SXSW 2012

emma louise is one of those people who were born to play music. She was the one who avoided maths and science classes to teach herself guitar and write songs in the high school music room. It paid off. At age 16, Emma’s stellar songwriting had been recognised with two Q Song Awards.
Post high school, a string of well-known supports including Sarah Blasko, Bob Evans and Tim Rogers and residencies around her hometown of Cairns followed leading emma to make the decision to move to Brisbane to take her music to the next level. She moved with an unreleased album up her sleeve, but as she immersed herself into the Brisbane music scene and started spending more time with songwriters and musicians, emma was inspired to go further.
Her debut EP Full Hearts & Empty Rooms was recorded in Cairns with friend and producer Mark Myers (The Middle East). Released earlier this year, it spawned her debut single and national radio smash ‘Jungle’ that instantly launched her into the eyes and ears of the world. After entering the AIR Independent Distro charts at number one, 26 weeks later her EP remains at the top spot. ‘Jungle’ has also appeared in the iTunes charts in ten countries leading to a major record deal in Continental Europe with B1M1/Universal Germany and worldwide attention. Syncs on international television drama Grey’s Anatomy as well as on US MTV show Awkward and ABC’s The Slap, are ensuring that emma louise is being heard far and wide.
To say it’s been a dream start is an understatement! An ever-growing list of accolades including three Queensland Music Awards in 2011 including Best Pop Song and Song Of The Year for ‘Jungle’, Best Folk Song for ‘1000 Sundowns’ and most recently Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year at the JIMAs seem to be only the start for this refreshing talent.
With such a prolific and impulsive songwriting nature, emma louise utilises the new media of Youtube to showcase her newest offerings at their earliest stages. The simple nature of the videos, just emma and the camera, encapsulate her earnest and raw delivery in the purest form. Her unconventional and fearless approach to sharing new music is garnering quite the online following. As Nick Byrne from AIR says, “she’s using a 21st century medium to stunningly convey an art form hundreds of years old. The best kept secret on the internet is out.”
A dream national touring schedule in 2011 of sought-after supports including folk-rockers Boy & Bear and revered Australian troubadour Josh Pyke as well as her own sold out National Headlines shows on her first national tour First Flights in November, shortly followed by appearances on renowned festivals Gorgeous, Falls, Southbound and Norfolk Lanes. With more recording and a tour in the US including SXSW already slated for 2012 it looks like there will be no letting up for this young star on the rise.