Described as Nottingham's answer to Charli XCX, hyperpop sensation Emily Baldwin – AKA EMiDORA – has been quickly making a name for herself on the local circuit. Having just released her long-awaited debut EP, Haunted By The Outside, Emily sat down with us to discuss the creative journey to making the project.
How are you feeling about the release of the EP?
Really good! I have been performing Haunted By The Outside (HBTO, the track) for almost four years now and have always wanted to do an EP with that title. Mainly because that is the vibe of my life.
When did the EP process officially begin?
As an EP it has taken over a year. I had HBTO and from there I had to decide what I would flesh that out with, feelings wise. Deciding what songs lean into the song – with that emotional disconnect, but keeping in mind how I felt myself. It was a jump between not feeling at all then feeling everything.
It then led me to question which of those emotions I wanted to feel and how that would shape the EP – hence why it took a year. It was all self-recorded on my laptop and once I felt this process was complete, I sent the tracks to my good friend and fellow musician Tom [Platts] to be mixed and mastered. He must have grown to hate me as my stems were all over the place!
How do you find that balance of being half writer and half producer?
I think that for me it all blends into one, as I see my computer as my instrument. Sometimes I write at the piano and then bring it over to the computer, but I find that the second I write on the piano and then transfer it to the computer, they don't sound like the ones directly written on the computer. So, I have found that the best way I now write is in segments. I will do the intro first then record it, move onto the first verse and record that, and repeat that process until the song is complete. A lot of people would despise that, but the luxury of doing it on my own means the only important inputs and opinions are mine.
Beyond the sound is your image. Tell us about the EP’s cover art…
Since I wrote the original song I have envisioned myself in a plastic box. In the ideal world, I would have created a space similar to The 1975’s The Sound music video – the whole band in a box. But that of course would be extremely expensive so, ironically, I had to think outside the box!
My friend Gabe is an incredible 3D graphic designer who listened to my vision and – just from a picture of myself and the EP – he created the box and added the vegetation and water, alongside a 3D model of myself, and put her in the box. He brought my vision to life and I feel extremely lucky to have worked with him.
We just keep building hyperpop in a place which is heavily dominated by lad bands and indie
Beyond just being your debut EP, what is Haunted By The Outside to you?
All of my music, to me, prevents a breakdown. If I don’t get on my laptop and make a song at regular intervals of my life, then my mood starts to change and I start to feel weird because I haven’t been able to get my feelings out. I can chat to people about how I feel but for me, no outlet is better than music.
With HBTO, I went through an odd time in which things were going great musically and I was really pushing myself socially after university to really tackle my social anxiety and agoraphobia. During this time, I was receiving an unreal amount of support and reassurance about my confidence and appearance but, in reality, I was really struggling on the inside, and nobody had any inclination.
So, to get those feelings out was really important, but it became more than that – it became an outlet for others to relate. The supporting tracks also embody that one emotion which is made clear through the music and I think it has spoken to numerous people. One of my listeners reached out and sent a selfie of him crying to the last track – it made me realise that the EP has served its purpose and that’s what it is.
Inspirations are a centrepiece in becoming a musician. Who are some of yours?
The first one that comes to mind is Green Day. For such a long time, that is who I would come home to after school and scream along to! That emotional release heavily influenced me. Owl City, Arctic Monkeys… they are all emotionally driven and that has been a big thing with my music. Acts like Destiny's Child too, artists my mum would listen to – they’ve all shaped who I am today.
Another one that comes to mind is Troye Sivan. I used to watch him as a YouTuber and his singing and production videos were fascinating. He then released his EP and pitched it as a self-recorded and produced body of work. It became a huge inspiration in producing music; him doing it on his own showed me that I could do it too.
You have been greatly complimented as Nottingham's answer to Charli XCX – I assume acts like Charli and SOPHIE have been inspirations too?
Yeah! Those independent hyperpop girls with the getting-it-done attitude have really inspired me. The hyperpop sounds that they create really itch my brain! I think, on that note, Owl City also does that – his production inspires me. I seriously think he is the father of hyperpop because he was doing this a long time before the recent surge.
How does making this sort of music go down in Nottingham? What is the hyperpop scene like?
Developing! There are quite a lot of us making this kind of music and it’s difficult when looking at bigger kinds of events, festivals and support slots. I wouldn’t say I have been paired with an act that completely matches my genre.
It is difficult, because there are so few of us, but we have found each other and created a community. We host hyperpop nights at The Grove which take place every three months – the next one is in August, which will be great! We just keep building hyperpop in a place which is heavily dominated by lad bands and indie.
Going back to when you started this journey, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians looking to achieve their dreams?
I would always say: you can do it yourself. If you have an iPhone then get Garage Band – use the mic on your earphones and make music. Get it on Soundcloud – get it on TikTok and see what people think. Reach out to people in the community who you catch good vibes from and see if you can perform live. Chat to those who will support you and give you feedback to help you grow and give you the push to keep going. Just make the music you want to make, stay in your lane, keep posting and get that exposure.
As for advice to myself… change your name! If you google me it comes up with Emisaura which I believe is ‘radio station’ in Spanish!
EMiDORA’s EP Haunted by the Outside is out now on all usual streaming platforms. She will also be performing at The Grove as part of GLITCH PLEASE! on Friday 7 August 2026.
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