Photo Credit: Evan Bigelow

Being young. A gift and a curse all at the same time. For you have your whole life ahead of you but when it comes to your points of view, they’re often pushed aside as people think you have nothing to base your ideas on; no experience. Well, people should rethink that because while she may be a young star on the rise, Emily Lind is as wise as a grandmother sitting on her porch waiting to give advice. From her mantra I’ve used in my own life to the pressure we place upon ourselves, we talked to the ‘Doctor Sleep’ star about her upcoming release, Bob Dylan, and anticipated wrinkles.

Kendra: Coming from a family of thespians, you followed the path and have done great things thus far in the world of acting but what made you want to take a few steps in a new direction and release music.

Emily Lind: I think it was the realization that I have the platform to help people feel less alone. I would be lost in a world without music, and I owe so much to the musicians who (without even knowing) have gotten me through all the ups and downs that life has thrown my way. So, even though it’s a bit terrifying to release this very personal side of me into the world, I feel it’s well worth it if it has the potential to somehow help someone else.

Kendra: A running theme I’ve noticed in music lately is honesty. Many artists are no longer hiding behind shallow pop songs, and are delivering melodic reality. Something you’re doing with “Castles.” A song that captures something we are victims of and that’s pressuring ourselves. Do you feel this is something that has gotten worse in recent years? The self-pressure? If so, why?

Emily Lind: From what I’ve seen, we live in a generation that thrives on self-destruction.
Social media is like a ladder that leads nowhere. Yet, we still climb…When I wrote “Castles,” I was in a place that I needed to hear it. I needed someone to tell me to let go of the unneeded pressure I was forcing myself to live up to expectation. It’s important for the youth of today to try and not get too caught up in this very materialistic generation we live in, and to think about the person we would be if there wasn’t the need to fit a mold.

Kendra: Your mantra, “flow not force,” I used it this weekend talking to my fiance about his work. When did those three helpful words come to mind and when have they helped you most in the past year?

Emily Lind: Years ago I was at this sound bath (if you don’t know what that is, it’s not as weird as it sounds, I promise) and this beautiful woman I think her name was Ambi, said it in response to something I was worried about. It automatically gave me this sense of calm, and so I’ve carried it with ever since.

Kendra: Someone you came up loving is Bob Dylan and we just learned his life is coming to theaters by way of Timothée Chalamet. So if you could get on the soundtrack covering one of Dylan’s best, which would it be and why?

Emily Lind: Funny story, my first car didn’t have Bluetooth or an aux or any of that but it had a cassette player. I remember once I did a road trip from LA to New Mexico and the radio was static the whole way there, but I had this one Dylan album ‘The Freewheelin’’ on cassette, so I put it on and just listened on repeat for hours and hours. It’s been my favorite album by Dylan ever since. But! I can’t pick a favorite that is too hard. ‘Bob Dylan’s Dream’ has been on repeat a lot lately though.

Kendra: From your Instagram. Your bio simply says, “can’t wait to get wrinkles.” Which some wouldn’t agree with because of a fear of getting older. What about aging excites you?

Emily Lind: I was a weird little kid. I didn’t care too much about being cool or pretty or having lots of friends, I wanted to be wise, as wise as my grandmother. I was so jealous of elderly people because they always had an answer or a solution and things rarely made them upset, they were content. I think there is so much beauty in wrinkles, they stand for life that’s been well lived, lessons that have been learned. Someone once said, ”Don’t retouch my wrinkles, It took me so long to earn them.” And that stuck with me forever.

Kendra: Lastly, you’re working on an album – what’s next for you? Touring?

Emily Lind: So much is coming in the near future. I just finished filming a couple of projects that I’m stoked about, and we are still tweaking the album to make it just right. Stuff is still in the air for now, but things are looking up.