Newcastle Jazz Festival

Photograph of Emma Hamilton
Click on any image to zoom in

Festival Events:

Artist feature 2012:

• Emma Hamilton (Australia)
  
  • BACKGROUND
    Even as a toddler, Emma Hamilton was rarely photographed without a musical instrument in her hand. Born into a musical family, (her father is a professional folk musician), Emma’s course in life was never really in doubt. ‘I had the benefit of tremendous encouragement from my family and music was all around me during my childhood,’ says the 26-year-old, whose new album on the ABC Jazz label, La Musique, features an intoxicating blend of jazz-pop standards and hook-laden originals.
  • INFLUENCES
    The title acknowledges Sydney-based Emma’s bi-cultural background. Her mother is French, and in her early years she spent so much time with her French side of the family that she began to forget how to speak English! More than half of the album is sung in French and the immortal tunes of Piaf and others conjure up a Paris of another era through the medium of contemporary pop.
  • THE ALBUM ‘La Musique’ Featuring many of Australia’s leading session musicians, the album is produced by Emma’s younger brother Tom, whose influence not just on the lush sound of the album but, indeed, on Emma’s entire career, has been profound. They first performed together in their band, The Hamiltons, (later known as CAROLINE), and since then have played together regularly in iconic Sydney venues like The Basement, The Vanguard and the Enmore Theatre, including supporting Ryan Adams in 2009.
  • THE SINGLE Perhaps the album’s definitive song, though, is the first single Je pense à toi (Gypsy Song), that instantly transports the listener to some romantic setting on the Left Bank. Emma says, ‘I really love this song, as, for me, it encapsulates everything that’s great about Paris - the joy, the passion, the regret and sadness, and that amazing sound of French music itself’.
  • COMING UP
    Emma is due to support renowned jazz artist, Grace Knight, on May 7, 2011 at Lizottes Dee Why, and Emma’s brother, Tom, will be joining her. Check out Lizottes Dee Why at http://www.sydney.lizottes.com.au/live/index.asp
  • For more information
    http://www.emmahamilton.com/
  • Video
    “Je pense à toi (Gypsy Song)”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN-wgBPVygY  

Other Sources:

Want more? Click on a color — travel and explore.  

Do you have an update or more information about this festival? Email us at updates@kadmusarts.com
Start or join a conversation about this festival in the Forum.