Author Archives: Emma Gatrill

About Emma Gatrill

Emma Gatrill is a multi-instrumentalist based in Brighton, UK. Her debut, 2012’s Chapter I, was a poignant collection of songs based around her then-latest acquisition – the harp. Subtly accompanied by various members of Brighton’s Willkommen Collective, her intricate harp playing coupled with a unique vocal fragility drew comparisons to Björk and Joni Mitchell as well as her friends and co-conspirators Rachael Dadd and Rozi Plain. By the time the album came out, she’d already played clarinet in Laura Marling’s band on Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage, made up part of Broken Social Scene’s horn section on a run of UK dates and toured all over Europe as part of Sons Of Noel And Adrian. Since then she’s been touring and collaborating with kindred spirit Kristin McClement and as a member of Matthew & The Atlas. In amongst it all, Gatrill somehow found time to develop her own live show beyond the simplicity of Chapter I; augmenting her harp and vocal with ambient analogue synths and drum machines using foot controllers, as well as introducing accompanying guitar atmospherics from label-mate Marcus Hamblett. Five years and hundreds of live shows with dozens of different bands later, her larger-scale live ambitions fed back into the writing and recording process for Gatrill’s forthcoming second album, Cocoon. The album showcases a huge leap forward in scope and imagination. The harp, tender vocal and unique take on classic songwriting are still at the core of Gatrill’s sound, but the arrangements draw from a much wider and often darker sonic palette – from orchestral strings to monosynths, drum machines to tap shoes and Casio keyboards to vibraphones. Gatrill’s circle of influences has widened too – on Cocoon Emma draws from the joyful experimentation of Juana Molina and the intelligent pop and texturally rich arrangements of Julia Holter and My Brightest Diamond. While the songs are more honed and focused, the lyrical content is broader. Philomela explores Greek mythology to the backdrop of tumultuous strings and thunderous drums and Robin tackles climate change set to chamber pop orchestration; while universal concerns of loss, isolation, hope and togetherness tie the album together. The album was mixed by Dan Cox whose work for the likes of Laura Marling, Thurston Moore and Florence and the Machine lead to him being named Breakthrough Engineer Of The Year at the Music Producer’s Guild awards. Praise for Cocoon: “a beautiful slab of skewed folk-pop brilliance.” Line of Best Fit “As a solo artist she’s a real stylist, with her evocative yet introverted approach touching on personal subjects in a universal matter.” Clash “From her evocative music, Gatrill proves evidence of having a crafter’s mind, one that can coalesce varying elements of earthiness and anodic nature into pieces of harmonious exploration.” GoldFlakePaint “she’s probably somewhere between the Julia Holter aurora and the Sufjan Stevens supernova — and you can trust that Gatrill’s music sounds like it’s being projected across the heavens.” Stereogum

David Thomas Broughton Support

Super excited to announce I shall be opening for the incredible @dtbroughton in London on August 1st!

The show is sold out already but there is a wait list you can sign up to if you don’t have tickets and want to try and join us!

https://dice.fm/event/e9gr2-david-thomas-broughton-emma-gatrill-1st-aug-the-bedford-london-tickets

Greenman Rising

I’m on the @greenmanfest Rising long list! 🤞

From 1000 applicants, I’m down to the last 24! A panel of music critics will choose the top 5 from this list, who will play a show at @clwbiforbach in Cardiff on June 13. Judges on the night will crown the winner, who will open the main stage at the best festival in the world, and the runners up will play the Rising Stage.

I’ve played Green Man many times with other artists but it’s always been my dream to perform my own music there. So THANK YOU Green Man and congratulations to everyone else on the long list for making it to this stage!

New album ‘Come Swim’

My new album ‘Come Swim’ is finally out there for you to hear. I’m so excited and proud to share it with you all.

A LOT of people were involved in making this album, as every song started with a seed from a drummer or beat maker:

1. Dan Harding
2. Jamie Whitby-Coles (of @thisisthekit)
3. Nick Carlisle @nickcarlislemusic
4. Conor O’Brien (of @wearevillagers)
5. Chris Boot (@notparamount)
6. Marcus Hamblett @marcushamblett
7. Chris Boot @chrisboot
8. Ben Gregory @griptightgriptight
9. Ben Gregory!
10. Thom Mills @thommillsdrums
11. Rachael Horwood (of @b_a_s__j_a_n@trash.kit etc)

I played the harp, clarinet and bass clarinet, mellotron and synths, then a huge number of extremely talented friends contributed:

🎤 Kate Stables, Rozi Plain and Rachael Dadd – backing vocals @katopinholephoto@thisisthekit@roziplain@rachaeldadd
🎻 Andrew Stuart Buttle – violin and viola @andrewstuartbuttle
🪈 Helen Whitaker – flute @helenwflute
🎷 Chris Cundy – baritone sax @chriscundychris
🎷 Mark Lockheart – tenor sax @marklockheart
🥁 Thomas Heather – drums @tom_heather_
🥁 Rob Pemberton – drums @robpemberton_

🎺 Conor O’Brien – trumpet and drum machines @wearevillagers
🎸Marcus Hamblett – brass, synths, guitar, bass, double bass, drum machine, bass xylophone, produce and mix @marcushamblett

🎛️ Ben Hampson – additional engineering and guidance @bwhampson
🎚️ Harris Newman – mastering @greymarketmastering
📸 Sequoia Ziff – photograph @oneseq
💿 Toby Hayes – design @bureaudefatigue

Plus thanks to my label @willkommenrecs, radio plugger @viaductpromotions, PR @hanglnds and my amazing extra band members recently @hannahshilvockmusic and @olivernewtondrum


Happy New Year!

Thanks so much to everyone who has listened to my new music this year! I can’t wait to share the full album with you on 12th January!

A special thanks to my beautiful family for supporting me and teaching me how to be a musician and a mother!

Wishing you all a safe, warm and peaceful 2024!

Seed

SEED is out on today! Really happy with how this song came out!

This one is a real toe tapper and features backing vocals from my friends @thisisthekit @roziplain and @rachaeldadd (The Winchester Three!) and some pretty wild ocarina playing by Kate Stables. Critics are calling it “the most culturally significant ocarina solo since Wild Thing by The Troggs”. Incredible strings by incredible @andrewstuartbuttle, drums straight from Dan Harding’s deep deep pocket and lots of instruments, production and mix by @marcushamblett.

What a dream team. Enjoy x

Adonis Blue review

Thanks to @atwoodmagazine for the lovely words about the first single to my album. I’m so happy it resonates with you .

“Softly stirring and sweetly tender, this is the music of discovery: A soundtrack to our endless, wide-eyed wonder. Life is long and full of surprise; we deserve songs that match that breadth and beauty. An expansive, stunningly cinematic indie folk reverie, “Adonis Blue” is a breathtaking serenade ready to open our eyes and our minds.”

You can read the full article here: