Emily
Maguire is an acclaimed singer-songwriter whose songs
have been played regularly on Radio 2 and has toured
with the likes of Don McLean, Eric Bibb, Roddy Frame
and Glenn Tilbrook. Originally from London, Emily
was classically trained on cello, piano and flute
before she discovered Bob Marley, and taught herself
to play his songs on the guitar. When a chronic illness
left her stuck at home for months on end, she started
writing her own songs to pass the time.
A few years later, back on her feet and fed up with
grey skies and concrete, she decided to give up her
flat in London for a shack made from recycled wood,
tin and potato sacks on a goat farm up in the hills
behind the Sunshine Coast, Australia. There she overcame
her snake phobia and recorded her critically acclaimed
debut album 'Stranger Place' followed 2 years later
by 'Keep Walking', writing and performing all the
string arrangements for both albums. She set up her
own record label Shaktu Records with partner Christian
Dunham, financing her albums by making and selling
goats cheese on the farm.
In
March 2008, 'Keep Walking' was released through Universal
in the UK and Ireland. The title track was playlisted
on Radio 2 in the UK and on ABC Radio across Australia.
From touring clubs and pubs in 2007, Emily was asked
to support Don McLean on his UK tour, performing at
all the major concert halls in the country including
the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2008 she played
the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury Festival and toured
with Roddy Frame, Eric Bibb, The Blue Nile and Glenn
Tilbrook.
Best-known
for her strong, thought-provoking lyrics and "supremely
expressive vocals” (Rock’n’Reel
Magazine), Emily’s songs have won her fans across
the globe. She released her third studio album ‘Believer’
in November 2009 to critical acclaim with rave reviews
in Uncut, Maverick, Rock’n’Reel and Guitarist
Magazine among others. The singles ‘Lighthouse
Man’ and ‘I’d Rather Be’ were
both playlisted on Radio 2.
While her second single ‘I’d Rather Be’
was being played every day on Radio 2 at the start
of 2010, Emily was touring the country as ‘Artist
of the Month’ for the Caffè Nero chain,
playing her songs in coffee shops up and down the
country. She was also secretly coping with a breakdown,
which she revealed in October 2010 when she published
a remarkable book called ‘Start Over Again’.
A collection of her poetry, prose, song-lyrics and
some very personal diary entries, the book is Emily’s
account of her experiences of living with bipolar
disorder. It was launched on Radio 2 on World Mental
Health Day and provoked a huge response from listeners.
Emily puts her classical training and cello-playing
to good use, writing and recording all the string
arrangements for all her albums. On her MySpace page
she cites Bach, Bob Marley and Buddha as her influences.
A practising Buddhist for over 10 years, her albums
‘Stranger Place’, ‘Keep Walking’
and ‘Believer’ are all dedicated to her
teacher Lama Jampa Thaye.
After 7 months on the road in 2011 with the former
lead singer of Dr Hook, Dennis Locorriere, Emily took
time out from touring to write and record her fourth
studio album ‘Bird Inside A Cage’. Produced
by Nigel Butler (K.D. Lang, Will Young, Robbie Williams),
the release of ‘Bird Inside A Cage’ in
July 2013 has been funded entirely by Emily’s
fans. |
