Emma Holland

Emma Holland is an English singer and song writer originally from Dorking, Surrey.

Early Life (197?-2001)

Holland's age is not on the public record, but she was born (presumably in the 1970s) to an Igbo Nigerian mother and a British father in Surrey and raised in Dorking. Clearly not taken with the town she legally divorced her father(*) in a bid to leave the place after her mother's death - and all this when she was just 15. According to her [http://www.myspace.com/emaholland myspace site] she then "hopped on a bus" and eventually ended up in Spain working on a farm breaking in wild horses.

(*) Some lines from the song "Lately" on Play On indicate possible remorse for this. See the album's page for more details.

Play On (2002 – 2003)

Back in the UK, Holland was signed to Jive UK in 2002 and her first album Play On was released that same year, preceded by the single From Now On. A glitzy website appeared, the single made the lower end of the charts and the album was generating extensive airplay on Radio 2. In short things were looking up and then, on the exact same day as the release of the album Jive UK ceased trading in (apparently) dubious circumstances. This left the record hanging in the shops without marketing or replacement and Holland being owed a lot of money.

Recent work (2003-today)

Taking this apparent misfortune on the chin, Holland set about the London gig circuit and, essentially, developed an album from songs written between herself and her musicians during this time. She is currently in the process of recording and mixing this album (Bush's Nigel Pulsford is the producer) and the album is due for release this year. In 2006, Icelandic girlgroup Nylon released the cover of her track, "Play On", on their debut English-language album. Emma's song "A change is gonna come" appeared on the final episode of season 2 of the hit MTV show The Hills.

ound and genre

The usual comparison for Holland's sound is that of a British Sheryl Crow and although the comparison has some merit, it is not entirely accurate since Holland's songs have a more dream pop feel to them, bringing her more into Meredith Brooks' territory (although nothing like as rock-orientated). Her voice is mezzo soprano and is usually delivered chest voice.

ee also

*Play On (album)
*Emma Holland's [http://www.myspace.com/emaholland myspace site] where one can listen to three of her new tracks.