Musician Emma Louise Lobb, known simply as Emma Louise, recently opened up about her late-in-life autism diagnosis while promoting her new collaborative album, Dumb, with producer Harley Streten, better known as Flume. The album, released in March 2024, reflects her personal journey and the emotional depth brought by her experiences with both autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
A Journey of Self-Discovery
During a recent interview, Lobb expressed her newfound acceptance of her neurodivergent identity, which she refers to as “AuDHD.” Although she was diagnosed with ADHD in her twenties, it was not until the last few years that she learned about her autism. “There was definitely grief, especially about the second one [autism],” she shared. “I just wish I knew earlier, because I’ve suffered so much, just feeling unworthy and not good enough.”
Her candid reflections resonate with many, particularly women who often receive late diagnoses for conditions like ADHD and autism. Lobb emphasizes a growing awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity, which has allowed her to peel back layers and discover new aspects of herself. “The last three years, I’ve just been peeling back layers and discovering whole new parts of me that I truly love,” she remarked.
Collaborative Sounds and Artistic Exploration
The album Dumb showcases a unique musical partnership between Lobb and Streten, blending styles that highlight their shared understanding of each other’s struggles. Based in Los Angeles but with roots in the northern rivers region of New South Wales, the duo first collaborated on the track “Hollow,” featured on Flume’s 2022 album Palaces.
On their latest project, the lead single “Easy Goodbye” showcases Lobb’s ethereal vocals, which eventually transition into a distorted soundscape, reflecting a departure from her usual folk-pop style. Tracks like “Monsoon” and “Stay” maintain elements of her previous work while incorporating unexpected sonic explosions. “Harley and I are very similar – we struggle with the same things, and we get along really well in a very abstract way that I think neurodiverse people would understand,” Lobb noted.
Streten describes their creative sessions as a blend of ethereal and grounded elements. “Emma is a trip – she floats in the clouds and I sit somewhere between, tethered to the earth,” he commented. This dynamic allows them to explore and transform their music freely, with Lobb stating, “I love working with Harley because it gives me the chance to be able to make it feral.”
Dumb is not solely about neurodivergence, yet Lobb acknowledges that her identity influences the album’s undercurrents. Music serves as a therapeutic outlet for her, providing clarity during overwhelming emotional moments. “If something happens to me … I won’t be able to figure it out in my head, and it’ll be so confusing emotionally,” she explained. “But if I get a guitar or a piano … I feel that relief, because I have put it in a form that I understand.”
Throughout the creative process, Lobb and Streten adopted the mantra of “making it dumb,” encouraging authenticity and rawness in their work. When it came time to name the album, Lobb consulted fellow neurodivergent individuals to ensure the title was respectful and meaningful. “I feel like it will, at least, open up a conversation,” she said, acknowledging the word’s ableist connotations while reclaiming it as part of her narrative.
“It captures everything that I’ve had to heal and overcome,” Lobb remarked. “I wouldn’t be able to release it if I felt in any part of me that I was less than somebody who’s neurotypical.” With the release of Dumb, Lobb invites listeners to engage with her journey and the complexities of her identity, fostering conversations surrounding neurodiversity.
Dumb by Emma Louise and Flume is now available for streaming and purchase.
