Emily and the Woods is the very first Frukie Session to be recorded exclusively for Folk Radio UK and we hope there will be many more to follow.
It was at the Communion launch night in Bristol that I first heard Emily and the Woods. There was a problem with her guitar so microphones were strategically placed around her in the hope of some amplification. The result was that the crowd seemed to take this as a good excuse to crowd around closer for an ever more intimate performance. Even though I’d never heard Emily play before that night I was equally drawn in. She just smiled at the scenario she found herself in and talked and joked with everyone. It was impossible not to be charmed by her lovely character.
I think that’s where I’ll leave it. With Emily, you don’t really need to say much more. Just listen to her…she’s in a class of her own, a young and very talented singer/songwriter who I know you will be hearing more from in the future.
Bio
Emily was raised in West London, the eldest daughter of an art therapist mother and a musician father, she grew up listening to a range of folk, jazz, blues and soul. Her current influences include Fionn Regan, Scott Matthews, Feist and Guillemots, but family favourites such as James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, John Martyn, Bill Withers, Tracy Chapman and Simon & Garfunkel provided the sound track to long car journeys. Guitars and pianos provided the sound of home. As a teenager Emily’s encounter with Bob Dylan’s ‘Blood on The Tracks’ unlocked a desire to write her own music. She was a familiar face in the crowd at ‘Way Out West’ in Brentford (the original territory of Jamie T and The Mystery Jets) and a regular at ‘Bosun’s Locker’ and ‘Blue Flowers’ events.
At the age of 20, and half way through university, Emily recorded her demos with folk sensation Laura Marling. Three tracks recorded in Marling’s kitchen have graced myspace since April 2009, and speak of a home grown sound – stamping on the kitchen floor, percussion played with pasta, a few guitars, a banjo and an ear for harmonies have left the tracks with an unpolished charm that has steadily generated interest since their creation.
She has since finished a debut EP, each of the four tracks recorded in one take, with drummer Roy Dodds (Fairground Attraction, Eddi Reader) and her dad Patrick on bass, electric guitar and piano. Her brother Benedict’s electric guitar solo sees off the record, which was mixed and mastered in Patrick’s studio at the bottom of the garden. It can truly be said that this is a family affair!
Emily’s latest gigs include Boogaloo in Highgate, London and the Communion Launch Party at Mr Wolf’s, Bristol where I first heard her. Her next gig is at the Monto Water Rats, Kings Cross, London on July 7th 2010.
Links
Track Details
Go Home :Emily Wood : guitar and vocals
Benedict Wood : acoustic guitar
Never Play :Emily Wood : acoustic guitar and vocals
Old House :Emily : guitar and vocals
Patrick Wood : electric guitar