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Thursday, May 15, 2008, 07:00
This small island has produced its fair share of iconic, world-beating, pop stars over the years. Us Brits can boats The Beatles, The Stones, The Police, Led Zeppelin, Lulu and virtually ever major band to conquer the pop and rock charts in the past five decades.
But we've never produced a globally successful country and western star. That's still the preserve of the residents of Nashville, Tennessee.
That's why Hull-born Emma King is determined to rewrite the history books.
The singer, who fell in love with country after seeing one of its biggest stars, Alan Jackson, perform on TV when she was a girl, is now set to jet off the America for a tour that could break her stateside.
“I don't know why I really like country music, I suppose it is a bit unusual for a girl from Hull to get into it,” she says.
“My parents were never into it and neither were my friends. But when I saw Alan Jackson on the TV I just instantly fell in love with his music and asked my mum and dad to get me his CD for my birthday. My interest took off from there.”
The 21-year-old, who now cites Dolly Parton, Sheryl Crow and The Dixie Chicks as three of her biggest inspirations, is set to visit Nashville in July for three weeks of local showcases and meetings with interested labels and managers.
It will be the second time the singer has visited the home of country, but this time she hopes to make more of an impact.
“I've been before, but it was a little tricky playing shows because I was too young to get into the bars,” she laughs. “You have to be 21 over there. This time, I've got four big showcases arranged and I'm hoping I'm going to be able to show people what I can do.”
Emma left Hull aged 17 to take up a scholarship at the Brighton Institute Of Modern Music – the same school that produced The Kooks – where she has spent the past four years honing her sound and recruiting her band, The Heartsets.
But before Emma and her band go west, they will be busy putting the finishing touches to their debut album, which they are currently recording in London, alongside some top session musicians who usually work with the likes of Robbie Williams.
“The album's sounding great so far. We've written and produced it entirely by ourselves and it's a dream come true just to be in the studio finally making a record. We're hoping it will be finished by the time we go to America and released in the UK later this year.”
If you can't wait that long to hear Emma's rootsy country style, she will be playing a one-off show at The Sands venue, Lord Street, Gainsborough, on Saturday, July 5.
But the singer hasn't forgotten her home city and hopes to return to Hull for some more live dates later in the year.
Emma King And The Heartsets will play The Sands, The Old Town Hall, Lord Street, Gainsborough, on Saturday, July 5. Tickets cost £8. Call (01427) 811118.
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Hull-born country singer Emma King hopes to take the US by storm
Ever since I was a young boy, I've played the silver ball. From, Soho down to Brighton I must've played them all.
