-blue |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its lyrics are on subjects considered taboo, but conveyed with a mellow indie pop sound. According to Blue, the title of the EP "is a title that intends to take a critical stance on our culture's lack of empathy towards survivors".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Casey |first1=Skorski |title=Another Angry Woman: An interview with Emily Blue |url=http://www.smilepolitely.com/music/another_angry_woman_an_interview_with_emily_blue/ |website=Smile Politely |date=November 4, 2016 |accessdate=November 5, 2019}}</ref> All the income from the album sales and merchandise for Another Angry Woman went to RACES (Rape Advocacy, Counseling, & Education Services) organization.

Blue released the two-sided single, "Blackberries // Rico Acid" on April 7, 2017, with an up-tempo pop sound. "Blackberries" became popular on music streaming service Spotify.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} It was Blue's first collaboration with Max Perenchio.<ref name=Corrall2017 /><ref name=Rud2017 />

Tara Terra released the ''Where's Your Light?'' album in 2017, preceded by the single "Like the Clothes". Huffington Post praised the track, labeling it as the band "[showing] off their rhythmic chemistry underneath Blue's falsettos and [Colin] Althaus's bright guitar riffs." It was described as having a harder sound than their 2014 release and received mostly positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fountain |first1=Rasheena |title=Indie Rock Band Tara Terra Asks, Where's Your Light? |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/album-premiere-indie-rock-band-tara-terra-asks-wheres_b_592e06ace4b075342b52c12f |website=Huffington Post |date=May 30, 2017 |accessdate=November 5, 2019}}</ref> The band went on indefinite hiatus the same year.

=== 2018: ''*69 EP'' === {{Main|*69 (album)}}

On April 6, 2018, Blue released "Cellophane", an experimental and heavily synthesized pop track. This became the first single from ''*69 EP'', produced by and written with Bad City's Max Perenchio. It was released on August 8, 2018.

The second song from this extended play, "Microscope", was released five days before the EP was out. The sound on the EP was described by ''Chicago Reader'' as "a glossy, idea-packed EP whose five tunes burst with pulsing electro beats and walloping synth-pop choruses". It was also said that a few listens to Blue's "Microscope" and "Falling in Love", "make it clear that she can translate her razor-sharp hooks into any musical language".<ref name=Nelson2019 /> On the album's re-release, three songs were added to the tracklist.

=== 2019: Tara Terra reformation and ''ICONIC'' === On January 10, 2019, Blue commercially released ''Emily Blue on Audiotree Live'' with the songs from ''*69'', except "Dum Blonde", and three of her earlier singles.

On March 8 of the same year, Blue released a pop-rock cover of Blondie's "Call Me", just three weeks before the release of Tara Terra's comeback single "Ithaca", which was revealed on April 1, 2019, premiering on Atwood Magazine. This album added Evan Opitz as official guitarist of Tara Terra.

On April 7, 2019. Blue released a five-track extended play: ''Couch Surfer, Lover''.

The single "Bad Decisions" was made available on all platforms on June 28, 2019, Blue's 25th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mosk |first1=Mitch |title=Emily Blue embraces imperfections in "Bad Decisions" |url=http://atwoodmagazine.com/ebbd-bad-decisions-emily-blue/ |website=Atwood Magazine |date=July 10, 2019 |accessdate=November 5, 2019}}</ref> The cover art for the album depicted the singer mooning the camera in front of a McDonald's.

On October 11, 2019, the singer released an indie-metal fusion track titled "17" on Spotify. The song was described both by reviewers and fans and by Blue herself as inspired by Lana Del Rey.

On October 14, 2019, Blue announced an 18+ LGBT music festival organised by her, titled ''ICONIC''. The festival took place on December 6, at Schuba's Tavern and included performances from Chicago band Flora, artists Carlile, SuperKnova, Thair and GirlBoifriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blue |first1=Emily |title=ICONIC – A Queer Benefit |url=https://lh-st.com/shows/12-06-2019-iconic/ |accessdate=November 5, 2019}}</ref> According to the festival's site, a portion of the proceeds went to nonprofit organization Brave Space Alliance, a pro-trans rights organization.

On November 8, 2019, Blue won first place in Chicago Reader's year-end Best Pop Artist award.

=== 2020-present: COVID-19, new beginnings, ''The Afterlove'' ===

In 2020, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue launched an initiative entitled "Artists for Global Giving". The concept of the project was that artists in lockdown make tracks from quarantine within 24 hours, with all tracks compiled into a mixtape, the proceeds of which go to COVID-19 relief funds. Many artists promoted the concept on social media, with the process being dubbed "#1DaySongChallenge". The first volume of the project, "Artists for Global Giving | Mixtape #1" was released on March 25, 2020. "Social Distance", the fourth track on the album, is performed by Blue herself.

Blue released a new single titled "Aperture" on 8 May, which was first teased on 15 April.<ref name="Newman, 2020">{{cite web |last1=Newman |first1=Charles |title=Emily Blue "Aperture" |url=http://chicago.thedelimagazine.com/43335/emily-blue-aperture |website=thedelimagazine.com |publisher=The Deli |accessdate=7 August 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The song was premiered with a live performance on Good Day Chicago. The Deli called the song "ethereal" and said it was "more firmly planted in Dream Pop than Blue's previous singles", while Emma Maliborski of Chicago Haze said it "manages to send listeners to a vibrant landscape through their earbuds".<ref name="Maliborski, 2020">{{cite web |last1=Maliborski |first1=Emma |title=Emily Blue Paints an Ambient Landscape in "Aperture" |url=https://chicagohaze.com/2020/05/21/emily-blue-paints-an-ambient-landscape-in-aperture/ |website=chicagohaze.com |date=May 21, 2020 |publisher=Chicago Haze |accessdate=7 August 2020}}</ref>

On 7 August 2020, following a live performance for Jack Daniel's via Audiotree, with two previously unreleased tracks "Prophet" and "Glow", Blue released a single titled "Trump.". The song is a protest song against Donald Trump in the genre of death metal.

Blue announced on Twitter on 27 August 2020 that she would soon release an EP. The expected date of the release is unknown as of now. On 9 October, she followed the news up with a cover of Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's "Rain on Me", which features vocals from Chicago singer Thair.

On 26 November 2020, Emily Blue's long-term songwriting partner Max Perenchio died at the age of 33 in a car crash in Southern California. Perenchio produced the vast majority of her releases up until that point.

On 31 January 2021, the singer announced her third album, titled ''The Afterlove''.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Blue |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Blue |user=emilybluemusic |number=1355998999510216707 |date=January 31, 2021 |title=I have a new record 'The Afterlove' coming this Summer— the first single is coming 2.12 💖🧚🏻♀️ 👇🏻 Pre-save '7 Minutes' now👇🏻 https://t.co/MNQoiCx7Vh https://t.co/5HMRY29xJY |language=en |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>

Emily Blue's first single of 2021, "7 Minutes", was released on 12 February. According to Wiwibloggs, it was sent to the song selection committee for Melodi Grand Prix 2021 before being released as a single. The song is the first release from Blue's third studio album, which is set to be released Summer 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vautrey |first1=Jonathan |title=New music this week: 20 songs from Alexander Rybak & Sirusho, Damir Kedžo & Tijana Bogicevic and more |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/02/14/new-music-from-tina-karol-cleo-alekseev-sirusho-and-more/261476/ |website=Wiwibloggs|date=February 14, 2021 }}</ref> Blue said the song was dedicated to Max Perenchio, who co-wrote the song several weeks before his death.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Blue |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Blue |user=emilybluemusic |number=1360233587786842115 |date=February 12, 2021 |title=' 7 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔' is out everywhere now 🌈 i'm incredibly proud of this & our team 🥺 dedicated to my friend & producer max who now lives in our hearts 💖 watch / stream 👉🏻 https://t.co/EdHDCXhYtm https://t.co/3qFFKE9Q6j |language=en |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>

"7 Minutes" was featured on Noisey's Top Tracks of February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Songs That Made This Horrible February Bearable|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-best-new-songs-and-music-february-2021/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Vice.com|date=February 26, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

The second single from the album, "See U in My Dreams", was initially scheduled to be released in June 2021. However, its release was postponed to July 23. It was met with positive reception, making it onto two of Spotify's biggest pop playlists.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fresh Finds|url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWWjGdmeTyeJ6|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Spotify|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Fresh Finds: Pop|url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX3u9TSHqpdJC|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Spotify|language=en}}</ref> On the week of its release, the song peaked #35 on the Israeli digital charts,<ref>{{Cite web|title=iTunes Top 100 Music Chart - Real-time iTunes Music, App & Movie Charts|url=https://www.icharts.co.za/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=www.icharts.co.za|language=en}}</ref> marking the singer's Top 40 debut.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Lauren não é dégrá.dê ❤️ TDLIS 🇱🇹 |user=lavren_dk |number=1421042337229295619 |date=July 30, 2021 |title=It's a Top 40 debut on @itunes Israel @officialcharts for "See U in My Dreams" by @emilybluemusic! https://t.co/U7eixFp2S5 |language=en |access-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814195601/https://twitter.com/lavren_dk/status/1421042337229295619 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 4 August, Blue revealed on an Instagram livestream that The Afterlove would come out "soon", announcing that one more single would precede the album release.

==Personal life== Blue resides in Chicago, Illinois and Nashville, Tennessee. She is a supporter of LGBT rights and pro-LGBT organizations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mead |first1=Tina |title=ICONIC - Emily Blue / Carlile / Girlboifriend / Thiar / Superknova / Flora |url=https://chicagocrowdsurfer.com/iconic |website=chicagocrowdsurfer.com |publisher=Chicago Crowd Surfer |accessdate=7 August 2020 |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822141530/https://chicagocrowdsurfer.com/iconic |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Blue is pansexual<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Blue |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Blue |user=emilybluemusic |number=1310021357112102912 |date=September 26, 2020 |title=Wow I'm a horrible pansexual I missed pansexual / bisexual visibility day... uhhhhh maybe it needs to be a bigger day |language=en |access-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420152954/https://twitter.com/emilybluemusic/status/1310021357112102912 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> and non-binary<ref>{{Cite web |title=OTNES on TikTok |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@mxotnes/video/7111477465758879018 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=TikTok |language=en}}</ref> and uses ''she/her'' and ''they/them'' pronouns.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Blue |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Blue |user=emilybluemusic |number=1386889862851215361 |date=April 26, 2021 |title=Fuck it. She/they 💖 ty |language=en |access-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507100139/https://twitter.com/emilybluemusic/status/1386889862851215361 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Discography == === Albums === *''Another Angry Woman'' (2016) *''*69'' (2019) *''The Afterlove'' (2022)

====Mixtapes==== *''Artists for Global Giving: Salud'' (2020)

=== Live albums === *''Emily Blue on Audiotree Live'' (2019)

=== EPs === *''Blackberries//Rico Acid'' (2017) *''*69 EP'' (2018) *''#1DaySongChallenge'' (2020)

=== Singles === *"No Pain" (2016) *"Gene" (2016) *"Empower (We Grow)" (2017) *"Cellophane" (2018) *"Microscope" (2018) *"Call Me" (2019) *"Bad Decisions" (2019) *"17" (2019) *"Aperture" (2020) *"Trump." (2020) *"Rain on Me" (2020) *"7 Minutes" (2021) *"See U in My Dreams" (2021)

==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Awards !! Category !! Result |- | 2019 | Chicago Reader, Best of Chicago | Best Pop Artist<ref>[https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/best-pop-artist/BestOf?oid=75370896 ''Best of Chicago 2019, Best pop artist''], chicagoreader.com</ref> | {{won}} |- | 2020 | Chicago Reader, Best of Chicago | Best Pop Artist<ref>[https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/best-pop-artist/BestOf?oid=75370896 ''Best of Chicago 2020, Best pop artist''], chicagoreader.com</ref> | 2nd Runner-up |}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|emilybluemusic.com}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue, Emily}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century Norwegian women singers Category:Norwegian bisexual women Category:American bisexual women Category:Norwegian LGBTQ singers Category:Norwegian pop singers Category:Norwegian women singer-songwriters Category:Norwegian singer-songwriters Category:Norwegian sopranos Category:Norwegian heavy metal singers Category:Norwegian non-binary people Category:American non-binary musicians Category:English-language Norwegian singers Category:Synth-pop singers Category:Non-binary singers Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:21st-century Norwegian LGBTQ people Category:LGBTQ people from Illinois Category:Non-binary bisexual people Category:American synth-pop musicians Category:American women pop singers Category:LGBTQ women singer-songwriters Category:American bisexual singers