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We first wrote about singer-songwriter Em Beihold in 2022, right after the release of “Numb Little Bug,” the not-yet-hit single that would eventually garner over 450 million streams on Spotify. Since then, Em joined Stephen Sanchez for the viral duet version of “Until I Found You,” went on tour with Lewis Capaldi, and most recently released her debut album, Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter, ultimately earning her a spot on our list of the Top 101 OnesToWatch alumni. 

After interviewing Em about Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter earlier this March, we asked her to nominate another artist who should be in the next generation of OnesToWatch—enter Madelline, a self-declared maker of “theatre pop” music who happened to tour with Em in 2024, allowing the two to form a friendship rooted in mutual respect for each other’s work. 

To celebrate our 11th anniversary, we set up a conversation between the pair in which they were tasked with interviewing each other—ultimately discussing their paths to music, how they stay true to their artistic vision, the ideal day in LA, and their shared love of Lily Allen.

Em Beihold: Hello my friend! How fun that we get to do this together! I feel so lucky to have formed such a special friendship after discovering you on TikTok and then touring together. You are truly singular! I have a few questions for you about your journey. When did you decide to go 100% into music and what helped you make that decision? 

Madelline: Hi my friend! I love that we started off as touring mates and now we’re in the same city and have become so much closer! What helped me decide to go into music 100% was that it felt so much more aligned for me than the other things I was doing. Before I decided to pursue music, I wanted to be an actress. I was consistently auditioning, but it started to feel like I was pushing and pushing just to be continuously disappointed by the process and the projects I was getting. For music, I loved that I didn’t have to wait around to audition and get cast in someone else’s project. I could create my own stories and my own narratives and present them in a way that felt empowering to me. So I would say I fully shifted into music when I decided that I was closing the door temporarily on acting, and that was about seven years ago now.

What’s the first “theater pop” artist that you remember falling in love with? I know we’ve bonded over our shared love for Lily Allen! 

Lily Allen is absolutely my answer to this question! I consider my music “theatre pop” in the sense that my lyrics are highly specific and focused on storytelling, as Lily’s are. I’m also heavily influenced by dramatic vocals like Freddie Mercury’s & MARINA’s. I deeply enjoy letting my voice freely explore different sounds and colors. I also love using unexpected words in my lyrics, I’m particularly proud of using the word “breedable” in my song Expiration Dating!

How are you feeling about almost being done with your first album? I, for one, am so excited to hear it. 

This means a lot because we have such an overlap in our style, and I am loving Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter. It’s been about one and a half years in the making for my debut album which I will be putting out later this year. I’m leaning heavily into my jazzy/theatrical roots. It’s such an interesting experience because creating an album sometimes feels like walking through the fog, then you see a clear path, and then the fog starts to reappear and so on. I’m sure you can relate to this, and I’d love to hear your perspective on this. Now, I finally feel like I see the whole thing in a cohesive way that is making sense to me. What’s the most exciting to me about this album is I feel the most artistically free I’ve ever felt. Creating a body of work as an artist feels so empowering to me! I’m just letting all of my creative ideas run rampant and freely flow and I can fully explore the vibe I’m leaning into which almost “clears space” for my future project ideas.

Part of the reason I love watching you as an artist is because you have such a clear creative vision and world. I’m curious if you had unlimited funding and could create any music video, live show, tour, etc., what would it be/look like? 

Oh my god, I love this question! Also, I really appreciate this comment. If I had absolutely unlimited funding, for my tour, I would create a whole play with full sets, multiple actors, scenes, and costume changes that completely accompany my album. I’d also have magicians in the audience at every show and burlesque dancers opening for me. It would be an experience the moment the audience members walked through the door. I’ve done iterations of this for my “Vaudeville de Madelline” series but of course budget would take this concept to the next level. 

What’s one moment with your fanbase you’ll never forget? 

I have to rattle off a few experiences because there’s no way I can reduce this into one. The first thing that comes to mind is signing someone’s forehead in sharpie, a bald head, and a flute case. Another thing that comes to mind is some of the wonderful gifts my fans have given me, I got this handmade super whimsical stuffed animal from a fan that has these long fake eyelashes on her that I adore. I’ve gotten a lock pick from a fan, I’ve had one of them come on stage and play “La Vie en Rose” with me in Montreal. God, there are so many moments! I love meeting my fans and spending time with them and our little inside jokes we have. 

I feel like part of the reason we’ve grown such a special friendship outside of music is because of our discussions about mental health in the industry. What keeps you going when you’re feeling low? 

I completely agree, and it makes me feel a lot less alone being able to talk to a successful artist like yourself about this. Honestly, the things that help me the most are cliche, but cleaning my room, working out, calling a friend, showering, and ordering some Uber Eats. Sometimes we just got to go back to the basics, you know? Recently I’ve been trying to have less resistance to negative emotions and let them run through me. I find that resisting feeling bad creates another unnecessary layer of suffering. I really love Eckart Tolle’s perspective on this. 

If you weren’t an artist, what do you think you would be? 

If i wasn’t an artist I would be passionate about creating some sort of product/my own business and be an entrepreneur. It’s funny because that’s truly so similar to being a musician, we sort of operate like start-ups ourselves, wouldn’t you say? I love the idea of inventing something and motiving my team and potential investors to believe in what I’ve created. I think I would really crush the marketing side of it as well, and lowkey it’s easier than presenting ourselves as the product. 

What’s your loftiest goal? Let’s manifest!!

Love this question! I mean shoot, I’d love to win a Grammy! Shorter term goals include being on the Jimmy Fallon show, WHICH YOU HAVE DONE. Also, being part of a stadium tour (which you’ve also done, icon). 

Listen to Madelline below:

Madelline: Miss Em! My first question for you, is: What is some advice you would give to an artist who is just starting off and wants a career in music? Say that they are completely green. I would love to hear your perspective on this.

Em Beihold: I think my answer for this has changed so much since I started (which was pre TikTok!) At this point I would encourage people to become fluent in an instrument whether that be guitar, piano, or honestly even just learning how to use a DAW (Logic, Ableton, etc.) on their own so they can learn how to communicate their ideas. Learn how to play songs that inspire you. Often when I write, I’m just messing around with chords, and to be so real I never paid attention in music theory class, so I don’t always know if what I’m playing will fit together! But I keep messing around until it does. In terms of sharing and building connections, I say post post post. I’ve met most of the people I know in the music community because of posting! I kind of think of every post as a lottery ticket. Sure, it may not move the needle for you 99% of the time, but the 1% of the time that it does changes everything.

What are some realizations you’ve had about your artistry while creating your debut album? Are there any unexpected things you’ve discovered in the process of creating it? 

I think just to lean into my instincts more and let go of the concept of “cool.” While making the album I only thought about what’s cool to me and not to the young, hip bleached-eyebrow, tattooed crowd I always seem to want approval from for no apparent reason!

What are some unexpected reactions you’ve had from your fans to your new body of work? Any unexpected songs hitting harder than you imagined?

Ooh I love this question. Honestly, there’s been more of a reaction to “Won’t Let Go” than I was expecting! I wrote that song about my grandmother’s dementia and put a voicemail she left me years back at the top. I had two listening events with fans before the album came out in NY and LA, and both times that song had the fans in tears. I guess I don’t write ballads much and other tracks stood out to me more on the project so when some people said that one was their favorite I was surprised. 

What does a typical day look like for you? Run me through it. I want to know what time you wake up and what foods you’re eating. TELL ME IT ALL, I’M NOSY.

Ok let’s do this.

9:30 AM – I wake up to Bingo making biscuits on me. 

9:45 AM - I make myself a matcha latte with brown sugar oatmilk (very LA but let’s just go with it) in preparation for some Zoom meetings with my management or content team to go over plans for the next few weeks. 

1 PM – I’m probably in a session either writing for myself or for another artist. Recently I’ve been doing some KPOP writing for fun. I like switching it up!

6 PM – Post-session I’ll have dinner and then probably do one of 3 things:

Go to my parents house (they are my neighbors!), catch up on family stuff and veg out on the couch watching our silly little shows (ranging from Survivor to Shrinking to SNL…apparently all of our shows start with ‘S’)

Have a game night with my friends Janani and Mark and some other friends! Even though my social battery is often pretty dead after a session I have such wonderful friends (like you!!) where I feel recharged by spending time with them.

MAYBE write a snippet of a song if I’m feeling inspired.

10 PM – Journal!

12 PM - 2 AM – I’ll go to bed somewhere in this timeframe lol.

The fun thing about the artist-life though is how often the cycle changes. Soon I’ll be going into rehearsals and then tour and my days will look very different. I’m definitely soaking up the home time while I’m here. 

My last question. If you were to create the perfect hang out eve for us in Los Angeles, what would we do? Where would we go? (And then we have to do it)

Hehe fun! We will spend the evening in Highland Park! First: dinner at Highly Likely (it’s sooo vibey and there’s always a cute dog there), then we can either go to Kinship Yoga for a nighttime movement/breathwork class OR to the Greyhound for trivia (Tuesdays/Sundays – you just let me know when you’re free )!! And THEN we will finish the night off with some ice cream from Jeni’s. Yum yum yum.

Listen to "Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter" below: