Jack Emery Interview: “Paper Plane” Frŷnn and Purified Records
Jack Emery returns to Purified Records with “Paper Plane,” a cinematic collaboration with acclaimed singer-songwriter Frýnn that brings together delicate vocals, deep melodic textures and a powerful club-focused production.
The single follows Emery’s recent Purified release “Running” featuring MØØNE and continues the sound he has been developing across the melodic house and techno space: emotionally charged, atmospheric and built with enough weight to translate onto large sound systems.
Frýnn brings an equally established identity to the collaboration. Her distinctive voice has already appeared on releases with artists including CamelPhat, Paradoks, Jono Stephenson, Mathame and Kevin de Vries, making “Paper Plane” a natural meeting point between her cinematic vocal approach and Emery’s increasingly recognizable production style.
For Emery, the record is built around contrast: strength and vulnerability, intimacy and scale, headphone listening and the physical impact of a dancefloor.
In this interview, Jack Emery opens up about the emotional contrast behind “Paper Plane,” working with Frýnn, the production details that define the track, testing music on large sound systems and his ongoing relationship with Purified Records.
Jack Emery on “Paper Plane”
What was the first emotion behind “Paper Plane”?
The first emotion was really this feeling of something being powerful but fragile at the same time. That contrast became a big part of the track for me. I wanted the production to feel deep and expansive while still having a delicate emotional quality through the vocal and melodies. That balance between strength and vulnerability is something I really connect with in music.
What kind of journey did you want “Paper Plane” to take the listener on?
I wanted it to feel like a journey through different emotional spaces. There are moments that feel more intimate and vulnerable and then other sections that feature a deeper bass and more
powerful production. I wanted it to work both as something you could really listen to and get lost in, but also have enough movement and energy to translate to the dancefloor.
Frýnn’s voice has such a cinematic quality, what did it unlock in the production?
Frýnn’s voice immediately gave the track an emotional direction. There’s something really delicate about her tone but it still has so much depth, and that gave me a lot of room to build
around it. I could create these bigger atmospheric moments while still keeping the vocal very
intimate. A lot of the basses, synths and background textures were really designed to support
the emotion that was already there in her voice.
When you build an emotional track, do you start from melody, atmosphere, or a specific memory?
I usually start from a vibe that I’m feeling musically and either have a vocal to work around and match the emotional energy, or I’m trying to create a central theme for the track through a
melody. I really experiment with my chords to not just stick with typical chord writing but use
inversions or different chord tricks to add interest.
What’s the most “Jack Emery” detail inside this release?
The interaction between the LFO chords before the 1st drop and the deep, powerful bassline in
the drop. I love movement in synths so it was so much fun creating an unexpected moment
there.
You’ve played major stages across the US, has touring changed the way you produce music?
I’ve had the amazing opportunity to play unreleased as well as released tracks out on big sound systems and I pay as much attention as I can to how people react to them in a live setting. Something that sounds subtle in the studio can become a huge moment on a dancefloor, while other elements that sound great in headphones might not translate the same way. I’m constantly testing new music in my sets, and those experiences definitely influence what I go back and change in the studio. It’s become a really important part of my production process.
What makes a track feel ready for Purified Records?
Purified is naturally just such a great fit for my sound because I have more emotional tracks as
well as more energetic, driving tracks and the label embraces both. I feel I have the creative
freedom to write music that comes from within and is true to what I enjoy producing. If I stay true to who I am as an artist and what I love making it’s usually ready for the label.
Outside of music, what helps you reset when life gets too intense?
I play a lot of golf in the summer which helps me get outside of the studio and get some steps
in. I also love to scuba dive, ski, and spend time with my family and dogs in San Diego. My new pre-show routine now is actually going for a run in a park or some kind of nature which helps with the intensity of performing and traveling.
What’s one habit you have in the studio that people might find funny or unexpected?
I prefer to dress like I’m about to perform a live set at a club when I have studio sessions now,
even when I’m alone in the comfort of my home. I like to get into the mood of what I dress like
and look like in a live club environment which helps me get in the zone for writing music.
If “Paper Plane” could carry one message to the listener, what would it be?
I think it would be to embrace the contrast between strength and vulnerability. You can have
something that feels powerful and energetic while still being emotional and fragile underneath. I hope people can connect with that feeling in their own way, whether they’re listening with headphones, driving, or hearing it on a dancefloor.
The “Paper Plane” Artwork
As all releases on Purified Records, the visual identity also carries an environmental story. The artwork for “Paper Plane” features a shark emerging from the depths of the ocean, photographed by Kelsey Williamson. Sharks play an important role as apex predators, helping regulate marine food webs, support healthy prey populations and contribute to the balance of ocean ecosystems. The release also highlights the work of organizations such as Shark Trust, which focuses on shark conservation and protecting the marine ecosystems that depend on them. Williamson is an adventurer, photographer and founder of Wander Out Expeditions, with work centered around remote landscapes, travel and underwater environments. Her image gives “Paper Plane” a visual counterpart that mirrors the music itself: powerful, elegant and suspended somewhere between movement and stillness.
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