Jack, your ‘Halo’ EP received a lot of acclaim earlier this year – how does ‘When I’m With You’ build on or differ from that sonic journey?
Appreciate the kind words on the Halo EP! I’d say When I’m With You uses some similar uplifting melodies and atmospheres but is more dancey/club focused in terms of the overall vibe. We wanted When I’m With You to really work on the dance floor while also supporting it with melodic layers and emotional undertones similar to the Halo EP.
Harmonee, your contribution to the track has been praised for its refined texture and tone – can you share more about your production process or inspirations?
Absolutely – thank you! For “When I’m With You”, I wanted my contribution to bring a sense of emotional clarity, atmosphere, and power to the song. I’ll often start with melodic composition before moving into the sound design, layering ambient textures with rhythmic elements in an attempt to express something uplifting and emotional.
For this track, I was inspired by those fleeting (yet deeply meaningful) moments you experience with someone, where time feels suspended. I played with floaty rhythmic chords and a powerfully euphoric melody to balance that sense of intimacy and universal importance.
How did you originally connect and decide to collaborate on ‘When I’m With You’?
Harmonee – We’ve been friends for a few years now and would regularly bounce ideas off of each other for feedback and inspiration. When this track came around, I knew there was potential but felt something was missing – so I sent it to Jack, knowing it aligned with the vibe of his project.
He felt it too – there was something magical to “When I’m With You”, but it wasn’t there yet. He started by adding his signature synth stabs, and it immediately brought a whole new energy to the track. From that moment on, we knew we’d be finishing this one together.
Jack Emery – Echoing what Harmonee said, we connected about 5 years ago now and have been friends since. We are both obsessed with music and build off each other’s passion for the scene so the collab was a really amazing fit. I thought once we started working on the track that it was something pretty special and we spent several months perfecting it to make sure we brought out the track’s full potential. It was such a rewarding and creative process to finish the track from start to finish!
Jack, you’ve played massive stages like ULTRA Europe – did performing live influence the way you approached this track?
I’ve been very fortunate to have my music played out at ULTRA Europe by Nora En Pure but haven’t played there quite yet – it’s a big goal of mine. But earlier this year I had the opportunity to play Nora En Pure’s ‘Purified San Diego’, and I also played at Belly Up Aspen, and The Marquis in Park City, Utah as direct support for Nora. It was so much fun playing the track live and I was constantly testing different versions of ‘When I’m With You’ until we got it just right. It was really important that this track worked well in clubs and live performances so judging the crowd’s reaction was absolutely key.
Harmonee, this is your debut on Purified Records — how did that opportunity come about, and what does it mean for your career?
Honestly, this is a huge milestone for me. I’ve been a fan of Nora en Pure and her label for years, and it seems crazy that I’m joining the Purified family. Everything on Purified Records feels so powerful, emotional, and elevated both in writing and production, so it’s a huge honor to be releasing with their catalog. To be welcomed into a label family that’s so globally respected – especially one that aligns so closely with my sound – feels incredible.
The opportunity came about pretty organically – once Jack and I felt that the track captured the spirit of what we both wanted to say musically, we started thinking seriously about the right home for it. Since Jack has been a staple on Purified Records, we sent it their way – and once Purified heard the track, things moved quickly.
Since signing the track, doors have already begun to open – I’m connecting with new listeners, more collaboration opportunities are knocking at the door, and I’m getting booked more regularly for shows. It’s pushing me to keep refining my artistic identity – and it’s marking the start of a new chapter for Harmonee.
What was the most surprising or unexpected part of working together in the studio?
Harmonee – It’s crazy how smoothly everything went. Most artists who have gone through collaborations know it’s not always rainbows and butterflies – when two artists come together to create a single vision, they can often butt heads about the track’s direction. But not in this one – Jack and I were on the same page each and every step of the way, and everything came together so organically. It was like we were building a puzzle, and every time one of us was missing a piece, the other was ready to go with the perfect fit.
Jack Emery – Our friendship and love for electronic music over the years definitely contributed to us staying in lockstep throughout the creative journey of creating this track. We have such a close understanding over what the other person is looking for during the process of building the track and that was super beneficial throughout the process.
Jack, you’ve worked solo extensively; what was the biggest creative shift in collaborating with Harmonee for the first time?
I think I realized throughout the collaboration the beauty of having two different minds coming together to create something totally unique. There’s something really amazing about seeing a track evolve into something that’s greater than just one person’s ideas, and having someone to bounce ideas off of and add their own flavor of musical creativity is pretty awesome. It was really fun deciding which elements of my sound would complement what Harmonee had also built.
The track balances introspection and danceability so well; how intentional was that duality in your creative process?
Harmonee – Oh – it was at the very core of the song, right from the start. The idea behind the phrase “When I’m With You” expresses both a personal, intimate connection with a shared, euphoric experience. We were both drawn to the same sonic palette – something dreamy but grounded in rhythm and excitement.
I think the part of the song that most embodies this is the break just after the first verse – we really wanted a moment in the track where the listener was hit with an overwhelming sense of emotion, space, and emptiness before building into an uplifting, rhythmic, and powerful release.
Jack Emery – It was definitely intentional – we wanted to produce a track that was emotional and thought-provoking while also having it sound massive on club sound systems. I’ve been really inspired by the danceability of recent melodic techno music and wanted to portray something that was true to myself and Harmonee while making sure it worked well in clubs. I hope listeners will find some of my usual emotional themes mixed into a dancefloor-oriented track.
Harmonee, as a rising artist in melodic house, what do you want listeners to feel or take away from ‘When I’m With You’?
My entire project is about capturing the feeling of human connection. In “When I’m With You”, I wanted to explore that rare, almost weightless sensation of being completely in sync with someone. It’s not about overstated love or the bigger moments in life, but those quiet, powerful interactions that mean the most and stay with you forever.
I’m always aiming to create music that moves people emotionally and physically – something you can feel on the dancefloor, but also connect with on a deeper level. I want listeners to feel uplifted, and maybe even a bit nostalgic. Whether they’re driving at night, sharing earbuds with that special someone, or dancing at a festival, I hope the track becomes a soundtrack to one of their own meaningful moments, something they can share with the person that makes them feel most loved.
What’s next for each of you after this release? Any future collaborations or solo projects in the pipeline?
Harmonee – This really is just the beginning – I launched my project earlier this year, and the sky’s the limit from here out. I have an entire summer of music lined up and ready to go, with more collaborations in the pipeline! I’m planning on releasing a track every month for the remainder of the year, and will be working with some industry-favorite singers along the way. As for any future collaborations with Jack Emery? We’ll just have to see 🤫
Jack Emery – Excited for the rest of the year! There will be plenty of more music including a remix and multiple collaborations which I’m looking forward to. I’ll also be playing some exciting shows in the near future which I’m thrilled to share very soon!
