New single ‘Blue Skies Forever’ out now
Headline London Show 7th June at Twickenham Exchange Theatre
“Ethereal vocals with layered production and groove-heavy backdrops results in a stunning tour de force” – Record Collector
“A fabulous return. she builds on what she did before, adding a zestier dancefloor zing, a touch of Brazilian spirit, but still her breathy light voice, the jazz fusion scat-vocalising. It’s intoxicating.” – The Arts Desk
“Such a standout talent” – Danielle Perry, Jazz FM.
★★★★ “Musicality, poise and ingenuity – Saunders is the real deal.“ – The Guardian
“As her detailed and exquisitely executed new album Moon Shifts Oceans evinces, singer and composer Emily Saunders stands out as beacon of musical breadth, quality and intensity” – Jazz Journal Magazine
“One for the jazz dance clubs”- Gilles Peterson BBC Radio 6.
Critically acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Emily Saunders has released ‘Moon Shifts Oceans’ – expect jaw-dropping vocals of exceptional artistry, irresistible grooves and bold music production – genre-defying soul-jazz-fusion and pop, with echoes of Brazilian grooves and broken beats, creating fresh new music, the sound of now. Emily keeps you hooked from the first track. Every note is a reminder to live life with joy and openness.
Saunders crafts a deeply personal and emotional soundscape, evoking magical nights filled with warmth, connection, and freedom. Her songs inspire hope and healing, embodying a belief in music’s power to uplift and transform. Emily’s vocals, writing, and production, push boundaries to make music that pops. Think Brazilian and broken beats meet Goldfrapp with echoes of Erykah Badu, whilst touching on Beth Orton’s melding of electronic with acoustic.
The energetic opening track ‘Blue Skies Forever’, Emily’s latest single, evokes Stevie Wonder vibes, and cosmic shades of Frank Zappa emerge throughout tracks like ‘Rugged Waves’ and ‘Mash Up’, as some playful time signatures and mathy experimental flourishes create excitingly unpredictable edges, alongside driving grooves.
Emily’s album is a creation of beauty, strength, and soul, with a sense of creativity and wild openness that flows through her tracks, offering an intimate journey through her world of deep feeling and dynamic sounds. Saunders is at her best – alongside her bold music production, her voice is both rich and magnetic, wrapping around lilting melodies with effortless grace and artistry, then lifting up into the realms of a virtuosic instrument in its own right. Emily’s songs, lyrics, and voice serve as a soundtrack to life, blending multiple shades of emotion and experience.
Born in Charing Cross, Saunders grew up in Brixton, South London, in a highly musical family, singing from the age of four. But navigating challenging family dynamics in her teens, she sought shelter and support at a local hostel, where she lived for three years. “These difficult years spurred me on creatively, and music became my safe space, where I transformed the adversity from teenage chaos to a deeper understanding of the impact of sound on those turbulent times. This has been my driving force ever since”, she explains.
Saunders had to dig deep when diagnosed with acute psoriatic arthritis in 2017, leaving her semi-paralyzed, unable to walk, and isolated at home. “It would be easy to ask why me? Why now? But it’s empowering to be free even when everything around you feels like it’s closing in,” says Saunders, who recovered and pushed through the trauma of her disabling injuries to forge an even deeper sound and a determination to self-engineer and fully immerse herself in her music with the freedom to create with no restraints. “Focusing on the creative force within can transform each and every one of us. The trick is to keep believing, keep creating, and keep sharing”, she says.
Dubbed “the Queen of Jazz Fusion,” Emily has been described by BBC Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum as “absolutely brilliant”. Her music has hit the Top 10 on international iTunes and Amazon charts in the UK, USA, Germany, France, and Indonesia, receiving multiple 4-star reviews including: Evening Standard, Guardian, Independent, and Daily Telegraph. Her music has received multiple plays on BBC Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 6; consistently playlisted on Jazz FM; and receives widespread radio play on national stations across the globe, from US and Japan to Australia, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Italy, México, Brazil, Turkey, New Zealand, South Korea, and South Africa.
2025 Live Dates:
7th June- Twickenham Exchange Theatre, London.
13th June- Y-Theatre, Leicester.
“If there was an award for most unique, this young lady would win hands down year after year.
A future classic! The way that she fuses everything together: the classic with the contemporary, and she also gives a nod to UK club culture with a bit of drum ‘n’ bass and broken beat. Truly a UK sound.
Afternoon’s favourite and hands down one of the most unique artists we’ve heard in ages. Musically pulls together all the elements of British music, electronic dance and ethereal grooves in places to create this wonderful symphony” – Simon Phillips, Jazz FM.
“Fast Rising Brit Jazz Talent.” – The Metro.
★★★★ “Jazz album of the year so far” – The Independent.
“With Moon Shifts Oceans, Emily Saunders continues to push creative boundaries, offering an album that is not just music, but an experience-one that inspires, uplifts, and connects listeners to the profound power of sound.” – Urban Lifestyle, South Africa
★★★★ – Evening Standard.
“Woooow, I wasn’t ready for this! So beautiful, out of this world…” ~ BNR Bulgarian National Radio.
“A fascinating cocktail of influences, utterly original” – Jazzwise.
‘Blue Skies Forever’ is out now via The Mix Sounds.
‘Moon Shifts Oceans’ is out now on CD & Vinyl LP via The Mix Sounds.
