We are big fans of Emily and the Woods here on Folk Radio UK. We first heard her at a Communion Night in Bristol. Since then she has been busy finishing her studies at University and has managed to release a great music video for Never Play. Watch the video now and listen again to the exclusive acoustic session she recorded for us back in May this year
Frukie Session #1 : Emily and the Woods by Folk Radio UK
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.