Emma Louise on her Cairns childhood, album with Flume and moving back to Australia

Following the release of a collaborative album with Grammy award-winning artist Flume, Cairns-raised singer Emma Louise reflects on her childhood in the Far North, saying she wouldn’t be where she is today without the support of her teenage mentor. Read her story

Cairns-raised singer Emma Louise has just released an album with artist and producer Flume, titled DUMB. Picture: Logan Fields

From performing gigs around Cairns as a teenager to collaborating with one of music’s biggest names, Emma Louise Lobb has had a remarkable musical journey.

Known professionally as Emma Louise, she released the album DUMB with artist and producer Harley Streten, known as Flume, on August 22.

The 10-track album blending electronic and alternative genres is Emma Louise’s first collaborative album following three solo albums in 2013, 2016 and 2018.

Lobb said the album came about “organically” through her years-long friendship with Streten, who she lived down the road from her in both Los Angeles and the Northern Rivers region in NSW.

“I had a barbecue and (Streten) came over, and we were just like let’s get into the studio and start working together,” she said.

Emma Louise has joined forces with artist and producer Flume for a new album. Picture: Logan Fields

“We would meet up whenever we were in the same city. Then we just kept working together, and we had so many songs that we were like – maybe we should do an album.

“We approach things in a similar way so we work well together. The whole process has just been very organic and very fun.”

Lobb grew up in Cairns and begun performing at the age of 15, under the mentorship of artist Terry Doyle.

“If it wasn’t for Terry, I don’t even know where I’d be,” Lobb said.

“He was the foundation of me taking music seriously as a career. I never thought I could be a professional musician.”

Lobb said the latest album, which was mostly about a break-up, had received a “very positive” response.

“It’s definitely a break-up album, that’s for sure. It was one of my therapeutic tools,” Lobb said.

Lobb performing in Cairns Has Got Talent. Picture: File

“There’s probably a few others that are about something completely different, but it’s mostly a break-up album.

“We’re super proud of it and we just love every song, so we’re glad it has been received positively because you never know if you’re seeing it straight.”

Lobb plans to return to Australia permanently at the end of 2025, a move she said she couldn’t wait for.

“I feel like I’ve lost a part of me being in America for so long,” Lobb said.

Emma Louise launched her debut album Vs Head vs Heart to her home crowd at the Tanks. Picture: File

“When you grow up in a place like Cairns, you’re so spoiled with nature. It was just so beautiful everywhere all the time. When I came to America, I was like, ‘Damn, I had it so good’.

“I’m so excited to move back, I’m so homesick.”

Upon her return, she said she’d continue working on two albums she had in development and would be back in Cairns often.

“I still have heaps of family there, so I’ll come back all the time,” Lobb said.

Originally published as Emma Louise on her Cairns childhood, album with Flume and moving back to Australia