Edie Yvonne Connects With Us About Her Fiercely Honest New Single "Look Me in the Eye" and What’s Next
- STAFF
- Sep 22
- 7 min read
By: Staff
“Look Me in the Eye” is a breathtaking masterpiece that showcases Edie Yvonne’s raw vulnerability and unmatched talent.
A powerful new single has arrived, and it’s shaking up everything you thought you knew about indie music. The rising artist behind it, Edie Yvonne, is back with “Look Me in the Eye,” a track that peels back the layers of vulnerability to deliver something raw and unapologetic. At just 17 years old, Edie is proving she has more than enough power in her voice to keep us on the edge of our seats, and this latest release signals a dramatic shift in her sound.
The stripped-back, haunting beauty of “Look Me in the Eye” marks a significant turning point in Edie’s musical evolution. The song captures a fierce and intimate honesty, drawing from deep wells of emotion that listeners may find impossible to ignore. It’s a declaration. A challenge. A cathartic release. As the opening track of her forthcoming EP, it introduces a new chapter that could redefine how we experience indie artistry in 2023.
We spoke with Edie about this bold new direction, and her insights into the writing process, vulnerability, and what it means to grow up in today’s world are nothing short of fascinating. From the power of emotional truth to navigating the fine line between self-expression and self-protection, Edie opens up about everything that shaped this pivotal moment in her career. With each answer, she takes us deeper into her world, revealing the layers behind the music and the powerful force she’s becoming.
Trust us, you won’t want to miss this. The conversation is as raw and revealing as the music itself.
Read on to get an inside look at Edie Yvonne’s journey, and discover what lies ahead for this extraordinary young talent.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Edie Yvonne, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. As some of your biggest fans, everyone here at Cage Riot loved "Look Me in the Eye." The powerful, stripped-back opening, your ability to layer harmonies, and those almost stoic, harrowing vocals completely blew us away. It showed a side of you we hadn’t seen before. What’s your personal musical journey been like? Did you gradually evolve into your professional career, or was there a specific moment or event that sparked it all at once?
EY: That means so, so much. I’ve been writing and recording since I was 13-14 years old, and in that time I’ve been able to experiment with my sound, lyricism, and storytelling. My intuition is guiding the direction at this point. Things have shifted a bit in the studio recently. It is just me and my producer Nicky Swedin right now. And we’ve really been able to experiment with the new tracks. I have a space to trust my own instincts which is such an amazing feeling when you can go with your gut. This summer I also had the gift of being a part of the Grammy Museum Songwriting Session. I was inspired by so much talent in the room and after our last day of the program, I came home and wrote “Look Me in the Eye”. My musical journey has evolved to this point of acute personal storytelling. I’ve learned so much through intimate writing time, in-studio collaboration, live performance and audience interaction.
Q. "Look Me in the Eye" is such a bold title, it feels like a fearless declaration. What’s the story behind the title, and how it represents the song and its deeper meaning?
EY: “Look Me in the Eye” started with a note I wrote to myself at the beginning of summer when I noticed more brightly-colored flowers everywhere. To me, it was a phenomenal sign of change but when I brought it up to others, no one really seemed to care - which is literally in the lyrics “Why does no one seem to care that the flowers are blooming?” After the Grammy Museum Songwriting Session, I looked back at the note and started writing about how it can be hard to stay present and connected and notice the little things. I think it’s very easy for us all to get caught up in our own heads and detach especially with evolving technology. I felt the title “Look Me in the Eye” perfectly spoke to this feeling of disconnection from one another and an urgent need and desire for connection. “Look Me in the Eye” is more than a request, it’s confrontational.
Q. You’ve said this song represents a new direction for you, and we love it, it feels like a standout moment. What was it that made you want to shift gears musically and explore this new side of yourself?
EY: I love pop music. But I have been thinking a lot about honing in on a sound as I’m getting a bit older. I’m really inspired by Alanis Morissette, Joan Baez, and Jeff Buckley. In terms of direction, I’m hoping to lean more into indie music. As for my lyricism, I usually write about things going on in my own life which at times can feel like sad girl song on repeat. With “Look Me in the Eye”, I tried to look outside of myself and around me to find inspiration.
Q. Since “Look Me in the Eye” speaks to a lot of emotional complexity, does it ever feel difficult to reveal so much of yourself in such a comment- and judgment-driven world? Or do you find it liberating to express that level of vulnerability through your music?
EY: It feels really natural and not like a choice. I assume if I’m feeling something it must resonate with somebody else as well. And I’m learning that the more vulnerable and honest I am in the music, the less self-conscious I become. Especially when performing, it becomes way easier to open up. I feel less performative or like a character, and more like myself.
Q. How does making music make you feel? Since this song comes from such real emotion, does performing it help heal the feelings that inspired it, or do those painful feelings resurface when you sing it live?
EY: Storytelling is super healing for me. I’ve also been doing a mellow cover of “Creep” by Radiohead recently and it is the song that really seems to pull a lot of emotion out of me.
Q. A lot of artists talk about the healing power of songwriting. Is this song a way for you to process your emotions, or is it more about sharing your truth with others.
EY: Songwriting for me is a necessity and a place to put all of the stuff and feelings. It’s easy for me to dwell in my own life experiences but sometimes I discover more about myself when creating a story not rooted in my own narrative. It challenges me as a storyteller.
Q. When you sing a line like “Look me in the eye,” it almost feels like a challenge. What do you want your listeners to experience when they hear that line? Is it about your pain, or are you empowering them to face their own truths?
EY: It is a provocation. The line “Look me in the eye” connects to some of my own personal pains about acceptance and judgement. But I hope listeners hear and feel something that sparks their own experience. Maybe challenging them to look up from time to time and observe what or who is around them.
Q. It’s crazy to think you’re only 16 and already diving into such deep themes. What’s one thing you wish people understood better about what it’s really like to be a teenager today, in a world that seems so different from what anyone before you has experienced?
EY: The impact of how technology affects teenagers brain chemistry and emotions as our minds are developing. Growing up with new technology and social media is Surreal and has sparked many questions for me, which creeps into the writing.
Q. Since “Look Me in the Eye” marks a new chapter, how does it connect to the rest of your upcoming EP? Can we expect to see more of this bold side of you, or is there a twist waiting for us? Don’t hold back, share the details!
EY: I’m currently recording the second song on the EP in the studio called Nightmare. This song has twist in terms of its structure and lyricism but continues to lead with vulnerability. My favorite lyrics are, “ I hate it when you laugh, ‘cause it’s a laugh track…” always circling back to searching for truth and honesty.
Q. What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve discovered about yourself through the songwriting process, especially with this track?
EY: It has solidified the sound, tone, and type of stories I want to continue writing. The previous trio of songs Epitome, Burn and I Might helped with this pivot.
Q. When you listen to “Look Me in the Eye” now, does it feel like a reflection of who you are right at this moment, or does it feel more like a message to your future self?
EY: Every song I write feels very true to the moment it was written, which is why I’m so grateful to have recorded songs when I was 14-15 and captured that chapter in my life. I will never sound that way again or think in those terms and it is memorialized.
Q. The honesty in your music feels incredibly powerful. Has anyone you trust ever crossed a boundary and used the personal things you share in your music against you?
EY: My friends and family are beyond supportive. Occasionally I’ll have friends or peers that are curious about who or what certain songs are about, literally, but everyone tends to respect my boundaries and understands that stories I wrote a year ago aren’t always directly linked to what’s going on in my life right now.
Q. With this new direction in your sound, do you feel a sense of freedom adding this to your artistic toolkit, or does it feel more like a responsibility to express even more of yourself in your work?
EY: I’m very excited for my future direction of writing, recording, and live performance. But the raw, emotional storytelling seems to have struck a chord and I will continue to lean into that.
Q. Edie Yvonne, we can’t thank you enough for sharing these intimate details with us! So, what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be most excited about? We’d love to hear the news directly from you!
EY: My band LED, a pop punk trio including Layne Olivia and Lockett Pentz, will be playing at Licorice Pizza on October 11 and Aviator Nation Dreamland on November 8th!
Edie Yvonne, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Edie Yvonne’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
