Emily Portman: Women Make Music
Emily originally hails from Glastonbury, where, raised on a diet of fairytales and deep Somerset folklore she began songwriting at the age of six, starting out with a keyboard, a tape recorder and a thirst for blood-curdling stories. After years immersed in traditional songs, Emily’s return to songwriting has already grabbed attention across the BBC, with a live session for radio 6, high praise on radio 2 and with Radio 3’s ‘Words and Music’ broadcasting live performances of songs from the album at their ‘Free Thinking’ Festival’.
Inspired by folktales and ballads, Emily weaves harmony-rich narratives relaying female experience, accompanied by viola player and singer Lucy Farrell (fresh from touring with The Unthanks) and harpist-singer Rachel Newton of BBC folk Award Nominees The Shee. These visceral visions of a darker Albion conjure landscapes where mythical sirens collide in urban backstreets. Emily’s 2010 debut album ‘The Glamoury’ has been received with overwhelming critical acclaim.