Emily Burns steps confidently into a new era of creative control this week with the release of her new single, ‘Woodwork’ – a move that marks a new chapter for the London-based alt-pop artist.
The song serves as Burns’ first fully independent release and marks a defining moment in “Is it just me?” singer next phase. Driven by powerful drums, glossy synth lines and flashes of electric guitar, ‘Woodwork’ landing with a sharp yet understated sense of defiance.
At its core, the track plays out as a cathartic response to opportunism—that all-too-familiar moment when people are resurrected just as fortunes begin to shift. Burns leans into that frustration with a cool, confident edge that turns it into a bold pop statement. Equal parts playful and cutting, the song delivers its message with a knowing smile: a gleeful middle finger to those who only come shouting when the spotlight returns.
Commenting on the all-too-familiar human behavior that inspired the single, Emily says: “There’s a certain irony in how people crawl out of the woodwork when life starts moving in the right direction. I wrote it after I realized I was dependent on someone who couldn’t show up consistently. It feels playful on the surface, but underneath it’s actually patterns of not recognizing them and the ultimate decision… anymore.”
Watch the official music video – directed by Jacob Attwooll – for ‘Woodwork’ below:
Celebrated for her instinctive ability to create honest, emotionally raw indie pop, Emily Burns has built a catalog rooted in unfiltered storytelling. Her songs are laced with diary lyrics, heartfelt melodies and earworm choruses, each unfolding like a page torn from a personal diary.
It is this candid approach that places the human experience at the center of her music – capturing the small, messy and deeply relatable moments of everyday life, from quiet self-doubt to sudden bursts of clarity. The result is a work that feels both intimate and universal, inviting listeners to find parts of their own history in her songs.
Born in Scotland and raised in Rugby, Emily Burns began writing songs at a young age before moving to London at 18 to pursue music full-time. Early releases quickly found an audience, led by the breakout single “Is it just me?”which has since amassed more than 150 million streams.
Her debut album “Die Happy” further cemented her status as one of the UK’s most distinctive emerging pop voices, drawing sustained streaming momentum and strong online support. Since then, Burns has continued to steadily grow his fan base, reaching more than 340,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
After years of releasing music through record labels, including major partnerships, Emily made the decision to enter 2026 as a fully independent artist, with a renewed sense of clarity and control.
‘Woodwork’ available to download/stream here
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