Returning to Purified Records after his ‘Halo’ EP earlier this year, Jack Emery teams up with rising talent Harmonee for their first-ever collaboration, ‘When I’m With You’. Blending Jack’s signature melodic finesse with Harmonee’s fresh perspective, the track marks a compelling milestone for both artists — and an exciting debut for Harmonee on the label.
Unfolding with grace and emotional clarity, ‘When I’m With You’ is an ethereal, introspective cut that pairs smooth chord progressions and warm, organic instrumentation with a soothing vocal sample that drifts gently throughout. Discover more about this release in the interview below!
What’s one non-musical habit or ritual that helps you get into the right creative headspace before working on a track?
Jack Emery: I like to grab a caffeinated drink like a Dr Pepper or a coffee and maybe a snack so I’m prepared for however long I may be in the studio. I like to really create a space for me to focus and lock in to allow the creativity to flow.
Harmonee: Most of my studio sessions start mid-morning, right after I’ve had my breakfast and have a clear head. There’s nothing quite like a coffee protein shake and a raspberry poptart to get you ready for some music 😅.
You’ve described the track as introspective and atmospheric — what does “When I’m With You” personally represent for you beyond the sound itself?
Jack Emery: For me, When I’m With You is about blending the emotional and introspective vocals and lyrics with an epic and energetic instrumental. So beyond the sound I’d say it represents feelings of vulnerability and emotion while also being supported by an epic dance atmosphere.
Harmonee: “When I’m With You” is really about emotional safety and connection with the person you love most. There’s this powerful feeling in being with someone who sees you so clearly and loves you as you are.
Beyond that, I’d say this track represents a big moment of growth for my artistry. I’ve spent a lot of time refining my sound and finding the style that’s right for the Harmonee project, and this track feels like a creative turning point.
You’ve both got strong melodic instincts — were there any moments where you had to push each other creatively or compromise on a direction?
Jack Emery: We definitely both came to this track with several strong ideas and potential melodic directions to go down. For example, we actually had a few different arps to choose from for the second drop with different melodies. After testing them out we landed on a creative approach of blending both layers into the track and having them play off each other at different moments in the track. I think we both understand that less is more in music production so sometimes simplifying or getting creative can be very beneficial.
Harmonee: I’m not really sure there was ever really a moment of “compromise” between us, where we felt like one of us was giving something up for the other. Like Jack said, we both came with strong ideas but also had similar perspectives on what makes for a good track. Even when our independent ideas weren’t quite in-line with each other, we would work together to find that sweet spot where both of our ideas could shine, for the sake of making the track better. I think that’s why the track feels so cohesive yet rich – it’s a true blend of our strengths and styles.
If the track were a visual scene — like a place, time of day, or film mood — how would you each describe it?
Jack Emery: I’d say it could be the visual of standing atop a mountain with an epic view of the landscape. I think the visual would be awe-inspiring like reaching the top of the mountain and looking down on all you’ve accomplished to get to that point in the climb.
Harmonee: When I lived in LA, my wife and I would go on hikes through the Santa Monica mountains, and we’d often find ourselves completely alone, looking over miles and miles of mountains and oceanside cliffs. There was something special about those moments – this sense of vastness, like we were part of something bigger than ourselves, yet we shared this deeply personal connection. This song takes me back to those moments – suspended in time, powerful, honest, and larger-than-life.
What piece of gear, plugin, or software was essential in shaping the sound of this track?
Jack Emery: Diva was essential in the shaping of the massive bass that hits in the drops. I love using Diva for the analog feel it has and it can add some nice thick synths and basses to your tracks. Diva is widely used especially in melodic house and techno genres by some of the biggest artists for good reason and although it’s not quite as user-friendly as Serum is in my opinion, even the initial preset within the synth has an impressive and warm sound. I like using Diva for basses, leads, arps, and atmospheres.
Who were you listening to while working on this single, and did any outside music creep in as influence?
Harmonee: Oh absolutely – I was regularly listening to a mix of artists who do a great job of balancing emotion with upbeat production: Nora en Pure, Lane 8, Rüfüs Du Sol, Ben Böhmer, and CRi. Outside of electronic music, I absolutely love Hans Zimmer’s work (I listen to the Interstellar soundtrack at least once a month).
These artists all have this awesome ability to create music that feels both massive and inspiring, yet personal and deep – which resonated with where Jack and I wanted to go with this track. Those influences definitely crept in a little. It wasn’t ever about mimicking anyone, but about capturing a similar sense of emotional gravity while staying true to our own voices.
Do you have a personal benchmark for when a track is “done,” or is it more about trusting your instinct in the moment?
Jack Emery: That’s a great question and something I have pondered throughout my career as an artist. I think there comes a point when you’ve put so many dedicated hours into a track, you’ve compiled multiple versions, and incorporated valuable feedback; at this point once you’ve put in the hard work and you trust how the final track sounds in different sound systems (speakers, phone, car, air pods, etc) it’s time to call it “done”. In the past I’ve sat on tracks for many months because maybe one or two samples weren’t perfect but I think over time I’ve realized the importance of putting more music out into the world on a consistent basis versus perfecting every sample.
Harmonee: Honestly, this is something that has evolved over time and is still changing to this day. I remember earlier in my production years, I’d get stuck chasing perfection – tweaking small details until I was sleep deprived each night. The track would be “done” about 20 different times before I finally found “perfection” – and in retrospect those ideas were far from perfect as I was focused more on “technical production” than writing.
Over time, I learned to trust my instinct, rely on emotional writing, and produce more frequently in a flow state where I’m chasing feelings rather than details. Now, if I can listen to the track start-to-finish and still feel something every single time, that’s when I know it’s done.
If fans only remember one thing about “When I’m With You” a year from now, what do you hope it is?
Jack Emery: I hope this track stands the test of time and is remembered for sounding unique and true to my sound and Harmonee’s sound. At this point in my journey as an artist, I’m honing in on a specific sound and certain recognizable elements that I include in each track and I think this track is a great example of what’s to come in the Jack Emery sound. I think in today’s music world it’s sometimes tempting to chase trends but I hope this track is remembered for being unique and fresh.
Harmonee: Maya Angelou said it best – “…people will never forget how you made them feel”.
Honestly I don’t care if listeners can’t remember a single note, lyric, or rhythm from “When I’m With You”. I don’t even care if they remember who wrote it. I just want them to remember a feeling – a moment in time where they felt more connected with someone because of this song. If a year from now, this song still brings you back to that feeling – even if just for a few minutes – then it’s done everything it needs to do.
