Carly Rae Jepsen revitalized her career and earned her status as a definitive indie darling with the release of her 2015 synth-pop masterpiece ‘Emotion’. Moving away from the bubblegum pop of her previous work, she sought a more mature and sophisticated sound inspired by the heart-on-your-sleeve romance of the 1980s. This vibrant project became a massive critical success and garnered a passionate cult following, eventually ranking among the greatest albums of the 21st century by 2025. The record serves as a perfect midway point between pure pop escapism and alternative experimentation, featuring collaborations with elite creators like Sia and Dev Hynes. Every track on this project reflects a daring spirit of creative control and a yearning for genuine intimacy that continues to resonate a decade later. Witnessing the transition from a global radio phenomenon to a celebrated artistic pioneer is a highlight for any pop enthusiast.
The Scrapped Indie Folk Rebellion
While assuming the lead role in Broadway’s ‘Cinderella’ in New York, Jepsen recorded an entire indie-folk album as a personal act of rebellion against the pressure to match her past commercial success. She described the music as “really weird” and eventually scrapped the project after realizing she was writing to prove a point rather than from a place of passion. This creative detour provided the necessary perspective to pivot toward the 1980s emotional pop direction that would eventually define ‘Emotion’.
Prince And Cyndi Lauper Morning Runs
The sonic blueprint for the album was heavily influenced by Jepsen’s morning runs through New York City before her Broadway rehearsals. She found herself infatuated with old-school records from Prince, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper, admiring the potent and heart-wrenching honesty of their lyrics. Jepsen specifically wanted to capture that 1980s fantasy and romance where everyone’s feelings were right there on their sleeves. This inspiration led to the inclusion of “earthier textures” and new wave influences across the finalized tracklist.
Two Hundred And Fifty Written Songs
To find the perfect sixteen-track sequence for the official release, Jepsen and her team composed a staggering 250 songs over a period of several years. She worked past every deadline to ensure the quality of the project, even finishing the final touches right before the initial Japan launch. This massive pool of material also led to the release of ‘Emotion: Side B’, an EP featuring eight fan-favorite songs that were cut from the original project.
Strawberry Vaping And Gritty Vocals
During a late-night session at four in the morning for the synth-pop ballad “Your Type”, Jepsen became hooked on strawberry-flavored nicotine-free vapes provided by producers Rami Yacoub and Carl Falk. She admitted that the “gritty” and “smokier” quality of her vocals on the track was a direct result of vaping throughout the week of recording. The pair liked the textured performance so much that they abandoned plans to re-record the parts when her voice was more rested.
The Misheard Warm Blood Hook
The experimental track “Warm Blood” was produced by Rostam Batmanglij, who misheard Jepsen’s original vocal hook “warm love feels good” as “warm blood.” Both artists immediately preferred the physical and visceral connotation of the word “blood” over the more abstract “love,” feeling it better represented the intimacy they were trying to capture. The song became a standout for its distorted vocal cuts and a low-pitched performance that Jepsen recorded while her voice was “shot” from previous sessions.