Lyrics | emmahamesmusic

commissions

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Anthony Hollyhead, music journalist for Rock N Load

https://rocknloadmag.com/

Born in Reading, England in 1988, Emma has lived a wonderful array of experiences, experiences which have forged together to produce a talented musician who is in touch with the world around her. From a young age she displayed her musical talents and loves, firstly picking up the saxophone before moving on to learn the guitar, bass and drums; early proof of her ‘can do’ D.I.Y. attitude and ethos.

This innate ability within Emma is founded within a solid educational background and that “je ne sais quoi” factor that only the best musicians possess. At University she studied Environmental Science and really honed her awareness and consideration of the world around her – ideals she still holds dear to her every passing day. Whilst learning about local and global environmental issues Emma lived on her own 23" sailing boat for a year; an experience which she says helped her feel more connected to the natural world and gave her the freedom to explore her creativity.

This infectious ‘can do’ attitude was helped formed by her early years playing football. From the age of five, little Emma cut it with the boys and was suitably eye-catching to go on to represent Shropshire County and Centre of Excellence. She developed a keen competitive edge and a wonderful ‘anything is possible’ attitude thanks to these early footballing experiences and was rewarded with a stint at Fulham FC. Her passion for The Beautiful Game remains as strong as ever.

After leaving University, Emma went touring around south-east Asia and Australasia opened up her mind and soul to a vast mixture of different cultures and ways of life than her own. She taught English and Art in a Cambodian orphanage, she studied climate change in the rainforests of Malaysia, Emma did it all! And all the while, these experiences were stock-piling inside her, just ready and waiting to be unleashed on the world through her music. Returning to Europe, Emma was offered the opportunity to work with London-based band 'The Zarrs' as their saxophonist. Here, under the mentoring of frontman Eddie Lee ,Emma fell in love with the world of live performing; playing her first gig at London club 'Punk Soho' and sharing gig nights with the likes of Bastille.

After her travelling experiences Emma enrolled on a teaching course which then took her to France, a country she had loved from a young age spending school holidays at her Grandparents house near Toulouse. The culture, the countryside, the “esprit libre” all gave their influence to Emma and she settled in the vibrant city of Montpellier, on the south coast of the country.

It was here that she once again threw herself in to musical creativity. Launching and fronting two local rock bands with both ventures proving highly successful and garnering great support and critical acclaim. Emma wrote her first album in just 6 weeks and recorded over 2 days whilst still recovering from an illness that left her lungs working at 60% capacity. Emma says this wake up call to our mortality made her even more determined to 'just go for it' and work hard to strengthen her voice for future compositions. Her last band 'Midnight Waves' was named after Emma's affinity with the ocean; an environment which she says "has an ethereal, meditiative yet energising quality which is somehow just even more magical at night".

Acoustic guitar in hand, Emma will while away her time writing melodies, hooks, riffs and lyrics and it is her determination and aforementioned ‘anything is possible’ outlook on life which breeds simply breathtaking results.

'Escaping the Heat'

£1100

dimension

Acrylic on canvas

Original, signed.

Currently under construction. Please check back soon

commissions

Luck

I’ve been a thief, policed

Right from wrong

Stole my own soul

And I sold it for fun

I’ve been dealing in grief

Since I was young

But I played a couple of hands

Now they’re tied to the floor

‘Cause I make my own luck

I made an enemy

For every buck I saved

Working

Like a slave

To buy back my soul for another day

And I’m on my way to the better days

Bought my ticket on a midnight train

Find my rhythm shake it into change

Won’t let it slip away

Got some sore legs

From running aground

Put them on ice

As I drink my round

Bells ring, round 2

And I tie my shoe

3,4 I want more

And I don’t need you

Move on through

Cause I make my own luck

I can’t see from the scene

And I’m spitting dust

I can roll with the tide

When it’s time to go

But I got me a dream

And I won’t let go

And I’m on my way to the better days

Bought my ticket on a midnight train

Find my rhythm shake it into change

Won’t let it slip away

[BRIDGE]

I got a one track mind

And the gold that’s mine

Made some grave mistakes

And caved in at times

But I dig myself out

With a bucket and spade

Rather that than

The same old drill each day

And I make my own luck

I can’t see from the scene

And I’m spitting dust

I can roll with the tide

When it’s time to go

But I got me a dream

And I won’t let go

HORIZON

Put my shades on

Write a new song

It's been a long time

Tryna get it right

Couldn't feel much

Not a single rush

Have another shot

Thing I'll double up tonight

It's too early for the lights out

I'm not ready for a blackout

Again

It's a long way

To the backstage

It's a long time

Since I felt right

I can't say how

But I'm ok now

'Cause I know that

There's a light on the horizon

And I know if I keep trying

I can see the sun shining

Again.

It's a long way

To the backstage

It's a long time

Since I felt right

I can't say how

But I'm ok now

'Cause I know that

There's a light on the horizon

And I know if I keep trying

I can see the sun shining

Again.

KICKS

I wanna see the lights

But I cover my eyes

Wanna show you truth

But I gotta some thing to hide

Wanna drive you to the bar on beach avenue

But chances I'll start a fight

In the park when we were kids

Riding slides and swings for kicks

All the ups and downs

They're just part of it

Turn the car around

And let's just park for a bit

Callus hands

Dirty knees

Where I wanted to be

Making home in the trees

Never wanted to leave

Feeling free in the breeze

It's an easy feeling

But it's cold when your hand's

Not there to lead me

In the park when we were kids

Riding slides and swings for kicks

All the ups and downs

They're just part of it

Turn the car around

And let's just park for a bit

Mmm I know it hurts like hell

Mmm gotta break out of ourselves

'Cause it's a beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful place

Yeh it's a beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful place

In the park when we were kids

Riding slides and swings for kicks

All the ups and downs

They're just part of it

Turn the car around

And let's just park for a bit

QUICKSAND

Leave me out in the cold

With a fridge full of beer

With no music to hear

And I'm getting old

But you know it's not your fault

And you're calling to a god

That you see in your vision

But losing your religion

As your sight fades

I wanna misbehave with you

I wanna misbehave with you

So won't you take me by the hand

And help me out of the quicksand

Before I lose my soul

To a war with no soldiers

I'm gonna drown, drown, drown

I'm going down

I'm going down

Yeah

Shoot me down with your words

But on the floor I can't hurt

Got my letters coming in

But no pen to write back

I want to get you off my back

And out of my heart

I want get you off my back

And out of my heart

Out of my heart

Yeah yeah yeah

So won't you take me by the hand

And help me out of the quicksand

Before I lose my soul

To a war with no soldiers

I'm gonna drown, drown, drown

I'm going down

I'm going down

Yeah

THE NEWS

I've been watching the news again

Feeling a bit confused again

And I don't get how we're so cold

Whilst the world's on fire

And I've been taking my time again

While you drink yourself to death again

And I don't get how we're so hot-headed

Whilst the world's on fire

And oo I wanna kick back, relax

On a Sunday

And know that everything will be alright

Someday

I've been watching the news again

Feeling a bit confused again

And I don't get how we're so cold

Whilst the world's on fire

And I've been taking my time again

While you drink yourself to death again

And I don't get how we're so hot-headed

Whilst the world's on fire

BOOMERANG

It's ok

If you don't wanna stay

It's alright

If you leave in the night

'Cause I, I

I see it all

With my back against the wall

You give me so much grief

But take my breath away

Playing hide and seek

With all my favourite dreams

Sometimes I want revenge

But I know that then

You're like a boomerang

You'll just come back around again

And I, I

I see it all

With my back against the wall

BETTER

Gotta buy a boombox

My head is aching

From the constant

Drills and shouting

That drown the

Sea and laughs

That I miss

And I know that

The fight's an automatic

When you push the

Trigger on the weapon

That you keep in

The same house as you sleep

And I'll never stop

Thinking about it

I'll never stop

Hoping or wishing for more

"Cause I know it's better

Better than it's ever been

Better

When you live by the sea

Better

When you take the time to see

And I'm better

When I don't drink

Better

When I don't think

About all

The shit that I can't fix

Keep a motor running

On the road

To a new type

Of rock'n'roll

That keeps my feet-a-running on

Buy myself a bass drum

And a tambourine

So I can play in

The broken heat

With a sign saying

Please do not feed

And I'll never stop

Thinking about it

I'll never stop

Hoping or wishing for more

"Cause I know it's better

Better than it's ever been

Better

When you live by the sea

Better

When you take the time to see

And I'm better

When I don't drink

Better

When I don't think

About all

The shit that I can't fix