Emotoinal Oranges have got the juice. The LA-based R&B duo is back with their second tape in eight months, STILL EMO. The body of work continues their sonic evolution with more unforgettable beats and clever features, including 10 Magazine Australia cover star Tkay Maidza. The duo, feautring A (an audio engineer for Drake) and V (Adele's vocal coach) has experienced monumental moments personally, resulting in STILL EMO.

"... It's the most fun I've personally had making music, experimenting both sonically and thematically," say A. "We're in dramatically different places in our personal lives since starting this group - I'm recovering after ending a 4 year relationship while V is thriving in her relationship. It's helped give a new perspective to the songs we're writing. STILL EMO is a mindset. For us, it's all about still having that same passion and attitude towards whatever it is that you love...". We spoke to V from the duo about creating the tape and the growth of Emotional Oranges:

We loooove the new project. Tell us about the making of this new tape: what inspired it, where was it created?

STILL EMO was created in Los Angeles in the Garden de Avant. We have an in-house studio that we work out of so it makes the recording process feel like home. So much inspiration for this project! We worked with our A1 squad for this tape; Dante, Yoni, Robbie, Mitch- and 4 incredible features. For me it was inspired by nostalgia and the music I grew up listening to.

What is your intention with this project? How do you hope people feel listening to it?

I hope people not only listen to STILL EMO when they’re out or driving with their friends, but also when they’re home in their favorite chair, vibing out with headphones on. Disconnecting from the world but taping into themselves.

The features are great. You always have incredible features that fit so well into your world. How do you decide who will be on a project and in terms of STILL EMO, what did they bring to your sound?

After bonding with Tkay and Aáyanna on tour, seeing how fierce their energies are and incredibly talented and beautiful on and off stage- having them feature on STILL EMO was a no brainer! Zhu and emotional oranges were due to collab as A and Z have been friends for many years! Nonso and us will actually be in the studio all next week.. we’ve been fans of his music for a while now! Our features always fit so perfectly because a lot of them are close friends.

How do you think you have evolved sonically in the last few years up until this point?

The evolution sonically came from traveling so much. We were inspired by the countries and fans we’ve met. But also, this project doesn’t stray from our roots. “Wrong hands” & “better apart” feel very true to the EO sonic universe we had already created; that’s why we’re STILL emo.

It sounds like you have both also grown a lot personally - as expected. How do you think that has translated in your process and the music?

The music has become a lot more ‘personal.’ No pun intended. I love writing a song from scratch. Coming into the studio and deciding together what we want to say and how we want to feel. Nothing fulfills me more as an artist than when I have a blank canvas or slate. There are songs on this project like “Better Apart” that felt so incredible creating; we actually started that song a couple of years ago but finished it for this tape.

We love the concept of STILL EMO being a mindset. You can hear the passion in what you do. What do you think has allowed you to keep this drive and mindset in such a wild industry?

I really owe it all to my mom. She’s still a musician in nyc and since I was young she always taught me how important it is to stay grounded. How important it is to surround yourself with your “tribe” of like-minded people. Stay healthy and focused and don’t let the bullshit that comes with the industry distract you from your purpose. Always move from a place of grace & gratitude.

Is there a song you’re most proud of on the project?

I’m most proud of “Better Apart”.

Best place to listen to the tape for the first time in full?

Your favourite chair with your favourite tea or coffee mug, sippin on something hot.

Who is on your playlist at the moment? Are there other artists who you’re excited about right now?

"Forbidden Feelings”. I’ve been absolutely loving Nia Archives. I’m also very excited for Channel Tres! He has one of my favourite live shows, and he’s an incredible human.

What’s next?

We’re back in the studio in 4 days to knock out more music. We have a couple new tapes in the making right now! Also, your girl is about to graduate her first semester at scratch academy! I’ve been absolutely loving DJing and remixing.. it’s become my new favorite thing to do outside of recording and performing <3

Listen to STILL EMO here.

@emotionaloranges