Sitting down, hand-making unicorn necklaces for “Unicorn,” Em Beihold talks about her long-awaited debut album, Tales Of A Shapeshifter, as part of °1824’s press conference.

After her 2022 breakout hit, “Numb Little Bug,” went viral on TikTok, Beihold faced an identity crisis and a creative block while at the height of her career. This album chronicles that period of burnout, therapy, and a return to the instincts and artists that made songwriting feel like the place that she belongs in. 

“It’s a conversation with myself, to be honest,” said Beihold. “This album is very journal-entry-like. It helped me process a lot of what I was feeling. I do feel like when I’m at the piano, I’m able to approach my feelings with more honesty than I am even in a journal.”

Beihold is inspired by the songwriting of the women of the early 2000s: Fiona Apple, Sara Bareilles, Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Feist, and her favorite, Regina Spektor. She feels that this lane of music hasn’t been mainstream for a while and has set out on a quest to bring it back. 

“I think what’s beautiful about music is it can often capture feelings that you can’t do with words, and sometimes I like to sort of counterbalance dark words and fun music, and just sort of play with the juxtaposition of that,” she shared. “But also, I think sometimes words can just hit so much harder with the right sort of tension under them, musically.”

For Beihold, a return to songwriting and to her artistic instincts wasn’t easy; it took many “no’s.” The radio success of “Numb Little Bug” left her feeling confused, as she never considered herself a pop artist; instead, she considers herself to be in a different category. 

Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter has elements of ancient Rome, as seen in the song title and the music video for “Brutus,” featuring Beihold in a Roman-inspired outfit and showcasing ancient buildings from that time. The album also draws inspiration from fairy tales, with elements seen in the “Hot Goblin” official visualizer. 

“I think it’s kind of fun to take modern situations and put a historical lens on them,” Beihold explained. “To be like, this has been happening throughout time, even in such different contexts. And I feel it’s kind of crazy to liken oneself to Van Gogh, but obviously, he’s so talented, and everyone loves Salieri, but he was never able to recognize what he was able to do. And I feel like a lot of artists, just from conversations I’ve had with friends who are artists, often feel that way.”

In anticipation of the album, Beihold released a single in 2025 with songs such as “Scared Of The Dark,” “Hot Goblin,” and “Brutus.” These three songs were specifically chosen because of their importance and the significance they would bring to the album.

“Brutus” is the first song Beihold wrote after her writer’s block, following the success of “Numb Little Bug.” It gives a sneak peek into the piano world, but it’s also whimsical without being an outright pop song. “Hot Goblin” is an all-pop flavored tune, and “Scared Of The Dark” has been stuck in her head since she wrote the chorus for it at 13 years old. 

On her inspiration for Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter, Beihold explained, “The album is very much about my journey with depression and taking a step back, sort of reaching a low that I didn’t realize was possible, especially after the success of ‘Numb Little Bug.’ I’ve always been someone who says exactly what’s on my mind, and I don’t feel embarrassed at all by my mental health and saying how I feel. So, if I can make people feel less alone, I feel like that’s my purpose on earth.”

To celebrate the album’s release, Beihold will embark on the Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter tour, which will be her most extensive global headline tour yet. With performances beginning on May 11 in Dublin, they’ll continue across Europe and North America, culminating in her hometown of Los Angeles at the Troubadour on June 15. 

Beihold does have a routine in place to help her prepare for life on the road, where you often find yourself in the middle of nowhere and at “all you can eat” establishments. She plans on packing a lot of Zinc and Vitamin C to combat road sickness and making necessary grocery stops, with the overall goal to pay more attention to her health on this upcoming tour.

“I’m really excited about the tour. I also feel like I’m really owning my influences in a way I don’t think I have in the past. Last year, when I went on the super small, semi-secret piano tour, that was the most fun experience I’ve had touring, because I wasn’t trying to cosplay as this pop girl that I know I’m not.” She continued, “Doing a show that feels more true to me is going to make the tour so much more meaningful and fun, and I just can’t wait to sing these songs with everyone.”

Another key element of the album is in its title, Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter. Beihold plays with the idea of shapeshifting and uses it as an anchor for how she’s adapted in relationships, friendships, and as an artist. This album is the answer to the question that she posed to herself: Who was she when the shapeshifting stopped working?

She has found herself back in a place where she’s not feeling the pressure of a #1 hit on Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart. Hence, she’s been able to focus on making music she loves, and music that feels like her, regardless of whether it follows the path of “Numb Little Bug.”

“I am neighbors with my parents, I love my cat, and I love doing little grandma crafts,” Beihold elaborated. “I’m not really someone who cares so much what people think. But when you’re in the industry, and the way that you’re treated is kind of based on how much you’re popping, I guess, it’s hard not to take that kind of thing personally. So, I think I just took a step back from what most people describe as industrial importance, and I just want my life, regardless of my job, to feel happy.”

Photos courtesy of °1824/Universal Music Group PR + EventsInCalifornia | Interviewed on February 5, 2026