REVIEW: EMMA JANE  – GROW (2024)

Glasgow based Americana singer/songwriter Emma Jane has been writing songs since the age of seven and performing since late 2005. She has been described as having one of the most distinctive, rich, bluesy voices you’ll hear this side of Nashville, a songwriter with the capability to move the hardest of souls.

Emma has a new album `Grow` due out this month which is a collection of songs that have real personal meaning and connection. The majority of the songs on this long player have grown from personal experiences and emotions or the experiences of those around her. It`s a release that the artist hopes brings hope and light to people and some of it was written from a really tough place and helped the singer get by.

We are introduced to the album with `Sleep. Repeat. Retrace`  a song about how the routines of life sometimes feel like Groundhog Day, and you wish you could just pause them. The first thing you notice is as to how expansive Emma`s voice is, a delightful, sprawling number highlighting the irritation of the sometimes tedium and repetitiveness of life. We have in `Low` a number that muses about society, politics and internet, social media, freedom of speech (as long as they like what you’re saying). It`s a wonderful bluesy slow burn with some captivating accompanying guitar chords. 

I read that `Flames`  was penned for a friend who had an incredibly challenging year full of unexpected changes and needed to do some soul searching to discover her worth. It`s a real song of defiance and resilience championing a real will to survive and overcome whatever is thrown at you. The feeling of being completely underprepared and under equipped for situations, especially parenting is shared throughout `Beautiful Chaos`. A soaring kind of anthemic piece with some understated guitar riffs, delightful harmonies, and a guiding drum beat. A line that I really loved came with  “i`m bringing fists to a gun fight” which, i`m sure sums up all our frustrations at times. 

Title track `Grow` came from when the singer knew she had to make a big change to ensure happiness and growth. It was the first song that she`d ever written on piano and has a real liberating ambience, there`s a real a kind of catharsis about it. A friend of Emma`s lost her husband unexpectedly and the emotional ballad `Hollow` was inspired by her friend`s journey and experience. A charismatic stripped back eulogy with piano, synth and vocals that adds a further poignancy and leaves you with eyes full of tears. Heartbreaking.   

`Slow` is a rolling quite introspective composition which was inspired by a friend who had loved and lost and wanted to find something real. Another number that pulls at your heartstrings. We have a real bouncy, upbeat submission with `The Dealer` a track scripted about drug culture. There`s some complementary harmonies and a real power nigh on audacity to Emma`s vocal delivery.

 `Little Love` is a real upbeat foot tapper inspired by the singer`s children with a tapped drum rim, keys and shook tambourine. A number that will bring a smile to your face. I found `San Francisco` totally absorbing . A song simple in it`s delivery but so effective. It gives a sense of moving on and finding yourself and learning to let go. There’s a cracking understated guitar solo towards the end of the track.

We all feel restricted by our upbringing at times and `Rumours` relates to a fictional character who wants something bigger than her roots will allow. The dual vocals really play off each other, along with a rhythmic drum pulse and a sweet intricate guitar riff running throughout. Another number that will have your feet shuffling in time . We close out on `The Last Goodbye` and what a track to close out on. This is about the singer`s last moments with her grandmother Mary who passed away having had dementia. The album will be released on the 9th of January (Mary`s birthday) in remembrance of her. A heartbreaking but charmingly overwhelming gospel tinged tribute.  

Emma Jane records at her home studio and works remotely with talented London based musician and producer Phil Dearing (L sound London) whom she has worked with since 2014. 

I have to say I was really blown away by `Grow` and wonder as to how the hell has Emma Jane gone under the radar this long. She has such a rich and varied vocal range and writes songs that will almost touch your soul.

We are only a couple of days into this new year and if i`m honest it`ll be hard to find another album that will be a fresh as I found this one.

I can only hope that `Grow` will indeed germinate, expand, and increase peoples knowledge and recognition of this underappreciated artist.

 
Rating 9 /10