EJ Carey Talks About Heartbreak Anthem ‘Crime of Passion’ And Gives Her Fanbase A Name

Avril Lavigne fans, we have another pop-punk star for you to get to know!

For years music artist EJ Carey has been releasing bop after bop, but we have to say that her new single ‘Crime of Passion’ might be her best yet.

We had the pleasure of speaking with EJ about the music scene in Boston, being a country writer, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music? 

E: “It was never really a realization or question, it was a given. I was the annoying kid in school who made music her entire personality, and I ultimately went to college for music. My parents told me I have been singing since I was an infant, always making little melodies regardless of who was in the room. My mom, who just passed away and was my biggest fan, got me into voice lessons at age 5 and into the studio at age 9 to really hone the craft I wanted to master so badly.  There was no stopping me from immersing myself in the music world.”

Tell us more about your amazing new single ‘Crime of Passion’. 

E: “I wrote “Crime of Passion” with the title in mind. I wanted to encapsulate the rage and betrayal that comes with the experience of discovering infidelity in the narrative of the story, fully forming a character that listeners could relate to. I purposely returned to my pop-punk roots and took a lot of influence from Avril Lavigne’s Love Sux album, as well as Paramore’s classic album RIOT to really drive home the chaotic heartbreak and ensuing vengeance of being cheated on.”

How would you personally describe the music scene in Boston? 

E: “The Boston music scene is very kind and accepting of all genres and levels of experience. There’s no one genre that supersedes another, but I will say that country music is much more popular here than you’d expect. You can absolutely be a gigging artist in Boston and the Greater Boston Area; there are plenty of bars/restaurants/venues that always need bands and solo artists to play. It’s similar to other music scenes in that the more friends you make, the more opportunities you will find. Breaking into the rock or punk scene here is a bit more difficult like it is in any other city, and it’s still pretty male-dominant. Persistence is definitely key. I’ve built a pretty big community with New England Musicians that I am so incredibly thankful for, and without whom I would not be able to continue to make music.”

How do you think you’ve grown both as a person and a music artist from your ‘Loaded Question’ album to your ‘Outlier’ EP to now?

E: “Whoa! Throwback! I started writing Loaded Question when I was 16, and it came out when I was 22. The overarching themes are that of what an adolescent and young adult girl can articulate – unrequited love, tempestuous emotion, and general heartbreak. LQ was a very genre experimental album – there are two pop-punk songs, several 2000s style singer-songwriter adventures, a country ballad, and a very heavy early-aughts pop rock influence (think Vanessa Carlton, Sara Barielles, Rascal Flatts, Motion City Soundtrack – a very varied list). Outlier was my second collection of genre experiments, but more pointed to pop punk and pop country.

My song “Rising Tides, Crashing Skies” is a half-and-half blend of early Taylor Swift/Kelsea Ballerini and Paramore-level intricate guitars and edge, and that vibe continues throughout all five songs. Pop punk and pop country are very similar, when you think about it! Country music influences my writing style, in that I love a clear storyline, but pop punk is in my heart and is the perfect arena for expressing unrefined emotions. “Crime of Passion” and the songs I have coming up are full-on certified pop punk, but it’s evident (at least to me) that I am a country writer.”

We think that you need to come up with a name for your loyal fanbase! Any ideas come to mind? 

E: “Oh wow! I’ve never thought about this. Maybe “criminals” for Crime of Passion? That’s probably a little inappropriate. EJ’s Criminals. Final answer.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey? 

E: “All of my social media handles are @ejcareymusic, I also have an email newsletter you can sign up for on my linktree (linktr.ee/ejcareymusic) and my website www.ejcareymusic.com!”

Make sure to stream ‘Crime of Passion’, available now on all music platforms!

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.