Emily King

Last updated
Emily King
EmilyKingAtDougFir2016.jpg
Emily King performing in Portland, Oregon August 2016
Background information
Born (1985-07-10) July 10, 1985 (age 39)
Origin New York City, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2004–present
Labels
  • J
  • Making Music
  • ATO
PartnerJeremy Most (2007-2021)
Website www.emilykingmusic.com

Emily King (born July 10, 1985) is an American singer and songwriter. She started her career in 2004 and her first album East Side Story was released in August 2007. In December 2007, King was listed as a Grammy nominee for Best Contemporary R&B Album. [1] In 2019 Emily King was nominated for Best R&B Song [2] for the 62nd Grammy Awards and her album Scenery was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. [2] In 2020 Emily King was nominated again, this time for the category of Best R&B Performance [3] for her song "See Me".

Contents

Biography

Born in New York City in 1985, King grew up in a small apartment on the Lower East Side. [4] Her parents, Marion Cowings and Kim Kalesti, were a singing duo who performed and traveled regularly taking her and her older brother with them. At age 16, King left high school after earning her GED to pursue her music career. [5] She began playing shows in restaurants and venues around New York City including CBGB and The Bitter End. [6]

Career

King signed her first record deal with J Records in 2004 and appeared on Nas' 2004 album Street's Disciple credited as simply "Emily". [7] Her first album East Side Story was released in August 2007. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album of the Year. After leaving the label in 2008, King continued her work independently with producer Jeremy Most. She self-recorded her follow-up EP Seven in her home, released in July 2011. [5] Throughout this time, King toured domestically and internationally with many artists including Nas, John Legend, Floetry, Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, and Maroon 5. [6]

In 2012, King was awarded the Holly Prize (a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly) from The Songwriters Hall of Fame for recognition of the "all-in songwriter" whose work exhibits the qualities of Holly’s music: true, great and original. [8] In the fall, King was invited by Emeli Sandé to open for her UK tour playing sold out shows in five cities including at The Royal Albert Hall in London. [6] King collaborated with José James on his album No Beginning No End in 2013 and can be heard on the tracks "Heaven on the Ground" and the acoustic version of "Come to My Door". [9] In 2014, King performed as an opening act for Sara Bareilles' Little Black Dress tour. [10]

King's second studio album, The Switch , was self-released by her own label, Making Music Records, on 26 June 2015. The Wall Street Journal remarked that the album is "a tasteful collection of eleven songs that showcase King’s distinctive voice". [11]

She signed with the independent label ATO Records in 2017 and with them released her third studio album, Scenery , on 1 February 2019. [5]

In late 2019, King once again performed as an opening act for Sara Bareilles in her Amidst The Chaos Tour. [12]

In 2019, King helped to compose "Being Human", the ending theme song for the Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe Future , which she sang. Her song "Can't Hold Me" was also used in an episode of the series. [13]

King released her fourth studio album, Sides, on January 17, 2020. The album features acoustic takes on her previous songs, and includes a guest appearance by Sara Bareilles on the track "Teach You." [14] In response to racial unrest in the summer of 2020, King released the song "See Me" in August. [15] The song was nominated for Best R&B Performance in the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

King appeared on stream with Marc Rebillet on March 21, 2021, as his first ever guest performer. [16]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US
Curr.

[17]
US
R&B
HH

[18]
US
Heat

[19]
US
Indie

[20]
East Side Story
  • Released: August 28, 2007
  • Label: J
  • Formats: CD, digital download
6018
The Switch
  • Released: June 26, 2015
  • Label: Making Music
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
4116
Scenery
  • Released: February 1, 2019
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
86614
Sides
  • Released: January 17, 2020
  • Label: Making Music, ATO
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Special Occasion
  • Released: May 5, 2023 [21]
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
79

EPs

TitleDetails
East Side Story (Sampler)
  • Released: 2006 [22]
  • Label: self-released
  • Formats: CD
Seven
  • Released: July 12, 2011
  • Label: self-released
  • Formats: CD, LP, Digital download
Emily King on Audiotree Live
  • Released: November 15, 2015
  • Label: Audiotree Music
  • Formats: Digital download
Change of Scenery (Remix EP)
  • Released: October 11, 2019
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Digital download
Spotify Singles [23]
  • Released: July 22, 2020
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Streaming

Instrumental albums

TitleDetails
The Seven EP Instrumentals [24]
  • Released: 23 April 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Scenery (Instrumentals) [25]
  • Released: 19 June 2020
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
R&B/
HH

[26]
US
Adult
R&B

[27]
"Walk in My Shoes"
(with Lupe Fiasco)
20077422East Side Story
"U & I"200826
"Ordinary Heart"2012Non-album single
"The Animals"2013The Switch
"Distance"2014
"BYIMM"2016
"Crush (Amazon Original)"2017Non-album single
"Remind Me"2018Scenery
"Look at Me Now"
"Can't Hold Me"2019
"Incredible Manage Question"Non-album single
"Look At Me Now (Acoustic)"Sides
"Radio (Acoustic)"2020
"Teach You (Acoustic)"
(featuring Sara Bareilles)
"Being Human"
(Theme From Steven Universe Future )
Steven Universe Future (Original Soundtrack)
"See Me"Non-album singles
"First Time"2021
"This Year"2022Special Occasion
"Medal"2023
"False Start"
"Special Occasion"
"Bad Memory"
(with Norah Jones)
Norah Jones Is Playing Along
TitleYearAlbum
"What's Never Gone"
(Jake and Abe featuring Emily King)
2021Non-album single
"What Love Can do"
(Robert Glasper featuring Emily King)
2023 Run the World, Season 2

Guest appearances

TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Take a Walk"2008Tame WaiparaLeaving Paradise
"Heaven on the Ground"2012 José James No Beginning No End
"What Must I Do" Selan Space Flight
"Stay Slow"2013Tame WaiparaFill Up the Silence
"Decisions"2014 Taylor McFerrin Early Riser
"Good Enough"2019KrazTelescope
"That's the Way Life Goes" Hannah Georgas Imprints
"Georgia - J Most Remix"2021 Brittany Howard, Jeremy Most Jaime (Reimagined)
"If I Can't Have You"Sara BareillesAmidst the Chaos: Live from the Hollywood Bowl
"Miracles" Benny Sings, Peter CottonTaleMusic
"Lucky" Jason Mraz Look for the Good (Deluxe Edition)
"Invitation"2022 Robert Glasper Black Radio III (Supreme Edition)

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2008 Grammy Award Best Contemporary R&B Album East Side StoryNominated
2020 Grammy Award Best R&B Song "Look at Me Now"Nominated
2021 Grammy Award Best R&B Performance "See Me"Nominated
2024 Grammy Award Best R&B Album Special OccasionNominated

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

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References

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