commissions
under construction
Anthony Hollyhead, music journalist for Rock N Load
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