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The BiTS Interview: Emma Wilson

When Emma Wilson burst onto the British blues scene, she took the UK by storm with

her vibrant and visceral live performances. Her two 2020 EPs respectively reached No.
1 & No. 2 in the UK Independent Blues Broadcasters 'Top 40 Most played' charts. Emma

was nominated in the UK Blues Awards 2021 “Emerging Artist of the Year” category and

has been nominated again in 2022. Emma's new release “Wish Her Well” is her much
anticipated studio album. The album is currently No. 3 in the IBBA Top 40 and has spent

six weeks in the Hit Top Tracks 100 chart. Ian McKenzie spoke to her on the telephone.

BiTS: Well Emma, it’s a long time since we spoke, tell me what’s been happening to you then
and I want to talk to you a little later about the new album.

EW: It’s been an absolutely crazy and incredible two months. I got approached by a company
in America for a distribution deal and it’s all
come together beautifully. It’s a company in
Memphis called Select-O-Hits and it’s actually
owned by Johnny Phillips, whose uncle was the
great Sam Phillips of Sun Records. So there is an
incredible heritage there, and yes, they asked me
if I would like them to distribute the album in
North America and I said yes, and we went
through all the bits and bobs and the contracts
and things, and it’s all come together really well,
and we are releasing the album on May 13th this
year. I did hold it back a bit because I was
intending to release it in March myself and then
there was this slew of activity with the people in
America, so I had to wait, and we’ve gone at it full
pelt. Lots of good publicity and people like

yourself interviewing me and it’s super exciting. I
just looked at their website and they’ve got me
on the home page next to the great Ann Peebles
because they’re releasing her “Live in Memphis”
record at the moment as well, so that’s pretty
mind-blowing.

BiTS: “Live in Memphis” of course, made a few years ago [chuckles].

EW: Yes, I believe it was recorded around ‘92.

BiTS: Yes, that’s right.

EW: It’s her with the Hi-rhythm section and it’s a terrific album.

BiTS: I have heard some of it, actually. As a matter of fact, I’ve got a track in one of my shows
coming up shortly. But anyway, let’s talk about you. We’re not here to talk about somebody
else!