Ep. 70: Singer and Multi-Instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray on Owning Her Inner Weirdo

 

Emma-Jean Thackray by Lewis Vorn

Emma-Jean Thackray is an English musician, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ, originally from Leeds and now based in London. Her latest album, Weirdo, is out now via Brownswood Recordings and Parlophone Records.

Blending jazz with funk, soul, pop, grunge, and p-funk, Emma-Jean has carved a lovely space in the UK’s contemporary jazz landscape.

Weirdo cover art

Emma-Jean Thackray by Lewis Vorn

Emma-Jean began her musical life playing cornet in local brass bands and later taught herself guitar, drums, and percussion. She went on to study trumpet and jazz performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, before completing a Master’s in orchestral jazz composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire.

Emma-Jean Thackray by Alex Waespi

In 2020, she launched her own label, Movementt, as a home for her independent releases. Its first release, the Rain Dance EP, featured the much-loved track Movementt, which gained widespread attention for its powerful sound and spiritual energy. This was followed by her acclaimed debut album Yellow in 2021. Earlier works include the Walrus EP (2016) and Ley Lines EP (2018).

Emma-Jean’s music reflects both her classical training and her instinct to experiment by creating work that’s refined yet raw, expansive yet intimate, and unmistakably her.

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