Pansexual pop producer and clown-core diva Emily C. Browning has spent the last five years building up to her bold debut album, PRIMARY. She opens up to YOUR EX about queer community, creative confidence, and trusting her own damn ears.
There’s a line in Emily C. Browning’s song “Not Done” that hits like a manifesto: “Still mad and I’m not done talking yet.” It’s more than a lyric — it’s a statement of intent. After five years of independent producing, songwriting and slow-burning momentum, the Ōtautahi-based alt-pop artist and self-proclaimed “clown-core diva” has finally dropped her debut album, PRIMARY — and she’s doing it on her own terms.
“Cathartic! Scary! Relief!” is how she describes the feeling of releasing the full 11-track body of work.
“Some of the singles have been out for literal years, and it feels so good to put them all in context and tie it off with a big campy bow.”
That theatrical flair — campy bows and all — is central to Browning’s world. PRIMARY isn’t just a debut; it’s a colourful reckoning with identity, growth, and shedding old skins. “Before realising I was pansexual, I used to subscribe to a lot of comp-het behaviour,” she says. “I was this straight, palatable, acoustic-folk sweetheart.” But after dyeing her hair red and fully embracing her Aries chaos, everything changed. “Now, my videos are brighter, my music is bolder, and I take more artistic risks.”
The title PRIMARY references all kinds of firsts — her debut album, the strong colour palette she’s now known for, and a raw emotional directness that cuts through the gloss. “To me, PRIMARY means new territory, bright colours, and a series of firsts.”
One of those firsts was learning to trust her own ears. Browning, who now produces all her own material, says the steepest lesson was letting go of external validation. “I used to send demos to other producers for feedback and then change my work based on their thoughts,” she explains.
“Ultimately I realised I liked my versions better! That’s always my advice for upcoming producers — especially women, trans people, or gender non-conformers — what do YOU like? What do YOUR experiences bring to the music?”
It’s advice she’s lived by — and the proof is in the pudding. Her earlier single “Andy” was nominated for the APRA Silver Scroll in 2022, and her latest, “Goldfish”, is nominated in 2025. But despite the growing recognition, Browning keeps things grounded. “I’m currently in a nice little bubble of public anonymity while still being recognised in the industry. If music streaming paid a liveable wage, it would all be perfect!”
Outside the studio, Browning is just as dynamic behind the decks. DJing under the name Richard, she’s become a staple at Ginger’s Lesbian Pop-Ups, Munch Sapphic Events, Queer Horizons and Christchurch Pride. “Honestly, I owe all my confidence to the queer community,” she says. “DJ-ing for the gays has allowed me to practise being a little show pony for hours at a time. It’s such a good exercise in shaking off my inner repressed cobwebs.”
That sense of community is key — and Aotearoa’s queer scene has clearly shaped her. “We’re innovative. We see gaps in the market and fill them with opportunities,” she says. “Ginger’s is an awesome example — lots of people arrive alone and leave with new connections. How good?!”
As for her home city of Ōtautahi? She’s not leaving anytime soon.
“We’ve been through a lot, and there’s this palpable sense of support. The arts scene here is buzzy. We’re building a new city together.”
Photo by Naomi Haussmann | @nayhauss
