EJ Carey is a Boston-based singer-songwriter whose musical personality blends pop, rock and punk-energy. She describes herself as “a child of Warped Tour and the 2000s mall-pop era,” merging infectious pop melodies, storytelling from country traditions, and skate-park pop-punk attitude.
First off, congratulations on the release of “Eviscerate”! The title alone is powerful — can you tell us what the song is about and what inspired you to write it?
I actually came up with the title first! It’s a pretty bold word to use casually, but I knew it would capture the true finality of ending relationships that no longer work. It’s a frustrating experience to watch your loved ones make bad decisions, and it’s even more frustrating to know your season with them has come to an end despite your every effort to hold on. Feeling defeated can be turned into empowerment when you finally dismiss that person from your life and get back on the road to the journey you originally set out on. I’ve unfortunately had to do this many times, not just with romantic relationships, and it’s like rising from the ashes when you finally decide to move on.
The word “Eviscerate” evokes such raw emotion. What does it symbolize for you personally, and how does that translate into the sound and lyrics of the track?
Eviscerate is obviously a very graphic word, but as someone who experiences tidal waves of emotion, it was the only description that felt appropriate. I have a habit of giving people many chances before I decide it’s time to go, but once I leave, that person will never see or hear from me again. Using oscillating rhythm patterns in the melody conveys the push-pull of knowing that the behavior of the person in question is incompatible with your growth and finally severing your ties. I tried to keep the lyrics less complex than I typically would to impart the straightforwardness of terminating these relationships, like ripping off a band aid. I’ve had to do this in my life with former partners, family members, friends, and business partners, and it hurts every time, but I end up better for it in the long run.
How was the creative process for “Eviscerate” different from your previous songs? Did you experiment with any new production styles, collaborators, or writing approaches this time around?
The production side was a big change of pace for both myself and my producer, Bryan Fennelly. Bryan has so much patience and handled the challenge with grace. I wanted to paint a more electronic sonic landscape that matched what’s happening with rising pop music, and that was new for both of us. The song went through a few iterations before Bryan decided to get some new gear and plug-ins to create the shiny, sparkling production we wanted to pair with the pop-punk grit. Bryan is excellent at taking my queues and building exactly what I want!
There’s an intensity to your vocal delivery on this track. What was going through your mind when you recorded it, and how did you channel that emotion in the studio?
I’m an intense person, and I rarely ever put out a song where I’m not shouting about something. My goal for the vocals was to leave absolutely no room for interpretation about separating myself from these energy-vampires. To me, this is actually a happy song, as I’m definitively stating my claim that my peace is more important than their protest to my moving on. Hayley Williams and Demi Lovato are obvious vocal influences of mine, and they both are masters in that technique, so I definitely had them in mind in the booth.
Many of your songs touch on honesty, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Where does “Eviscerate” fit within the broader story you’re telling as an artist right now?
Eviscerate is a bit of a departure from the heartbreak narrative. From my perspective, it feels more like a reclamation of autonomy, though there is a particular kind of suffering that comes with witnessing your loved ones repeatedly disappoint you. I’ve always been brazen and blunt in my lyric writing, and this is no different, but it’s more evolved. Eviscerate is less caught up in the ache of letdown and more focused on self betterment, and that aligns perfectly with my life right now. I feel lucky to have reached this place emotionally – it hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it.
Looking back to when you first started making music, how do you think your sound — and confidence as an artist — have evolved?
I started recording music when I was 9, and I was truly convinced at the time that I was going to be the next Christina Aguilera. 23 years have passed since then, and I’ve been very humbled by the talent around me and the dogged perseverance of my peers. My sound has taken so many forms: 2000s pop, pop punk, country pop, and I even had my “freestyle phase,” which you can hear in the verses of Eviscerate. After my mom passed last year, I realized it’s more important for me to prioritize the vibe I’m feeling genre-wise and not put myself in a box. For a long time, I was caught up in competing, but I’ve fallen back in love with the art of songwriting and being a vocalist, which I haven’t felt in a long time. We only live once – why waste it doing things I don’t love?
Who have been your biggest musical or personal influences on this new chapter of your career? Are there any artists or genres that helped shape “Eviscerate”?
At the time we were recording the song, I had been listening to Avril Lavigne’s album “Love Sux,” which perfectly tows the line of pop punk with that clean, shiny electronic production. Olivia O’Brien and poutyface were also on that playlist. Growing up listening to Britney Spears and other big 2000s pop acts, it was an absolute joy to combine facets of two musical worlds I love so much.
The music industry can be both empowering and challenging for independent artists. What have been some of your biggest lessons learned along the way?
The biggest lesson for me has been that comparison will kill your progress. Every musician I know has different circumstances. Some are part time musicians that have to work another full time job to pay their bills, some are gigging musicians, some have a fully online income from streaming or social media, some have an entire team of agents and managers, and some are just plain bankrolled by their parents. All of those situations are valid, but taking your career trajectory and comparing it to someone else with a completely different set of circumstances isn’t fair to you or the other person. Focusing on your own goals and your own realistic expectations is the way to avoid driving yourself insane.
Beyond this single, what can fans look forward to next? Is “Eviscerate” part of a larger project or hinting at a new musical direction for you?
Eviscerate actually pairs with it’s predecessor, Crime of Passion, which I released last summer. Both songs are the different sides of the coin and were being made at the same time. As far as future projects, I have been working on a few exciting writing projects and hope to be able to share them soon!
Finally, when listeners hear “Eviscerate” for the first time, what do you hope they feel?
Catharsis, release, empowerment, faith and hope in oneself, determination, and maybe even inspiration to let go of what no longer serves them. As I say in the song, I deserve better, and so do the listeners.
