Yorkshire-born Jazz sensation Emma-Jean Thackray has seen the cracks of fame appearing upon her career ever since her first EP hit the shelves in 2016.
Her most recent work ‘Weirdo’ is a journey of compassionate composition, written in the years following her partner’s sudden and tragic passing in 2023. The record displays a plethora of talent, embedded in topics most find difficult to challenge.
Speaking to The Guardian, Thackray described losing her partner as pure pain, but that the album was about going “from really not wanting to be here, and then finding my way back to music.
”The brilliance of the album has been solidified by a Mercury Prize nomination, Thackray finds herself in star studded company including artists like Fontaines DC, Pulp and Wolf Alice.
In an interview this week on BBC Radio 6, the musician spoke about tackling the trials and tribulations of life under the spotlight with autism and ADHD:
“Neurodivergence is becoming more talked about, but I still don’t think people really understand how it could affect you and also the good things that can come from it like it’s not all doom and gloom y’know, terrible things to live with…”
“It can be something that really fuels your creativity…”
“I definitely like the fact that I don’t have to look at anyone and no one has to look at me. I don’t have to be perceived, It’s just I’m free to explore things, try stuff, make mistakes.”
Touching on the topical backbone of the album, the 36 year old said:
“I wanted to talk about things that I felt had that balance of real difficulty so I’ve gone with intrusive thoughts, sleep and solitude as the themes for the album…”
“I definitely just need solitude in my life. I love socialising and I love seeing people but it’s something that definitely takes from my energy and then I need to shut myself away for a week to kind of recharge…”
Thackray will be taking her talent across Europe later this year as she embarks on the eponymous ‘Weirdo Tour’ which includes the following gigs:
- Oct 7: Madrid, Spain – Cafe Berlin
- Oct 8: Barcelona, Spain – Sala Upload
- Oct 9: Milan, Italy – Santeria
- Oct 15: Warsaw, Poland – Jassmine
- Oct 17: Berlin, Germany – Kantine am Berghain
- Oct 18: Copenhagen, Denmark – Hotel Cecil
- Oct 19: Stockholm, Sweden – Nalen
- Oct 24: Amsterdam, Netherlands – Tolhuisteen
- Oct 25: Paris, France – Point Éphémère
- Oct 26: Brussels, Belgium – AB Club
- Oct 30: Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
- Oct 31: Gateshead, UK – The Glasshouse
- Nov 4: Leeds, UK – Belgrave Music Hall
- Nov 5: Glasgow, UK – King Tut’s
- Nov 6: Manchester, UK – Band on the Wall
- Nov 12: Cardiff, UK – The Globe
- Nov 13: Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon
- Nov 15: Brighton, UK – Chalk
- Nov 20: London, UK – KOKO
Tickets are available for purchase here.
