Leeds based Singer/songwriter Emma Shaheen joined nu-jazz band Today’s Mathematics when she was only 17 and featured on their first album, ‘Butterfly’, which received critical support from Radio 1. Following appearances on BBC Radio Leeds and a supporting slot with Daniel Bedingfield the band disbanded in 2005 and Emma embarked on a solo career. Her first single ‘Perfume’ also received good support from BBC radio.
Never an artist to let the grass grow under her feet, she has recently collaborated with US rapper Paris Jones and is now gigging with Jenny Birch, fresh from touring with Corinne Bailey Rae.
We asked this Emma about her thoughts and plans for the future.
The female singer songwriter field is getting crowded, is it daunting to launch a career in this period?
I personally don’t think the female singer songwriter field is getting crowded. We’ve always been here doing our thing. I think more recently commercially there have been female singer songwriters that have done and are doing incredibly well. I see it as an encouraging thing, it means that industry people are turning their heads towards female singer/songwriters because of these recent successes in mainstream music and it means that it paves the way for the rest of us. And I feel that if you really love what you do and have a real passion for it as I do, you just keep going. If people hear music they like they going to buy it regardless, so there can never be too many female singer songwriters. The more the merrier.
How is Leeds, in terms of venues, promoters etc who can help you out?
Leeds has some great live venues like The Hifi Club and The Wardrobe which have some great bands on. There is a massive indie scene here, so it can be difficult for an artist like me, but there are plenty of acoustic nights in and around Leeds and a really good network of musicians and artists.
Who do you see as your influences and similar current artists, if any.
I’d definitely say I have a real love for soul/hip hop artists like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Common Sense, The Roots, 9th Wonder, J-Dilla, and Lauren Hill. But equally I love artists like Jeff Buckley, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel. …and Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone and current artists like Adele, Laura Marling and Janelle Monae – so plenty of influences!
Does vinyl have a place in your heart in this fast and throwaway digital age?
Of course, I’m a bit old school – there’s nothing quite like going through a record or charity shop – there can some real record gems in there. My uncle has an original Stevie Wonder ‘Songs in the key of life’; I’m still trying to get my hands on it. I’ve got an old school Technics stereo that plays everything, you can definitely hear that unique vinyl quality, CDs and Mp3s will never replace that, and I don’t want them to!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
One of them has to be playing in front of 100,000 people at Make Poverty History is Edinburgh. But to be honest, just to be able to do music is good enough for me.
Tell us about your songs and what you plan to do with your music.
It might sound simple, but my songs are about life: relationships, good times, love, loss. I’ve been writing a lot over the last few years, just really developing my songwriting and me as an artist. I’m just in the process of picking the ones that I want to release on my debut album.
Are you comfortable with the whole DIY release process?
Yes, I think it’s great, I have a mini studio in my house – without that I would have found it hard to record. I think it’s great that you can have complete control over you creativity, and that you can release music yourself. The issue for me is the marketing and the publicity of it; and that’s what the majors have, they have the money to push and publicise an artist on TV, radio, through all kinds of media and across the world. It’s difficult when you’re trying to do it all yourself, so there are real pros and cons to self-release.
Is playing live more important than making records?
For me they both work hand in hand, you create your record and then to recreate it in a live setting is so much fun. It can be nerve-racking though because suddenly your work that no one has heard is on show and you have nothing to hide behind. I have to say that I have a real love for the song-writing part of the process.
Name 5 records you couldn’t do without.
1. Bill Withers – Hope She’ll Be Happier
2. The Beatles – I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
3. Lauren Hill – Doo Whoop
4. Sly And The Family Stone – If You Want Me To Stay
5. Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up
Names 5 other works of art that inspire you (poetry, movies, books, paintings, etc.)
1. Nicky Cruz – Run Baby Run (book)
2. The Color Purple (film)
3. Maya Angelou – Phenomenal Woman (poem)
4. When Chickenheads Come To Roost – Joan Morgan (book)
5. Gran Torino (film)
