Emma King
Pizza Express Live Basement
Review & Photo's by
Sophie Sheehan
About Emma
From humble beginnings in the grass roots of Hull, East Yorkshire, Emma soon discovered the comfort and freedom that singing in her own room brought. Learning from her mother’s love of Annie Lennox, Bette Midler, and Fleetwood Mac, Emma developed the deep, soulful timbre that has now become a trademark of her sound. What made it even more impressive (and still does!) is how such a huge sounding voice comes from such a petite frame…
Live Review
It is a cold Monday evening in High Holborn, but Pizza Express Live’s basement – a gig-venue-come-restaurant – is dark and warm, providing the perfect environment for the bluesy, soulful music to come. The room is near-full, with anticipative people sat at low tables dimly lit and adorned with hot Italian pizza and pasta.
As Emma King walks onstage, she is accompanied by Rich Spence (on vocals, guitar, and piano), and met with a crowd who eagerly welcome her. Her front row turns out to be filled with fans, awaiting her new songs, and older classics.
Emma’s soft spoken voice does not prepare the audience for the true power her singing voice holds. As she breaks into song, the result is a beautiful mix of bluesy-soul with the best elements of pop: an authentic catchiness and a sound you cannot help but move and sing to (even if you are yet to know the words). --- cont's below
As Emma King walks onstage, she is accompanied by Rich Spence (on vocals, guitar, and piano), and met with a crowd who eagerly welcome her. Her front row turns out to be filled with fans, awaiting her new songs, and older classics.
Emma’s soft spoken voice does not prepare the audience for the true power her singing voice holds. As she breaks into song, the result is a beautiful mix of bluesy-soul with the best elements of pop: an authentic catchiness and a sound you cannot help but move and sing to (even if you are yet to know the words). --- cont's below
Emma King has newly released a special 4-track EP entitled ‘The Sun And The Blues’ – showcasing four of her best live recordings at America’s homes of Rock’n’Roll: Memphis and Nashville, Tennesse.
All Photographs © SophieSheehan Photography
Emma’s music is a truly eclectic mix of sounds, which is what makes it so lovely to listen to. As her voice dances back and forth and up and down the notes, in all their different pitches and intensities, she immerses you in a whirl of sounds that truly move you.
The set that followed was beautiful: a real mix between soft melodies and up-tempo power ballads that prove Emma’s smooth voice packs an ultra-strong punch. Alongside performing, Emma shared with her audience the special tales behind her songs. Sharing, for example, the surprising and humorous fact that her ballad ‘Soul Survivor’ is actually the written result of an inspired encounter with her hairdryer – ‘I will make it through this hairdryer!’.
Throughout her performance Emma beautifully engaged with her audience, through story-telling, serenading, and even gifting a personalised birthday song to one lucky audience member. The result was a truly special, moving, and warming celebration of live music, with Emma’s talent for singing and song-writing at the centre of appreciation.
The set that followed was beautiful: a real mix between soft melodies and up-tempo power ballads that prove Emma’s smooth voice packs an ultra-strong punch. Alongside performing, Emma shared with her audience the special tales behind her songs. Sharing, for example, the surprising and humorous fact that her ballad ‘Soul Survivor’ is actually the written result of an inspired encounter with her hairdryer – ‘I will make it through this hairdryer!’.
Throughout her performance Emma beautifully engaged with her audience, through story-telling, serenading, and even gifting a personalised birthday song to one lucky audience member. The result was a truly special, moving, and warming celebration of live music, with Emma’s talent for singing and song-writing at the centre of appreciation.
Sophie Sheehan
Emma King Live Review & Photographs by Sophie Sheehan : Teaser - "It is a cold Monday evening in High Holborn, but Pizza Express Live’s basement – a gig-venue-come-restaurant – is dark and warm, providing the perfect environment for the bluesy, soulful music to come."
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