:: I would like to thank everyone who voted for me in Round #1, keeping my fingers crossed that you'll vote for me in Round #3 also. Thanks for your support, much love - you ROCK ! - Emma xoxoxox (5/10)
:: Episode #5 is now online ! - www.youtube.com/EmmaRuggTV (3/8)
:: I have posted Episode #3 of my Tour Film online today, it features a look back at the snowy NC mountains and Henry shooting pool with Quentin at the Root Bar 1 in East Asheville - Visit www.youtube.com/EmmaRuggTV to watch ! (27/7)
:: Episode #2 of my Tour Film has been posted online today - watch it at www.youtube.com/EmmaRuggTV (23/7)
:: The 1st Episode of my Directions Tour Film is released today on my official channel - youtube.com/EmmaRuggTV (20/7)
:: I have been working over the past 5 months to edit and put together a tour film and am proud to announce its release on my official YouTube page - EmmaRuggTV
The 12 episode series will be posted over six weeks. The 1st episode of the week will be available to view each Monday, the 2nd will be posted every Thursday. Visit my main site at www.emmarugg.com for more details on my Directions Tour Film
:: Thanks to everyone who has voted for me so far ! YOU ROCK - thanks for your support - Much love, Emma xoxoxox
Video(s) : EMMA RUGG
Bio : EMMA RUGG
"Emma's got a wonderfully distinctive voice that would hold you in thrall if she was reciting a telephone directory." - Musical Discoveries
"You've obviously come from the school of hard knocks, busking on the street which takes a lot of bravery so if you can do that, you can do anything." - Warner Music
"Her songs manage to be sensationally melodic, emotionally mature and technically sophisticated." - Dripfed
One penny, in tin, if one hundred of those things can amount to something bigger, they’re worth saving, indeed. What started as a few pence turned into something much bigger, the small change added up. Busking on the streets takes guts, especially when the decision entails standing outside for over six months to raise money to record an album, which is what happened next ......
In the summer of 2002 Emma Rugg busked in her hometown in the city centre of Hull. Some of the people who walked through Hepworth Arcade that summer turned into regular passers by, week in, week out, dropping by for conversation, bringing their kids to listen too. Months went by and even more people came back, stopping to listen, bringing their cameras, friends, sounds recorders and CDs as well the more unusual items.
“I started busking because I wanted to be out there all the time, playing, no matter where it was, when I started playing in the city centre more people started to ask if there would be an album they could buy soon, this happened often and a lot of the material that was being written at that time was coming together, sounding like it should be a record so I decided I should do something about it.”
So she did do something about it and six months later after all the change had been counted Emma spent the rest of the year finishing material and recording at Fairview Studios. Bringing together a mixture of emotionally drenched acoustic songs the debut album 'Isolated Impression' is the first in a long line of releases yet to be recorded.
Instead of looking for a record deal Emma set up Indreams Records, her own record label and lots has changed since then. Organising all press, launch events, PR and radio play, resulting in numerous reviews and features in national magazines such as Rock Sound, The Big Issue, sessions on BBC Radio, press and interviews on BBC Regional News TV.
At the beginning of July 2003, listening to a radio show, a song was played on air that night from a US musician who had sent in material, Emma decided to email Henry Doss and comment on the track, a few days later Henry had got in touch with the BBC and asked Emma to fly to Traverse City, Michigan to record vocals on his material. The two struck up a creative alliance and have gone on to record new material in a second collaboration in 2004 with legendary producer John Beland who amongst others has worked with the likes of The Flying Burrito Brothers, Ricky Nelson and Johnny Cash to name but a few.
“She’s got talent, she’s got a work ethic, she’s stubborn and very independent. She does everything, plays everything. I’m in awe, being able to work with someone like her.” – Henry Doss
In the same year Emma played at James Gandolfini’s (Tony from The Sopranos) Vines Restaurant in Oneonta, New York, came home to support The Bluetones and continued to write new material. Soon after Emma also appeared on ITV ‘s ‘Late Attitude’ show and flew back to Michigan for a second collaboration with Henry Doss.
Returning home more time was spent playing a piano which had been bought previously for £50 from an ad in the paper, writing, working on new material and playing live.
In 2007 Emma Rugg and Henry Doss went on tour in the USA. Working on their arrangements for various songs over the internet they hit the road after having only a few days to practise together in the same room to play a six week tour of the East coast. On tour Emma also visited her hometowns twinned city - Raleigh, North Carolina - to present the Mayor with a gift from the Lord Mayor of Hull.
Still unsigned, Emma has just released her 'Directions Tour Film' a document of her US tour with Henry that she has filmed, edited and produced herself. You can watch all 12 episodes on her official YouTube page at www.youtube.com/EmmaRuggTV
Become a fan - vote for Emma Rugg to win this years Peoples Music Awards !!
Influences : EMMA RUGG
Alice Cooper, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Metallica, Tokio Hotel, System Of A Down, Coheed & Cambria, Ratt, Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Dead Kennedys, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters, Tenacious D, Avenged Sevenfold, Megadeth, Rage Against The Machine, Lacuna Coil, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Interpol, Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Roy Orbison, Stevie Wonder, Nat King Cole, everything, anything
2009 - Round 2 - Guest Judge Comments...
Guest Judge Comments on: EMMA RUGG's Oceans
7 point(s) for Composition / Songwriting Liked the 'dada-da-dada' hook. Liked the idea of the quickfire 'she is wondering' chorus but thought it lost some of the clarity of the lyric so lessened the impact. Interesting structure. Initial impression was that it was too long as seemed repetitive but more plays this wasn't an issue.
7 point(s) for Performance Good performance, nice voice.
7 point(s) for Capture Well captured, good arrangement.
21 Total Points Enjoyed the song and the performance. Nice combination of early Eighties British female led bands such as Everything But The Girl or Marine Girls with 90s female artists such as Liz Phair or Juliana Hatfield. Tiny shades of Joni Mitchell maybe. Interesting and engaging style, had me wanting to hear more.
7 point(s) for Composition / Songwriting I like the quality of her writing, great story of her song, you want to know more and can identify with her lyrical content. Quite staccato at times, could me a mouthful, but she carries it off very very well.
7 point(s) for Performance Emma has a great tone which sits so well for this type of music. She has a great air and her musical performance hits all the right notes, makes you want to dance along. Very hooky and the musical composition was spot on too.
7 point(s) for Capture Recorded very well. Made sure I played this song on the little speakers and on my stereo and it was mixed and produced very well. Loved the guitar playing, simplistic, melodic and to the point.
21 Total Points I like that you had your own style, not copied, please continue in the same vain, can't wait to hear you sing a ballad.
Keep in your breathing technique, if you are too carrying one singing this style of music. You make it effortless.
5 point(s) for Composition / Songwriting Great intro...once it begins, I know this is going to be a catchy tune. Creative melodies. The guitars are funky.
6 point(s) for Performance Good performance! Cool harmonies.
5 point(s) for Capture Nice blend on your vocals. Good production and mixing.
5 point(s) for Composition / Songwriting the song is potentially really interesting! Not really a smash single, but could be very cool with a little more work!
3 point(s) for Performance The vocals unfortunately a little too weak to manage the more ambitious parts of the arrangement. the rest of the playing is competent enough but lackluster.
3 point(s) for Capture The mix is alright if a bit papery. The production could be much more adventurous, its all waaaay too safe at the moment. the song is potentially really interesting whereas this production is quite linear and ordinary...
7 point(s) for Composition / Songwriting Nice little snappy number. Some unusual elements to it which make you listen, especially choice of vocal melody - but it does work.
7 point(s) for Performance Some good stuff here. Tight enough and some interesting use of vocal style, although a little more expression from time to time would be wonderful.
7 point(s) for Capture Almost there. Some lack of depth to the recording and overall production. Good capture of harmonies from the vocals but the rest of the production somehow does not meet this standard.
Lots of acoustic guitar in the mix, bass solid, but lacks a little low mid. A piano or something there would have been nice and give the track some power.
21 Total Points Very close to being there, but the production lacks in two ways: the choice of instrumentaton does now help the overall flow, and the recording and mixing is not quite 100% pro just yet.
