Emma-Jean Thackray (born c. 1989) is an English jazz musician, producer, bandleader, and DJ. She was born and brought up in Leeds, West Yorkshire,[1] and is now based in south London.[2]

Emma-Jean Thackray
Birth nameEmma-Jean Thackray
OriginLeeds, England, UK
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • Producer
  • Singer
  • Bandleader
  • Songwriter
  • DJ
  • Broadcaster
Instruments
  • Voice
  • Trumpet
  • Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Drums
  • Percussion
  • Keyboard
  • Electronics
Years active2015-present
Websiteemmajeanthackray.com

Early life

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Thackray played the cornet in local brass bands in Yorkshire.[3] She studied jazz performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under British jazz pianist and composer Keith Tippett.[4] After her studies at the college, she took a Masters in orchestral jazz composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under composers Issie Barratt and Errollyn Wallen.[3]

Music career

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In 2020 Thackray started her own record label, called Movementt, as an outlet for her own music.[5] The label's first release was her solo EP Rain Dance, followed by reissues of her 2016 EP Walrus and 2018 EP Ley Lines.[6] In June 2021, shortly after appearing on Jools Holland's BBC Two show Later… With Jools Holland, she was signed by Warner Chappell Music.[7]

In July 2021, Thackray released Yellow, her debut album, on her own Movementt record label. The chosen label name reflects her motto: “move the body, move the mind, move the soul".[8] The album reached No. 1 in the UK Jazz Albums Chart, and No. 3 in the UK Independent Albums Chart.[9][10]

Discography

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Discography[11]
Title Label Year
Walrus EP Deptford Beach 2016
Ley Lines EP The Vinyl Factory 2018
Um Yang 음 양 EP Night Dreamer 2020
Rain Dance EP Movementt 2020
Yellow Album Movementt 2021

Personal life

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Emma-Jean is a Taoist, and regularly releases music inspired by her practice. [12]

References

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  1. ^ "Emma-Jean Thackray: "It's about trying to get that genuine, organic sound. Not trying to force it, not trying to contrive anything."". jazzwise.com. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ sourced by her bandcamp bio notifications
  3. ^ a b Richards, Debra. "Emma-Jean Thackray: "It's about trying to get that genuine, organic sound..."". Jazzwise. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. ^ Hutchinson. "One to watch: Emma-Jean Thackray". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Bulut, Selim (4 March 2020). "Emma-Jean Thackray makes music to move the body, mind, and soul". Dazeddigital.com.
  6. ^ Helfet, Gabriela (12 February 2020). "Multi-instrumentalist/producer Emma-Jean Thackray launches new label with first EP, Rain Dance". The Vinyl Factory.
  7. ^ Andre Paine (14 June 2021). "Warner Chappell signs rising UK jazz star Emma-Jean Thackray". Music Week. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  8. ^ "One to watch: Emma-Jean Thackray". The Guardian. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Emma-Jean Thackray Discography". Discogs.
  12. ^ "UM YANG Bandcamp Release". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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