aaamusic | On 17, Mar 2014

AAAmusic: Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Emma Garrett, I’m from Sussex near Brighton and I’ve been writing songs since I was about 17, but recently got a band together and I am about to release my debut EP. The band all currently live in London but a few of the members actually grew up near me; without us knowing until recently!

AAAmusic: What inspired you to get into music?

I’ve always loved singing and at school I was lucky enough to be introduced to all different genres; performance wise. But I started singing in a choir from a young age. I think the rhythms and the harmonies of choral music have definitely inspired the arrangements of my own music. I also became a bit obsessed with the drama in Wagners compositions, when during A Level music I was plonked down with a massive score to analyse that scared me a lot. I’ve never been good at music theory and have always done everything by ear. But with his music I found it really accessible and inspiring to see how he had constructed it all. I also have had some big influences from visiting a Scottish Hebridien Island throughout my childhood and going to Ceilidhs. I can’t dance, don’t ask me! But the ceilidhs were wonderful and I could just dance away badly, but the rhythm was so strong and you can see that influence in the strings in my music.

AAAmusic: What have you done?

I was recently chosen by Q as a single to hear this week. I’ve just finished recording my EP at Eastcote studios, which I am very proud of. It was three days of intensity and illness and string quarts and all sorts! But it was an amazing accomplishment by everyone involved.

AAAmusic: What are you like live?

I have a very big sound live – we tend to use the violins where an electric guitar would be; lot’s of pedals with soaring melodic lines and we’re very energetic as a band.

Emma Garrett’s new single, ‘This Is It’, is out today (17th March). Listen here:

AAAmusic: What makes you different?

I think it’s the instrumentation of the songs that is unique, along with the structure. We use folk instruments but we also use them in a way which means they are bold sounds and we are in no way acoustic! The strings are essentially the basis of the sound. I like to think the songs have an intensity that lets up just when you need it to and hopefully it’s quite honest music. I like to try and use the whole range of my voice which does mean it can sound quite operatic at times but with distorted bass – which is a unique sound I think!

AAAmusic: Physical vs Downloading vs Streaming…How do you listen to music?

I do buy music off of iTunes as I find it so amazing that someone can recommend someone to me and I’ll buy it online straight away before I forget who it was! Obviously, this can be a very negative process for the music industry but I also can’t deny how I think it has made people a little more open to new genres. I think CDs were so expensive, if they hadn’t priced them so high maybe we’d still have that lovely moment of buying a CD and loving the artwork. I buy Vinyls now as I think they are something to really treasure.

AAAmusic: What have you been listening to?

Anna Meredith, Womans Hour and Anna Calvi are definitely worth a listen! Savages are also an incredible band with a really unique sound.

AAAmusic: What are your aspirations for the future?

I’m currently finishing my album due for release later this year, and keep an eye out for some live gigs soon, they’ll be announced via Facebook, Twitter etc.

Questions answered by: Emma Garrett…