Emma has put her own stamp on solo album

Aug 16 2007 By Caireen Kelly

A MEMBER of late lamented Lanarkshire band the Delgados this week talked to ML3 Player about her new career as a solo artiste.

Emma Pollock, who is also joint owner of a recording studio in Blantyre, launches her debut album, entitled Watch the Fireworks, next month.

Emma studied physics at Strathclyde University where she met Paul Savage of Hamilton and Motherwell pair Alun Woodward and Stewart Henderson, and quickly formed the successful Delgados.

The band enjoyed 10 years of success before deciding to go their separate ways.

Her personal band highlight was performing at the Barrowland and the 13th Note in Glasgow. She said: “Glasgow always felt like home and it was great to be able to play at these venues before we split.” The band were nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2000.

Since the split in April 2005, Emma has been busy penning her self-written debut album, Watch the Fireworks, which hits the shops on September 17.

Emma says her solo material is, “not a million miles away from what the Delgados used to do.” Her style concentrates on using intelligent lyrics combined with great instrumentals and interesting choice of backings. It is mostly guitar-based as she can play that instrument, but she also loves weaving the piano into her work and even though she cannot play it, she uses it to write her music.

She said: “I don’t aim to emulate anyone, but obviously comparisons will always be made. I just do what comes naturally to me.” Her biggest ambition is to, “get my music out to as many people across the world as possible. I have been playing these songs live for over a year now and I am desperate for people to hear them all at once on the album.”

Emma married Paul Savage in July 2000 and he is a sound engineer at the new Chem 19 studio.

Chem 19 was opened last October at Blantyre Industrial Estate and is partly funded by the Lanarkshire Business Venture Fund.

The £100,000 facility is owned and run by Paul Savage, Emma Pollock, Alun Woodward and Stewart Henderson, who also run the record label Chemikal Underground.

The studio boast an extensive list of artistes who have recorded there in recent years including the Fratellis, Franz Ferdinand, Mogwai and Arab Strap plus many more.

Emma’s debut album launch is at Mono, Glasgow, on September 18.