Twenty minutes after leaving the stage, Emily Steel is still buzzing. The applause has faded, the technical hiccups are already forgotten and she’s laughing about Hannah Montana. It sounds like an unusual place to begin a conversation with one of UK country’s emerging artists, but it perfectly sums up where life finds her today.
Emily Steel @ Rodeos Bar
“I’ve got two little different lives going on,” she smiles. “Best of both worlds.” It’s a phrase that comes naturally to her.
One life revolves around sport. The other revolves around music. They’re two careers that couldn’t be much further apart, yet Emily somehow manages to balance both, refusing to sacrifice one for the other. “I’ve always enjoyed singing,” she says. “I just thought one day I’d put it all together, release a couple of songs… and here we are today, which is kind of crazy.”
She pauses before adding something that becomes the recurring theme throughout our conversation. “I feel like it’s only the beginning as well. I’m so excited to see what else we can do with it. We have so many fun plans in the pipeline.”
That excitement feels genuine rather than rehearsed. Only a few weeks earlier she’d played her first headline show in London, a milestone that confirmed audiences were beginning to connect with her music. Now, she’s already looking ahead. “We had my first ever headline show a couple of weeks ago in London, but I’m from Manchester and a lot of people have asked for a hometown show,” she says. “I feel like I need to give them a homecoming gig.” It’s easy to see why.
Watching Emily perform earlier in the evening, there was a confidence that suggested someone far more experienced. Even when a few technical issues threatened to interrupt the set, she barely flinched, laughing them off before carrying on as though nothing had happened. “You’ve just got to expect the unexpected,” she says with a shrug.
It’s the sort of composure you can’t teach. Ironically, Emily admits the nerves never really disappear. “I am stressed when I’m on stage,” she laughs. “Some people have told me they can’t tell, which is good.” You certainly wouldn’t know.
Instead, what comes across is someone completely comfortable once the music begins. “I’ve always been a people’s person. I love chatting to people, so on stage I love interacting with the crowd. That’s literally who I am every day.”
Emily Steel @ Rodeos Bar
She stops for a moment before arriving at what is perhaps the defining sentence of the entire interview. “I feel really in my element.”
When I ask whether she’s finally found her groove, her answer comes without hesitation. “Yeah. From a young age I’ve always loved music and I’ve always loved singing. Sport just kind of took over my life. Now I’m in a position where I can do both, which I’m obviously very grateful for.”
Then comes the realisation. “So I feel like this is definitely my end goal in life. I just love being on stage. I didn’t know that was what I was meant to be doing until now.” It’s an unexpectedly honest moment.
Many artists talk about success in terms of streams, ticket sales or social media numbers. Emily talks about discovering where she belongs. That same honesty runs through her songwriting.
When I ask which songs mean the most to her personally, she immediately points to Life Of Mine and Dear Younger Me. “Life Of Mine was just a round-up of everything I’ve gone through in the past. It was almost like a summary of me finding my feet, finding my confidence and finding my groove.”
The second song carries even more emotional weight. “Dear Younger Me was me writing a letter to my younger self because I was really shy. I wish I’d had someone there to tell her, ‘Be confident. Be brave.'” It’s a sentiment many listeners will recognise. The confidence Emily now displays on stage wasn’t something she always possessed. It’s something she’s had to build, one performance at a time.
Emily Steel @ Rodeos Bar
Looking ahead, she’s already thinking bigger. “I’m writing loads of new stuff at the moment,” she says. “We’ve got loads of unreleased songs that we need to produce and mix. We’ve been chatting about maybe putting them together into an EP.”
And beyond that? “I definitely do want to get an album out.”
Festival stages also sit firmly on the horizon. “I do want to do festivals. They’re just such a great vibe, especially when the sun’s out. That’s what inspires me to belt out some absolute bangers.” It’s impossible not to smile as she says it.
There’s an infectious enthusiasm about Emily that feels entirely unmanufactured. She talks about songwriting, touring and performing with the excitement of someone still amazed that she gets to do any of it at all.
When our conversation turns to the artists who inspired her, the answer arrives instantly. “The Climb by Miley Cyrus,” she says, laughing. “I’m a very big Hannah Montana fan.”
The song, she explains, has stayed with her since childhood. “It’s one of those songs where people can relate to the lyrics in every kind of way. It touches a lot of people, which is so special.” Perhaps that’s exactly what Emily hopes her own music will do.
Whether she’s reflecting on finding confidence in Dear Younger Me, celebrating personal growth through Life Of Mine or looking ahead to the next chapter of her career, there is a refreshing sincerity running through everything she creates. Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels rushed. Just someone gradually becoming the artist she always hoped she could be.
With plans for more live shows, new music already taking shape and her latest single, My First Rodeo, now out, Emily Steel isn’t standing still for long. She may describe this chapter as “only the beginning.” After spending time in her company, it feels more like the moment she’s finally found where she belongs.
Emily Steel @ Rodeos Bar
Interview with Emily Steel by Henry Finnegan – July 2026. Instagram: @finneganfoto | Facebook: @finneganfoto.
Share Thing