There is a young, female biracial singer-songwriter-instrumentalist from New York out there in the music world who writes, produces, and plays her own critically-acclaimed material, recorded her debut album under the watchful eye and at the expense of legendary music mogul Clive Davis, and released the album to a quite positive critical and consumer buzz on Davis’ own J Records. And her name is not Alicia Keys.
The young woman just described goes by the name of Emily King and although on paper, she may sound like a descendant - or knock-off depending on your level of indebted loyalty - of Ms. Keys, on record you instantly get the sense of knowing that Emily King is her own artist (in fact, she plays the guitar, not the piano).
The music on Emily’s debut album, East Side Story, reveals roots that are both deep & ambitious. Her words are packed with references to the wide range of great artists that inspired her - the Beatles, Nas, Sarah Vaughn, Radiohead & Michael Jackson. “Every record that I’ve ever heard has been an influence on me,” she says. Unable to be contained by any one category both lyrically and musically, East Side Story represents the best of what our musical future might look like.
From commentary on greedy commercialism (“Business Man”) to records about overcoming life’s expected obstacles (“You Can Get By”), the struggle to figure one’s true identity (“Colorblind”), and the struggle to maintain it once it’s found (“Walk In My Shoes”), with a couple of heartfelt love songs (“U&I”, “Moon”) and a steller reading of the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t No Sunshine” thrown in for great measure, East Side Story concentrates not on the differences between hip-hop and rock, party music and protest music, black and white, but on finding common ground amidst it all; it also easily proves itself as one of the finest R&B listens of the year. Check out more album info, some links, and a sample of Emily’s work below.
***More Info***
1. Walk In My Shoes
2. Colorblind
3. Alright
4. U&I
5. Hold Me
6. Ain’t No Sunshine
7. You Can Get By
8. E Melody
9. It Was You
10. Moon
11. Business Man
12. Never Be Lonely
13. Ride With Me
14. Walk In My Shoes feat. Lupe Fiasco
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