After a breakout year cementing her place as one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new pop voices, 18 year old, Rockquest winning Emerson enters 2026 with an exciting new sound, as well as a range of new collaborations.
In the past year, Emerson has consistently translated momentum into meaningful industry milestones, completing two National tours and performing on major stages including IMNZ’s Going Global Showcase and NZ On Air’s showcase series, before closing out the year at Rhythm and Vines – her first major festival appearance. Alongside live success, she has continued to build strong creative and professional relationships across Aotearoa and Australia.
As a songwriter, Emerson has collaborated with a range of artists and producers both at home and abroad. Most notably, she was selected for Parachute Studios’ Song Week curated by Alice Ivy, collaborating with iconic artists Gin Wigmore and Ladyhawke – both songs will be out later this year. She has also spent time writing and producing work in Melbourne and Sydney through Unified Music Group and Mushroom Music Publishing, further expanding her sound and international network.
Her 2025 releases marked a significant leap forward, with five singles charting on the NZ Hot 20. Breakout track You Really Must Hate Me! surpassed 120,000 Spotify streams, earned coverage from Beats Per Minute (US) and Fresh Finds Pop (Global). Follow-up releases continued the streak across Spotify and Apple Music editorials, alongside national radio support for Tip of My Tongue and Show U Off.
Heading into 2026, Emerson’s digital presence has accelerated rapidly, with significant month-on-month growth and a surge in audience engagement across key platforms. With a growing catalogue, proven chart traction, and a clear creative vision, Emerson emerges as an artist firmly on the rise.
