Hailing originally from Oregon, Emme Lentino is a singer-songwriter / actress who believes in the healing power of music. Before moving to Aotearoa Emme spent time working as a songwriter and performer and teaching artist in LA and NYC.

While living in Melbourne for a time in-between she performed at the Tamworth Country Music festival, and caught the ear of AU Radio Promotion folk resulting in airplay for several of her songs on Australian radio. Emme Lentino tracks have featured in several daytime television shows over the ditch, including ABC’s One Life to Live and All My Children and in national advertising for Victoria’s Secret. She’s appeared on NBC, Voice Of America, NBCLX, Buzz TV, Canadian Global News and MTV/ Australia.

A classic car enthusiast, Emme owns a 1963 Lincoln Continental which she “sometimes” uses in her film and music projects. No prizes for guessing the colour…

Emme says her sound has developed while surrounded by the beauty of NZ as well as some personal tragedies which have contributed to how she writes music. Music is her therapy. Independently released in mid-July, Rabbit Hole dives into the toxic pull of modern distraction – social media, instant gratification, artificial connection and the endless chase for attention. She talks about the origins of her high-impact pop rock single here.

The past few years has really highlighted the sometimes toxic relationship of technology and the breakdown of human connection. Rabbit Hole initially came to me all at once on the keyboard, while writing in Los Angeles. The melody, chord progression and lyrics somehow arrived together. The song has had various lives since its first inception.

I had just recently started playing the keys and not being trained, I just played what sounded good and was easy to sing to! The lyrics and melody and chords all came at once, doesn’t often happen for me in songwriting. The rush of all these melodic ideas and lyrics made me feel overwhelmed and excited, I played it over and over. 

The lyrics that stuck with me, “She’s covered you in intoxication, chocolate covered lies… she proves that candy’s not always what it seems, that sometimes in life, you really are what you eat.”

I was talking about temptation on any level, that it tastes sweet, it’s addictive and the more we consume we start to become like that very thing. I recorded a voice memo on my phone and sort of put it away. 

Fast forward a few months, I was spending more time in NYC and got to play the song live with my band, Emme and the Swedes. I liked the way it transported me somewhere else but felt like it could be a bigger song soundscape wise, but felt stuck on the ‘how’. I recorded a live version of it and called it Follow Me. But never pushed the song or did much with it.

After I moved to New Zealand, I played Rabbit Hole for my long time collaborator and good friend Dan Antunovich in the studio on the keyboard, and he was immediately like, “Let’s properly record this song!”

By then the world was even more chaotic and I felt even more determined to talk about the world’s seduction, addiction to all sorts of things, technology, approval, so many choices and options but so many of us are confused and stuck. AI, the fast paced way we can reach anyone, anywhere and still be lonely.  With Dan’s incredible musical direction, the song moved from a singer-songwriter track to a pop rock anthem!

We loved recording at Parachute and Roundhead Studios with the amazing Jasper De Roos drumming and Stephen Small on keys. Dan Antunovich played bass and electric guitar and served as producer. 

I changed up some of the earlier lyrics, took the prologue and made it the bridge (that felt risky but delicious!). I found the grit and rock sound in my voice. To be honest, I was a bit nervous because there was a darkness in my vocals I think I have shied away from. The people pleaser in me was kicked out of the studio! Another stronger, self-assured woman emerged. 

It was a blast singing the new version and it became what you hear now in Rabbit Hole. Like so many of my songs I waited to release it until I felt it was time. My gut said, now was the right time for this message. I love that I can share the journey of Rabbit Hole because it was definitely that.

I am a totally different songwriter and singer then I was when I first created this song. It wouldn’t be what it is now without the help of Dan who believed in the song, the musicians, and the mixing and mastering talents of Scott Seabright. 

I really hope the song connects with listeners. Gets them to think, reflect and ultimately talk to humans. Yes, humans. We are living in a strange time. I so want to encourage people to connect with other folks in their community and to foster real time connections. I love how human music can really bring us together. 

Listen out for the bridge; “Words can play tricks, like clowns on pogo sticks. It’s a game if it’s played right. Life can be series of complicated worries. If you seek you just might find.” 

Rabbit Hole is part of a bigger project. An album will be released at the end of the year. In honour of my late father, who had an incredible vinyl collection and a keen ear for music, I plan to release it (in limited numbers) on vinyl, as well as streaming platforms and my website.