Bristol-based noir-pop artist Emily Breeze has just released her new single, Ordinary Life. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
Speaking of the inspiration for the song, Emily says, "It's a quest that involves biblical first loves and tragic one night stands, epic all-nighters and the quiet desperation that follows as your dreams disperse like the fronds of a dandelion clock in the cold morning air.
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"You blink, two decades have passed and you become the thing you always despised, a three-dimensional, functional adult with reasonable expectations . . .
"Or perhaps it's the theme song to the end of a John Hughes movie set twenty years after Prom night, except it's not prom night, it's Butlins and Mike Leigh is directing but Simple Minds and Souxsie Sioux are still sparkling in the spotlight, and so are you."
Ordinary life is the opening track to Emily’s third solo album Rapture, due for release February and which she describes as "A collection of coming-of (middle) age stories which celebrate flamboyant failure, excess and acceptance."
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Emily released her first solo album, The Penny Arcade, in 2010 and 2019 saw the release of her second solo album, Rituals.
See Emily play at Komedia, Bath, 14 October. The Cube, Bristol, 5 November. Three Horseshoes, Bradford On Avon, November 12.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I love long walks at sunset, travel, puppies and kittens and . . . only joking. I am struggling to filter the sprawling mess of my personality into three media friendly soundbites. So, for promotional purposes let's go for: My new album, Rapture, is coming out 10 February 2023 on Sugarshack Records
Another interesting fact about me is that you can sign up to my mailing list here to keep up with tour dates and releases and exclusive tracks.
Considering that this is an Irish website, I should probably mention that I am the great niece of infamous Irish rebels, playwrights and activists, Brendan Behan, Dominic Behan and granddaughter of Brian Behan. Fun fact - Brendan was the first person ever to say f*** on British television (wasn’t that Kenneth Tynan? - Ed).
How would you describe your music?
Pop Noir.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I love storytellers with a sonic vision and a sense of style. Nick Cave, David Bowie, Jarvis Cocker, Patti Smith, Andy Shauf, Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen. There are so many more. I often get obsessed with one song by an artist such as Miami by Baxter Dury, which was a huge inspiration or a sound in general like Les Baxter's Exotica soundtracks or an attitude such as Grace Jones's extra-terrestrial majesty.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
As a teenager I was frequently grounded for being a little s***. My mum (Ruth Behan), who was in a band, knew that if she had a gig I would sneak out behind her back so she used to take me in the van to her gigs as a "punishment''. I have been lugging amps since I was 14. Her band are still going and are still great, They are called Billy in the Lowground. Check them out.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I remember buying cassette singles of Two Princes by The Spin Doctors, What’s Up by 4 Non blondes, probably Runaway Train by Soul Asylum. Nothing cool. It was the 90’s and I was 13. I still love What's Up, though, much to my boyfriend's displeasure. A year or two later I would spend my record tokens on Radiohead, Nirvana, Cypress Hill and Snoop Doggy Dog. It was a good era.
What’s your favourite song right now?
This is an impossible question. I love so many songs and if I pick one, I will feel like I am cheating on the other songs but I Only Have Eyes For You by The Flamingos never gets old.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Again, this is torture. I’m gonna pick: "You can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll, I’m very sorry baby, it don’t look like me at all" - Leonard Cohen - Tower of Song.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus has enough ideas in it to keep anyone going.
Where can people find your music/more info?
Everything is here!
