The sunflower-strewn fields of Emma King’s new single ‘Pocketful of Sun’ have a deeper meaning than just a hopeful nod to the British summer. Emma’s autistic daughter Eloise has played her part in the song’s inspiration, and the sunflower has become a symbol of empathy and inclusivity for those with hidden disabilities. The title track from the forthcoming album, the song sums up the infectious joy of childhood and, rather than deal with struggles and inequalities (as does its sister song ‘Better Than It Was’), celebrates the raucous energy of youth. Its sing-along hook “I’ve got a pocketful of sun...I’ve got enough for everyone” invites us on an irresistible journey of guitar riffs, americana licks, and vocal power.
A musical love letter to the country sounds Emma was drawn to in her childhood, such as the cheeky mischief of The Chicks and the country guitar-rock of Sheryl Crow, other tracks on Pocketful of Sun give us a glimpse into Emma’s years on the road in Nashville (‘18 Hours’), her thoughts on the music industry (‘Sweetest Song’) and a moving reflection of her hometown of Hull (‘Guess It Was Ours’).
Renowned for her captivating and high energy live shows, Emma has supported artists such as Jo Dee Messina, Deanna Carter, Thompson Square, Brett Michaels, Sohie Ellis Bextor, The Drifters, Old Dominion, and Exile. Upon her return to England Emma received unwavering support from the BBC including Radio 2 and live performances on BBC London, HMV’s recommended release, plus rave reviews from national media including Maverick Magazine.
When
Emma turned 17 she won a scholarship to the Brighton Institute of Modern
Music awarded by Carleen Anderson (Brand New Heavies, and God-Daughter of
James Brown).
It
was here that Emma King and The Heartsets was formed, featuring Emma and
4 young musicians from Brighton, all busting out Country-tinged Americana.
After
multiple tours to Germany, and inspired by Emma’s ambition and plans to tour
America, the band followed suit and together they began self-funded trips to
Nashville, TN. The group’s instant likeability (and British accents!)
eventually hit upon a management & record label team in PLC Records that
took on and settled the whole gang in a traditional ‘band house’ in Manchester,
Tennessee, heralding the start of a new adventure.
Eventually,
Emma and co-writer/producer Ritch Spence moved back to the UK to release,
on May 27, 2016, eponymous debut album (tagged POP). The record received
national radio play (BBC Radio 2 & BBC London), was an HMV recommended
release, and was supported by Abbey Road Studios (where it was mastered),
BASCA, BPI, and Blues Magazine where Emma shared a covermount with
artists such as Joe Bonnamassa.
Roots/Rock
11 track set Electric Soul Therapy (28 Sept 2018), Contemporary Blues 4
track EP The Sun and the Blues (26 July 2019) and 11 track POP release Deleted
Scenes (26 June 2020) followed.
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