We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Eddins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance can be tricky because often what I do for passion and what I do for work overlap. I’m still deciding whether or not the goal is for them to be one and the same– I think it is. Currently, I’m freelancing and it’s the first time in my life I’ve had this much control of my schedule… which is a double edged sword. Since the time I was five up until graduating from Berklee last year, I had been accustomed to my “work / life balance” being divided between assignments and semesters. It’s been both exciting and daunting to begin this new chapter where I get to decide when I work, when I play, and when I rest. I look forward to continuing to find and anchor myself in this balance. It’s definitely a process!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art has always been the way I interact with the world, both internally and externally. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of me either painting, drawing, or listening to music. Growing up, I wasn’t in choir or bands because I was terrified of performing and sharing the music I had written. I’m grateful for my experience at Berklee for many reasons, but above all else, for the friends I’ve made and the incredible community of creatives I get to collaborate with. After graduating in 2023, I started working as a runner at Record Plant. After four months of running, I shadowed a session with the Elton John Band and went on to become the assistant engineer for all of their following sessions at the studio, up until Record Plant’s closing this July.

Now, I’m focused on freelance songwriting and my artist projects. I feel like I’ve come a long way in my songwriting and artistry in the past few years, but I also feel like I have a long way to go and that’s exciting. Right now, I’m most excited about the music I’m releasing with my band, Sunlette, and under my solo project, Emily at Best.

I started releasing music as Emily at Best in 2022. I came up with the name because I figured the songs I write will become a catalog of all my best, worst, and mediocre moments… but why not lean towards optimism? I worked on the songs I currently have out with multi-talented producers, Fknjoshi (“All Talk”, “Hold Onto Me”) and Liam Pachler (“Most Days”), who are both my close friends. I haven’t put out any music under Emily at Best since last year, but I’ll be releasing a few singles early next year and I’m currently working on my first self-produced EP. These songs are a combination of alternative rock and pop, with folk, soul, and jazz influences.

Sunlette was formed when Miguel (MAGH), Garrett (Gorq), and I met while working at Melrose Sound. We quickly learned we share similar musical inspirations and we fell into a groove of writing, producing, and playing together. Since April of this year, we’ve released three singles, two music videos, and garnered over 130k streams on Spotify. Our music is alternative pop, with disco and funk influences. Our next single, “Enough”, will be released on November 22, 2024. We are excited to share more music and start playing live shows in 2025!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love LA because there are so many different neighborhoods with their own distinct histories, communities, and cultural and artistic influences. I’m from Dallas but I moved to the South Bay when I was twelve with my mom and my younger brother. One of my favorite things ever is to watch the sunset over the ocean, from any beach in LA. Rat’s Beach in Torrance is beautiful because you get the view of Palos Verdes as well as Malibu, and sometimes Catalina (if it’s clear). El Porto, Santa Monica, and Will Rogers are also great for sunsets.

If you’re in LA, I definitely recommend going to see a concert! There is always a great show happening somewhere. I went to The Fonda Theatre for the first time this week and I fell in love with the venue. The sound was incredible and they have a beautiful rooftop patio you can escape to in between sets.

If you’re looking for a good tea place, I love Racer Tea Bar in Redondo Beach. For coffee, Liberation Coffee House, Alcove Cafe & Bakery, and The Boy and Bear are all great options.

It’s not hard to find good food in LA either. For instance, taco stands like El Chido and Leo’s Tacos are scattered throughout Hollywood, Mid-City, and Downtown. Monte Carlo Italian Deli in Burbank is one of my favorites because it’s decently priced, the servings are generous, the food is delicious, and the people have a great energy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is no universe in which I would be who I am today without her, so it feels only natural to dedicate this shoutout to my beautiful mom, Michelle. She raised me and my brother as a single parent since my dad passed away when I was eleven. She not only gave me the confidence and motivation I needed to believe in myself (as a creative and as a woman), but she also continuously showed me the power of love and a strong mindset. I’ve always known that writing songs is what I love to do, but I was terrified to pursue a career in a passion that takes up so much of my heart. Being the brave woman she is, my mom eventually convinced me that the most logical and responsible choice would be to go for what I love, without hesitation. She’s almost always right and I am endlessly grateful for her.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyatbest_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sunlettemusic/videos

Other: Spotify (Sunlette): https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Q1JXufYqrqjgZZvAxlWkt?si=eK8RTxcRTHu0KN661K-wxA
Spotify (Emily at Best): https://open.spotify.com/artist/5KJWKP2swnoC2txEduATfF?si=soecUMEZQtmb5KW9Ra2z6w
Sunlette Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunlettemusic
Fknjoshi IG: https://www.instagram.com/fknjoshi
Liam’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/likeliam____

Image Credits
Wes Lachman
Nevada Tyler

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.