Emma-Jean Thackray

Last updated

Emma-Jean Thackray
Birth nameEmma-Jean Thackray
OriginLeeds, England, UK
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • Producer
  • Singer
  • Bandleader
  • Songwriter
  • DJ
  • Broadcaster
Instruments
  • Voice
  • Trumpet
  • Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Drums
  • Percussion
  • Keyboard
  • Electronics
Years active2015-present
Website emmajeanthackray.com

Emma-Jean Thackray (born c. 1989) is an English jazz musician, producer, bandleader, and DJ. She was born and brought up in Leeds, West Yorkshire, [1] and is now based in south London. [2]

Contents

Early life

Thackray played the cornet in local brass bands in Yorkshire. [3] She studied jazz performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under British jazz pianist and composer Keith Tippett. [4] After her studies at the college, she took a Masters in orchestral jazz composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under composers Issie Barratt and Errollyn Wallen. [3]

Music career

In 2020 Thackray started her own record label, called Movementt, as an outlet for her own music. [5] The label's first release was her solo EP Rain Dance, followed by reissues of her 2016 EP Walrus and 2018 EP Ley Lines. [6] In June 2021, shortly after appearing on Jools Holland's BBC Two show Later… With Jools Holland , she was signed by Warner Chappell Music. [7]

In July 2021, Thackray released Yellow, her debut album, on her own Movementt record label. The chosen label name reflects her motto: “move the body, move the mind, move the soul". [8] The album reached No. 1 in the UK Jazz Albums Chart, and No. 3 in the UK Independent Albums Chart. [9] [10]

Discography

Discography [11]
TitleLabelYear
Walrus EPDeptford Beach2016
Ley Lines EPThe Vinyl Factory2018
Um Yang 음 양 EPNight Dreamer2020
Rain Dance EPMovementt2020
Yellow AlbumMovementt2021

Personal life

Thackray is a Taoist, and regularly releases music inspired by her practice. [12]

References

  1. "Emma-Jean Thackray: "It's about trying to get that genuine, organic sound. Not trying to force it, not trying to contrive anything."". jazzwise.com. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. sourced by her bandcamp bio notifications
  3. 1 2 Richards, Debra. "Emma-Jean Thackray: "It's about trying to get that genuine, organic sound..."". Jazzwise. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. Hutchinson. "One to watch: Emma-Jean Thackray". The Guardian .
  5. Bulut, Selim (4 March 2020). "Emma-Jean Thackray makes music to move the body, mind, and soul". Dazeddigital.com.
  6. Helfet, Gabriela (12 February 2020). "Multi-instrumentalist/producer Emma-Jean Thackray launches new label with first EP, Rain Dance". The Vinyl Factory.
  7. Andre Paine (14 June 2021). "Warner Chappell signs rising UK jazz star Emma-Jean Thackray". Music Week. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  8. "One to watch: Emma-Jean Thackray". The Guardian. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  9. "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  10. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  11. "Emma-Jean Thackray Discography". Discogs.
  12. "UM YANG Bandcamp Release". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.