By Anita Stewart, Managing Editor
Release: Single “Orbit“
Date: April 1, 2021
Emma Halpin is seventeen years old; an unsigned singer-songwriter from Manchester, England. She has been writings songs and recording them in her bedroom since the age of eleven. Her first single “Smile” was also released that same year. In addition to doing her own home production, she is also a multi-instrumentalist–on her videos she is playing guitar, ukulele and keyboards.
In 2018 she released her first EP titled “The Homebase EP.” In 2020, during the lockdown, she released her first studio album, “Cool Cupid” to critical acclaim.
I listened to some of her older songs tonight and they all have a sophisticated acoustic sound, some with bossa nova rhythms that tend to make her genre a jazzy kind of pop. Definitely a sophistication that belies her tender years–a musical old soul as it were!” Orbit,” the upcoming single was written in the autumn of 2020 and has slick background instrumentation and great engineering.
In “Orbit,” I was reminded of the deep words and hidden meanings of Carole King, Carly Simon and other female songwriters. All of those that have written some legendary lyrics and know how to express emotions. Her voice has a beautiful range and pitch, sometimes whispering, lilting and other times she hits those big notes with nice contrasts and riffs.The song itself has a fresh sound with light waves of harmonic melodies. Kim Nishikawara (who has worked with Michael Bublé) did the beautiful sax lines throughout the track.
Just amazing home production, slick backing instrumentation, voice, lyrics and the song itself–SUPERB! Can’t wait to hear more from this young lady. You can find her earlier recordings on livestreaming platforms including Spotify. My favorite from her last recording is included below. Take a listen, you will love her!
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