Emika Love Reminds Us That It’s A "Bad Day Not Life": Interview
“You get to pick your battles, but it’s a must to fight all of them.” - “Bad Day Not Life”
Emika Love’s newest release is a mantra that we all need to keep pushing forward after a bad day. The funky summertime tune that grabs influences from pop, R&B, and dancehall, makes you want to forget the fight you had with your friend or that your weekend will start later because your boss asks you to work late. The singer-songwriter reminds us that one thing is for certain: that life goes on. The Sacramento-bred musician was inspired to write “Bad Day Not Life” by a phrase that she uses in her everyday life.
“‘It’s just a bad day not life Emika, just a bad day,’” Love said. “When you have a bad day you just feel like you're in a hamster wheel and you just keep spinning but not getting anywhere and your head is spinning with it. Sometimes you just are like, “Why right now, why me,” but you have to remember what is meant for you is for you. You're supposed to go through bad days and you have to keep telling yourself everything is okay. So basically, this saying helped me, so I wanted to make it into a song so anyone else having a bad day can put this song on and feel the comfort that it’s going to be okay. You can get through everything and remember it’s just a ‘Bad Day Not Life.’”
“You get to pick your battles, but it’s a must to fight all of them,” the singer croons in the song reminding us all that it’s going to be okay.
The writing process for “Bad Day Not Life” came from a personal experience as the California native used it to fuel her emotions into words. Surprisingly so, she told us that it all went down in the bathroom.
“So my writing process for this song was actually in a bathroom sink. I was looking at myself in the mirror, I was having a bad day (I know, super dramatic) and everything was just flowing,” the singer explained. “I had saved the beat a while before and I was looking for one in this moment to write to. Once I reheard this beat and how it made me feel so uplifting, I knew this was one I wanted others to hear to help them snap out of it and cheer them up like it did when I was writing it.”
If you’ve been keeping up with Emika Love (or just now catching on), the singer revealed how she knew “Bad Day Not Life” was the “one.”
“I would say “Bad Day Not Life” is pretty different from my other releases on some level. When I made this song, I knew it was going to be the one. The feeling I got listening to this song was such an empowered feeling. Once I knew it had a positive effect on my life the way it did, I had to share it. This song is more of an upbeat summertime feel. This is my first “pop pop” song as well. My other releases are more R&B, soul, and Dancehall,” she explained.
While we’ve been enjoying “Bad Day Not Life” Emika Love teased that there will be more where that came from. “Bad Day Not Life” will be a part of a bigger project,” Love quipped. “I don’t want to say too much, but let’s say it may not be just about music.”
Listen to “Bad Day Not Life” below and read our full conversation with Emika Love after:
LOWKEY R&B: Where are you from?
EMIKA LOVE: I’m from Sacramento, California. 916!
LOWKEY R&B: When did you start pursuing music?
EMIKA LOVE: I started pursuing music about a year and some change ago.
LOWKEY R&B: Who are some artists that you grew up listening to?
EMIKA LOVE: Some artists I grew up listening to were Fergie, Goapele, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Michael Jackson, and Shakira
LOWKEY R&B: Has music been something that you’ve always wanted to do?
EMIKA LOVE: Funny enough, music was actually not something I’ve always wanted to do. I fell in love with it over the process of life and experiences. It really came out of the blue.
LOWKEY R&B: Let’s talk about your new single “Bad Day Not Life,” which has a very positive mantra, what was your inspiration behind this track?
EMIKA LOVE: The song “Bad Day Not Life” came upon a series of bad days. When it was raining, it was pouring, and I would tell myself “It’s just a bad day not life Emika, just a bad day.” When you have a bad day you just feel like you're in a hamster wheel and you just keep spinning but not getting anywhere and your head is spinning with it. Sometimes you just are like, “Why right now, why me,” but you have to remember what is meant for you is for you. You're supposed to go through bad days and you have to keep telling yourself everything is okay. So basically, this saying helped me, so I wanted to make it into a song so anyone else having a bad day can put this song on and feel the comfort that it’s going to be okay. You can get through everything and remember it’s just a “Bad Day Not Life.”
LOWKEY R&B: What was the writing/production process behind this track?
EMIKA LOVE: My writing process for this song was actually in a bathroom sink. I was looking at myself in the mirror, I was having a bad day (I know, super dramatic) and everything was just flowing. I had saved the beat a while before and I was looking for one in this moment to write to. Once I reheard this beat and how it made me feel so uplifting, I knew this was one I wanted others to hear to help them snap out of it and cheer them up like it did when I was writing it.
LOWKEY R&B: How is “Bad Day Not Life,” different from your previous releases?
EMIKA LOVE: I would say “Bad Day Not Life” is pretty different from my other releases on some level. When I made this song, I knew it was going to be the one. The feeling I got listening to this song was such an empowered feeling. Once I knew it had a positive effect on my life the way it did, I had to share it. This song is more of an upbeat summertime feel. This is my first “pop pop” song as well. My other releases are more R&B, soul, and Dancehall.
LOWKEY R&B: In “Bad Day Not Life,” you also rap a little, is that something that you want to combine in future releases?
EMIKA LOVE: Actually, I have a few songs I’m on and I rap. I would say yes, definitely staying versatile whenever I feel in that mode. There is a certain mode I hit when I do rap. I guess it’s safe to say you will just have to catch me when you catch me.
LOWKEY R&B: Will “Bad Day Not Life,” also have a music video? If so, what is the vibe for the visual?
EMIKA LOVE: The vibe for the visual is a delight, a summertime vibe, with a taste of turning negatives into positives.
LOWKEY R&B: Will “Bad Day Not Life,” be a part of a bigger project or a standalone single?
EMIKA LOVE: “Bad Day Not Life” will be a part of a bigger project. I don’t want to say too much, but let’s say it may not be just about music.
LOWKEY R&B: Who are some artists that you would want to collab with in the future?
EMIKA LOVE: Some future artists I’d like to collab with are Taylor Swift, J. Cole, Ed Sheeran, and Eminem
LOWKEY R&B: Where can everyone go to follow your music?
EMIKA LOVE: You can follow my Instagram, and Twitter @eemikalove then my Facebook and all music platforms and YouTube @Emika Love and TikTok @emikalovee.