A
beautiful country-pop ballad about Emma raising her non-speaking autistic
daughter, and her battle with the EHCP system to get her access to the correct
form of education.
(July
18, 2025) Country-pop singer-songwriter Emma King releases the single ‘Better
Than It Was’, a lyrical response to two years of navigating the
labyrinthine structure of the UK’s SEND (Special Educational Needs &
Disabilities) system for her daughter. The single is taken from her upcoming
album Pocketful Of Sun, released on August 22nd 2025.
Emma’s
remarkable journey has taken her from Northern England to Tennessee, touring
Europe and receiving 5-star album reviews along the way. Having lived in
Tennessee for 8 years, Emma became a regular of Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe and
represented the UK at Nashville’s CMA International festival, appearing on
radio stations across the country including the legendary WSM (home of the
Opry). Returning to her hometown of Hull in England and releasing her eponymous
debut album, Emma received unwavering support from the BBC including Radio 2
and live performances on BBC Radio and rave reviews.
"A
sound that sits mid-point between the gospel soul of Aretha Franklin and the
dirty blues of Fleetwood Mac - really something special" The Blues
Magazine
“A
well-rounded and beautifully sung collection of rootsy pop songs” The Crack
“A
stunning debut”
RnR Magazine
The
new album, Pocketful Of Sun, is 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. On it she reflects on her
thoughts on the music industry, her hometown of Hull, friendship, relationships
and, significantly, the joys and challenges of motherhood.
Emma’s
4-year-old daughter Eloise was diagnosed autistic at age 2 and is entirely
non-speaking. The journey to achieve a safe and appropriate education was so
fraught with struggles, inequalities and emotional turmoil, that it is a wonder
that those very few late-night hours to record the album’s vocals ever took
place.
Taking
the shape of an Americana-tinged stadium ballad, ‘Better Than It Was’is
an inspiring piece of music that gives space for Emma’s voice to convey its
delicate power and authenticity. Beginning with the point of view of a child,
the song describes the world’s unfamiliarity and the feeling of sensory
overload (“All the sounds wash over me…all the lights are blinding
beams”).
Speaking
on the process of creating the video and including Eloise, Emma
comments, “I knew I wanted Eloise to be part of the visual imagery of this
song. It was a reminder of how much you have to prepare when you have an
autistic child. We spent a long time scouting out a secluded location that
wouldn’t be overwhelming for Eloise but also had the stark beauty we wanted. I
always want to encourage Eloise to be who she is truly is - that includes her
stimming and tip-toe walking - all of which you can see as the song unravels...
The biggest highlight of making the video was seeing Eloise paddle in the
ocean, something we’ve been working towards for four years, and that made the
filming all the more magical!”
Having
been through authority appeals and court tribunal processes, it has become
Emma’s mission to fundraise and advocate for the autistic community and to be a
voice for those who don’t yet have one. This is a song filled with the
confidence in its subject that can only be born of experience, and it will
carry its message long after its final chords fade out.
To learn more about Emma King visit her
website and follow her on her socials:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.