Finding Freedom in the Noise with Emily Gray

An emo kid turned anxious alt storyteller, Emily Gray turns overthinking into art — carving beauty out of chaos and finding peace in the very thing that once held her back.

As I sat down for final edits, I hit play on Kaleidoscope one more time — and I’m glad I did. It’s a beautifully crafted ten-track album where each song adds a new layer to the story Emily Gray wants us to hear. From the haunting pull of So Beautiful to the powerful reminder in Make It Through the Day, Kaleidoscope unfolds like a patchwork of emotions — raw, honest, and deeply human.

Originally from the south coast of the United Kingdom and now based in Spain, Emily Gray is an alt-folk and indie-rock singer-songwriter whose music blends emotional honesty with melodic strength. Rooted in her early emo and alternative influences, her debut album Kaleidoscope explores themes of anxiety, resilience, and self-discovery across ten tracks that balance intimate storytelling with cathartic energy. Emily’s expressive voice and confessional lyricism continue to connect with audiences who find comfort in her openness. For her, truth doesn’t come from silence — it’s found in the noise she’s learned to call home.

SNQLX: When you think about the person who wrote your earliest songs versus the person who wrote Kaleidoscope, what’s the biggest change you see in yourself

EMILY: Honestly I see myself as a completely different person- probably something to do with the fact that I was maybe 14 or 15 when I started writing. I think I’ve gone through at least two or three complete metamorphoses since then. I think I’m getting a lot closer to figuring out who I really am. I’m more content, and I recognise my emotional triggers a lot better. In terms of music, I have so much more experience now and I’ve met and worked with so many amazing artists that have really helped shape me musically.

SNQLX: Emo gave so many people permission to feel loudly. Do you ever wrestle with how much of that permission you still give yourself today?

I try to let myself feel as loudly as I need to, but within reason, of course. I think it’s really important to feel your feelings, even if they’re painful and messy. That’s what my music is really about.

SNQLX: Does writing about anxiety ever risk trapping you inside it — like reliving it — or does it free you from it?

EMILY: I think mostly when we write about a painful experience or a difficult emotion, once it’s out, we can leave it on the page. You can listen to the song, revisit the emotion when it arises again, but for the most part, it’s an outlet. Like when you’re feeling angry and you stick on some metal music and scream along to it. After, you feel lighter. It’s a healthy way to feel what you’re feeling and be able to let it go.

SNQLX: Has there ever been a lyric you almost didn’t release because it felt too raw — and what made you share it anyway?

EMILY: Yes- I was scared about releasing my ‘Apocalypse’ E.P because of how morbid the ending is. It’s a concept piece following a lone survivor wandering through the apocalyptic wasteland. I don’t want to give away the ending here- you’ll have to go listen! I released it anyway because I was very proud of the story, it felt really original- I’m still very proud of it to this day.

SNQLX: Do your songs begin as something meant just for you, or do you always have an invisible listener in mind?

EMILY: At first they were just for me- I think they kinda still are, it’s just that the ‘invisible listener’ is someone just like me: someone trying to make sense of a world that seems to make no sense at all, someone who often gets overwhelmed by their emotions, and someone who never felt like they really ‘fit in’ anywhere.

SNQLX: Your music lives between alt grit and folk intimacy. Where do you feel most at home — the loud catharsis or the quiet confession?

EMILY: I love them both equally! I think contrast is one of the most important things in life. Although there’s nothing like performing rock music on stage, it’s SO FUN. I’m lucky enough to have played with a covers band that did rock covers of popular songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s- I’ve had some of my best times on stage with those guys.

I’ve gone through a few metamorphoses, but I think I’m finally getting closer to who I really am.

SNQLX: What do you hope someone who’s never lived with anxiety takes away from your songs?

EMILY: Honestly these days it’s hard to imagine that there are people who exist that have never lived with anxiety. I think we’ve all felt it to a certain extent. I really think my music is for anxious souls so I’m not sure anyone who’s super confident and self-assured would really vibe with what I do.

SNQLX: If your future self could send back a note about where your music has taken you, what would you want it to say?

EMILY: I would tell myself to start taking it more seriously as early as possible. I feel like maybe I missed out on a few opportunities ‘cause I wasn’t giving it my all when I should have been. But it’s definitely true that I’ve achieved things that I never thought I’d be capable of- I wrote and recorded an album, organised and successfully completed a mini-tour to promote that album. I think the main takeaway is that you never know what you’re capable of until you really give something a go.

SNQLX: When the lights go down after a show and you’re left alone again, what stays with you the most — the noise, the silence, or something in between?

EMILY: Mostly it’s just relief that I finished the show and didn’t mess anything up too badly. I enjoy it while I’m doing it but the nerves are still VERY real, especially for the tour. Also, the post-tour blues really kicked in hard when I finished and I just felt kind of empty for a while. I guess that’s what happens when you give so much of yourself on stage. You don’t end up with a lot left.

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Emily Gray writes from the in-between — where anxiety meets acceptance, where the loud parts of life fade into quiet reflection. She doesn’t romanticize the struggle or hide from it; she just tells the truth in melody. Kaleidoscope isn’t about resolution — it’s about recognition. Each song feels like a moment of clarity caught mid-storm, a reminder that feeling deeply is its own form of survival. Emily isn’t trying to escape the noise anymore. She’s learning how to live inside it.