This Album Changed My Life: Emmagen Rain On ‘1989’ by Taylor Swift

Rising talent, Emmagen Rain began singing and songwriting at aged 9, and has been performing and recording ever since. In 2018, she won the People Choice Award at Tamworth’s Country Music Festival Busking Championship and picked up the 2020 win at Tamworth’s Coca Cola Battle of the Young Stars. 

Emmagen first came to prominence as the youngest artist ever (12-years-old) to appear on the television series, The Voice Australia. She followed up with debut single release City Lights Call. She followed up with singles, Karaoke Song, For You (which has exceeded over half a million streams) and her latest, You And I.

Produced by Liam Quinn (Peach PRC) and co-written by Emmagen, Caitlyn Shadbolt and Erin McKellar; Emmagen says, “You And I is a breakup song from the perspective of the person doing the breaking up. It’s about admitting it’s over, even though you don’t want it to be.”

To get to know Emmagen, we asked her to tell us about an album that has changed her life.

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Emmagen Rain on Taylor Swift’s 1989:

"My all-time favourite albums are Taylor Swift’s 1989 and Folklore, however 1989 is the album that has had the greatest impact on me and my life. It’s the album I just have to turn up and sing at the top of my lungs whenever it plays. It evokes a strong sense of empowerment and happiness in me and feels like home. If I’m feeling down, blasting 1989 instantly cheers me up and inspires me better than anything else possibly can.

I love that 1989 is kind of autobiographical and honest yet has an indifferent take on love. My favourites songs are Style with its punchy and upbeat vibe, Blank Space because Taylor makes fun of the media and their criticism of her and her personal life, Wildest Dreams as it spins the drama of heartbreak, so the bad-boy boyfriend is the victim haunted by the girl he lost, and Out of the Woods as I think it has the most amazing bridge known to humankind.  

1989 is not only my listening go-to, but also such a massive inspiration in my song writing. I always take in at least one song from this album in my co-writing sessions for a reference. Taylor’s lyrical imagery is beyond this world and the catchy fun-filled melodies are what makes this album stand out. Taylor Swift’s lyrics are so relatable, and she has such an incredible sense of knowing her audience that sometimes I feel like she’s reading my mind.

1989 feels like a loyal and fierce friend that takes on everyone that’s done you wrong and leaves a strong imprint. Taylor was only 24 when she wrote 1989 and it hit quadruple platinum. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) will soon hopefully be released, and I cannot wait to hear it. I honestly might throw a party when it comes out and dance the day away."

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For more of our This Album Changed My Life series, go here.
And keep up to date with Emmagen Rain on her Facebook page here.