Emma-Jean Thackray by Lewis Vorn
What the press is saying about Emma-Jean Thackray:
"a fascinating blend of spiritual jazz and brass band that can sound full-on psychedelic while staying grounded in its clever arrangements." Pitchfork
“A crossover star” The Guardian
“From the west of Yorkshire to one of the most significant names in UK music…” Wonderland
Weirdo PRE-SAVE/ORDER: https://emmajeanthackray.lnk.to/weirdo
"It's Okay" featuring Kassa Overall LISTEN: https://emmajeanthackray.lnk.to/itsokay
(February 18th, 2025) - Acclaimed producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray shares her latest single, "It's Okay," featuring Seattle drummer, rapper and bandleader Kassa Overall. This marks the third single from her highly anticipated sophomore album Weirdo set for release on April 25th via Gilles Peterson’s label Brownswood Recordings in conjunction with Parlophone. Renowned for pushing musical boundaries, Thackray's latest work is a profoundly personal and uniquely original reflection on selfhood, loss, and appreciation.
"It's Okay" is a dreamy and weightless composition that showcases Thackray's ability to warp and meld genres. The track unfolds with laid-back bars delivered by Kassa Overall, underpinned by the rattle of acoustic drums, gentle brass tones, and Thackray's airy vocals serenading the phrase "It's Okay" throughout the arrangement. The result is a soothing and ethereal track that invites listeners into a serene and hazy landscape.
"This is a lullaby for everyone that needs some soothing - a hug or a pat on the shoulder. It’s been quite difficult for me to engage with the trumpet as much recently, so there isn’t a lot of brass on the album. The moments where there is brass is where I’m really digging into my feelings, so the trumpet solo in the bridge is quite revealing. Kassa is a fellow weirdo and totally delivered the message. The message to all the listeners is that no matter what happens "it's okay"; or maybe it's a message to myself.”
Drawing on an eclectic mix of influences—grunge, pop, soul, p-funk, and jazz— the upcoming album Weirdo is a triumphant celebration of survival and individuality. Written, performed, recorded, mixed, produced and arranged entirely by Thackray in her South London flat, the album stands as a testament to her extraordinary musicianship and fearless self-expression.
Previous releases from the project include “Wanna Die,” a striking blend of frenetic energy and emotional vulnerability. With its scattered, uptempo beat driving the track forward, the song juxtaposes its rhythmically playful foundation against poignant reflections on mortality and resilience. “Black Hole” featuring Reggie Watts introduced the new record late last year, a delectable slice of P-funk that channels everything from jazz, pop, and soul in signature Emma-Jean Thackray style.
Originally conceived as a meditation on neurodivergence and mental health, Weirdo evolved after the unexpected loss of her long-term partner from natural causes in January 2023, resulting in an album that feels deeply personal and universal. With intricate compositions, raw emotion, and an unflinching authenticity, Weirdo is more than an album; it’s a masterpiece of resilience, a celebration of individuality, and a bold leap forward for an artist at the forefront of British music. Blurring the lines between genre and emotion, Weirdo evokes comparisons to Meshell Ndegeocello, Kate Bush and Nirvana—on the dancefloor.
Emma-Jean’s journey to becoming one of the most talked-about figures in contemporary music has been anything but conventional. Born in West Yorkshire and classically trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire, she spent her early career defying musical boundaries with her genre-blending sound. Emma-Jean grew up in a low-income, working-class family. This alone makes her unusual, when over 92% of actors, musicians and writers grew up cushioned by medium or high-income backgrounds, according to the Office for National Statistics. Her rise to prominence included her self-released EP Walrus (2016) and the Jazz FM award-winning Yellow (2021), which solidified her position as one of the UK's most innovative musicians and saw her performing at iconic venues and festivals, from the London Symphony Orchestra to numerous Glastonbury slots.
The new project heralds the start of a new musical chapter for Emma-Jean as part of the revered Brownswood Recordings (Yussef Dayes, KOKOROKO). An institution proudly rooted in London’s diverse music community, the label has become a hub for eclectic genre-defying music and feels like the perfect home for a boundary-blurring musical force such as Thackray.
Upcoming Live Dates
TICKETS
3/29 - London, END @ YES (DJ set), BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 5/9 - Manchester, ENG @ YES 5/14 - London, ENG @ Hoxton Hall | 
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