Interviews, Reviews, Quotes
- Interviews
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- Album Reviews
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A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
Memphis Calling
Wish Her Well
- Live Reviews
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- Radio Interviews
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- Press Quick Quotes
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Stephen Harrison - Blues Matters!
Interview with Emma
When you meet Emma Wilson, you're not just speaking to a blues singer - you're talking to someone who's life and spirit have been transformed by the music she loves. As I sat down to chat to her, it quickly became clear that her story is one of passion, resilience and the fearless pursuit of authenticity. From humble beginnings to a career that now spans Memphis and Clarksdale, Emma's journey is proof that sometimes the only thing standing between you and success is the simple belief: why not me? ...
(Click the image to read the full article - opens in a pdf file)
Clive Richardson - Blues In Britain
Interview with Emma (Memphis Calling)
Emma is featured in the November 2023 issue of Blues in Britain Magazine. Legendary DJ and journalist Clive Richardson discovers the magical story behind the making of the "Memphis Calling" album
(Click the image to read the full article - opens in a pdf file)
Album Reviews - A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
David Scott - American Blues Scene
A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
Which Deep Cut from Willie Dixon’s Catalog Found New Life with Emma Wilson?
What happens when one of the UK’s finest blues singers takes on a lost Willie Dixon track? A Spoonful of magic.
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Hal Horowitz - Rock and Blues Muse
A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
Wilson tackles six Dixon opuses– four familiar classics and two obscurities–on this straightforward, unpretentious tribute that emerges from the heart. She stays on home turf for these live in studio sessions, recorded with a tight quartet of crack UK players in Crystal Ship Studios, Sheffield England, during January, 2025...
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Phillip Smith - Philly Cheeze
A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
British blues singer Emma Wilson’s 2023 release Memphis Calling was one of my favorite albums of that year. Her latest recording, A Spoonful of Willie Dixon further solidifies my deep appreciation for her musical and vocal talent. This idea for this homage to the legendary Mississippi-born bluesman Willie Dixon was sparked by Wilson’s visit last May to Clarksdale, Mississippi where she performed at a benefit at Ground Zero Blues Club for the Pinetop Perkins Foundation...
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Stephen Harrison - Blues Matters!
A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
This collection of songs, all written by Willie Dixon, is not so much a homage to Dixon, it is more of Emma Wilson reminding us all of just how brilliant a Blues artist she is, by giving us her renditions of some classic Willie Dixon songs that have been around for over seven decades. Now this is not an easy task, as any blues artist will tell you, but Emma takes it in her stride...
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Ivan De Mello - Wrinkly Rockers
A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
A short but perfectly formed tribute to one of the true giants of the Blues canon, Emma Wilson’s 'A Spoonful of Willie Dixon' serves up a Soul-soaked, Blues-brewed masterclass in interpretation and feel. This isn’t a run-of-the-mill cover album - Wilson and her band breathe fresh life into each track with arrangements that respect the originals while offering something distinctively her own.
The opener, 'Spoonful', leans into a rockier groove than you might expect, with the rhythm section of Mark Barrett and Ian Leese locking in tight and setting a bold tone. It’s a spirited take that segues effortlessly into the languid roll of 'Good to the Last Drop', where guitarist Nik Svarc delivers some fine soloing.
The album then pivots gracefully into deeper Blues territory. 'I Can’t Quit You Baby' brings the emotional heat, elevated by Bennett Holland’s spiritual Hammond organ playing - a texture that drips with authenticity. 'Wang Dang Doodle' keeps the engine purring with a rollicking, New Orleans-flavoured piano drive, before the band crashes joyfully into the boisterous and brassy stomp of 'I Want to Be Loved'.
But it’s the closer, 'It Don’t Make Sense (You Can’t Make Peace)', that delivers the album’s emotional heart. Wilson’s plaintive, aching vocal is nothing short of breathtaking - backed by a reflective piano that recalls the moodiness of Alannah Myles’ 'Black Velvet', yet with a deeper, more soulful resonance.
At just six tracks, 'A Spoonful of Willie Dixon' may be brief, but it’s rich, thoughtful and beautifully played throughout.
Full article
Jos Verhagen - Blues Magazine (NL)
A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
Op haar nieuwe album duikt Emma Wilson in het rijke oeuvre van Willie Dixon. Het album werd live opgenomen in de Crystal Ship Studio’s in Sheffield. Samen met haar band voorzag ze de nummers van nieuwe arrangementen, zonder het oorspronkelijke karakter van Dixon’s composities geweld aan te doen. De kracht van dit album schuilt dan ook in de bezielde zang van Emma en de frisse, maar respectvolle benadering van de originele songs, uitgevoerd door een band vol Britse blues-allstars....
(Click the Blue Magazine logo to read the full article in Dutch - opens in a new window)
Alikivi - North East UK Culture
A Spoonful of Willie Dixon
A SPOONFUL OF WILLIE DIXON – new album from Teesside’s Rhythm & Blues singer Emma Wilson
Following on from the success of her debut in 2022 ‘Wish Her Well’ and the highly acclaimed 2023 release ‘Memphis Calling’, which was recorded at Sam Phillips Recording Studios in Memphis, Teesside singer Emma Wilson releases her third album ‘A Spoonful of Willie Dixon’...
Full article
Album Reviews - Memphis Calling
Gianni Beraldo - Buscadero
Memphis Calling
Randall Parish - Blue Monday monthly
Memphis Calling
In summation, Emma's fond musical tribute to the music that originated in the studios of Memphis, Tennessee is a sincere love letter performed with a passionate respect by everyone involved. On "Memphis Calling", Emma aggressively takes her spot among the premier R&B/Blues singers on the world stage.
"I greatly enjoyed her debut, "Wish Her Well", and this newest effort is even better, and should gain her fervent fans all across the globe."
Read full review here (opens as a pdf in a new tab)
Geoff Wilbur's Music Blog
Memphis Calling
"What a voice! Emma Wilson‘s Memphis Calling is a powerful rhythm and blues record. While I’d primarily classify it as blues, it is a very soulful blues with some pop-friendly melodic playfulness. In any case, I can see why Emma’s press material refers to her as rhythm and blues rather than simply blues, and I’m convinced by this record that it’s an appropriate distinction"
Full article
Andy Snipper - Music-News.com
Memphis Calling
"Massive heart and a purity of tone that is really exceptional. When the song calls for it, she can get downright sassy – ‘Hoochie Coochie Mama’ – or she can deliver a soul song like ‘A Small Word’ and you think you are listening to a female Otis" - 4 stars
Full article
Stefan Tognoni - Il Polpo Del Blues.com
Memphis Calling
"Emma Wilson's vocal skills make her an excellent exponent of RnB, with the recent release of 'Memphis Calling' she is proving to be one of the most established singers in the current Blues landscape"
Full article (in Italian)
Peter Marinus - Bluestown Music
Memphis Calling
"'Memphis Calling' is a sublime soul album by Emma Wilson that is once again a fine British-American collaboration, and the result, just like Dusty Springfield and Lulu, is stunningly beautiful. An album with a soul sound that radiates Memphis soul"
Full article (in Dutch)
Alain Hiot
Memphis Calling
"A total success, she brings joy to those who like me are nostalgic for the years of STAX & Motown. I hope she graces the French stages very soon and delights us with "Memphis Calling"
Full article (in French)
Phillip Smith (PhillyCheeze)
Memphis Calling
"Memphis Calling is a spectacular recording. It is going to land as one of my top favorites of the year"
Full article
Album Reviews - Wish Her Well
Mike Wistow (Folking.com)
Wish Her Well
Wish Her Well is a remarkable debut CD... Wilson swaggers with all the style of a woman in command of her music, there’s an edge there, an artist to see live.
Full article
John Reed (Fatea Magazine)
Wish Her Well
A beautifully produced album with the perfect blend of musicianship to back one of the finest female blues rock voices I've heard in a long time
John Kereiff “The Rock Doctor” (Hot Wax)
Wish Her Well
Wish Her Well takes you on a journey musically, lyrically and emotionally, and I look forward to taking that trip on a regular basis. - 5 stars
Norman Darwen – Twoj Blues (Poland)
Wish Her Well
This is not a traditional blues album rather an individual take on the music by a lady who undoubtedly knows how to sing the blues.
Live Shows
John McCoy for April 2024 edition of 'Blues in Britain' magazine
Radio Shows
John McCoy for April 2024 edition of 'Blues in Britain' magazine
Emma is often asked, "how did you end up recording in Memphis with the Hi Rhythm Section and Don Bryant?"
DJ Marc Carey gets all the answers in this great interview with music chosen by Emma and tracks from 'Memphis Calling' . Starts around 13 minutes in...
Up Your Chuff - with Marc Carey
Listen back: The one where we meet the new Queen of Blues
"Emma Wilson joins the award winning UYC crew for one night only."
"Mr. C and Emma play some of the great tracks that influenced her career to date. They chat about the wonderful experience of making the new album and we get to hear tracks from this great work".
“EMMA WILSON SINGS THE HELL OUT OF HER SONGS, LIKE SHE’S GOT KEROSENE IN HER VEINS”
ANDY DARLINGTON - INTERNATIONAL TIMES
“WITH THE SWEATY CLAUSTROPHOBIC SOUND OF EARLY CHAKA KHAN FRONT AND CENTRE, EMMA DELIVERS RAW, LUSTY, PRIMAL SOUNDS THAT WILL PLAIN BOWL YOU OVER, KILLER STUFF THAT TAKES ROOTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL”
CHRIS SPECTOR – MIDWEST RECORD
“EMMA CAN GROWL LIKE KOKO, TESTIFY LIKE ARETHA, ROCK LIKE JANIS OR BE AS SOULFUL AS STAX, BUT SHE’S ALWAYS HER OWN WOMAN” 4 STARS
ANDY SNIPPER – RNR MAGAZINE
“A SKILFULL VOCALIST WITH RESTRAINED ELEGANCE – A RECORDING OF REMARKABLE QUALITY”
VICENTE ZUMEL – LAHORADELBLUES.COM (SPAIN)
“SHE MAY NOT GUZZLE WHISKY FROM THE BOTTLE LIKE JANIS JOPLIN BUT HERE WE HAVE A RAW AND SPIRITED EQUAL OF SISTERS-IN–SOUL ACROSS THE ATLANTIC . EMMA PROVES CAPABLE OF SUBTLETY AND DAREDEVILRY IN EQUAL MEASURE, APPLYING BRAKES TO DRAMA THAT LESSER SINGERS MIGHT OVER EMBROIDER. EMMA WILSON IS WELL PLACED TO DEVELOP RATHER THAN MERELY CONSOLIDATE HER CHOSEN GENRE ”
ALAN CLAYSON – BEAT MAGAZINE
“AN INTELLIGENT PERSONAL EXPRESSION OF THE BLUES “
GILLES BLAMPAIN – BLUES AGAIN! (FRANCE)
“EMMA’S SONGS ARE GROOVY, HER VOICE WARM AND POWERFUL AND IMBUED WITH RHYTHM & BLUES”
MARTIN VAN DER VELDE – BLUES MAGAZINE (HOLLAND)
"DEEP SHUFFLY GROOVES WITH A MAVIS STAPLES FEEL AND ABLE TO SPEAK OF THE MOST HURT YOU’VE EVER FELT”
ARTHUR ELY - BLUES IN BRITAIN
“SHE’S AT THE CROSSROADS BETWEEN THE GREAT SINGERS OF STAX AND THE GOUAILLE OF JANIS JOPLIN”
FRED DELFORGE – ZICAZIC.COM (FRANCE)
“A REMARKABLE VOICE, TAKES ME BACK TO WHEN MOTOWN & STAX WERE THROWING DOWN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE USA, THE MUSIC STRADDLES BOTH FORMS IN AN ULTIMATE SOUL STYLE” 4 STARS
ANDY SNIPPER – MUSICNEWS.COM
SPARSE, MOODY, CRISP BACK BEATS, LYRICAL WITH A SOULFUL EDGE”
CLIVE RICHARDSON - AUTHOR OF “SOUL CITIZEN”
“BEAUTIFULLY DELIVERED SOULFUL BLUES, EMMA’S FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT”
STEVE YOURGLIVCH - BLUES MATTERS MAGAZINE
“AN INSPIRED APPROACH TO THE BLUES, ALL THE EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY EMMA HAS ALREADY GAINED SUCH A REPUTATION ON THE CONTEMPORARY BLUES SCENE”
UN-HERD – RNR MAGAZINE
“AN EXCELLENT RECORD FROM START TO FINISH”
BLUES IN BRITAIN MAGAZINE
“10 WONDERFULLY CRAFTED SONGS, EMMA IS GAINING A FANBASE ON THE BLUES SCENE AND YOU CAN HEAR WHY, SHE’S SOULFUL & POWERFUL” 4 STARS
BOB FREEMAN - ERB MAGAZINE
“EMMA’S ENGAGING VOCALS HAVE A STARTLING ABILITY TO CONVEY THE STORY CLEARLY AND PASSIONATELY, ITS THE MARK OF A STRONG ALBUM WHEN YOU WANT TO LISTEN REPEATEDLY TO GLEAN EVERY NUANCE” 4 PAWS.
TOM DIXON - BLUESDOODLES
“EMMA WILSON BOOGIES HARD, GETS HUSKY, JUKE JOINT GRITTY AND HAS SWEET FUN ON THIS BLUES ROCKING ALBUM FROM THE NARROW ALLEYS, THINK OF LATE NIGHTS AND LOW CEILINGS”
GEORGE W HARRIS – JAZZ WEEKLY
“MISS EMMA’S SINGING REACHES SOME ASTOUNDING LEVELS OF VIRTUOSITY, SHE’S A BIG DEAL”
DAVE GALLAHER – TALKIN THE BLUES - WUTC.FM
“IF YOU LIKE SMOOTH VOCALS, DELIVERED OVER VINTAGE SOUNDS, THROUGH CLASSIC GEAR , YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WITH THIS. IT’S CLEAR THERE IS MORE TO COME FROM THIS BLUESY SOUL- DRENCHED SINGER”
GRAEME STROUD – VELVET THUNDER
“LUSCIOUS VOCALS WITH BEAUTIFUL CLARTY AND AN IMPRESSIVE RANGE, ‘WISH HER WELL’ IS A LOVELY OFFERING FROM THE VERY TALENTED EMMA WILSON”
STEVE BANKS - BLUES MATTERS MAGAZINE
“VERY ORGANIC AND REAL, GREAT VOCALS “
RICHARD DANIELSON – VINTAGE TROUBLE
“EXCELLENT AS EXPECTED”
STEVE BEASTIE – HARD ROCK HELL RADIO
