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Emily King

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Emily King
Emily King performing in Portland, Oregon August 2016
Emily King performing in Portland, Oregon August 2016
Background information
Born (1985-07-10) July 10, 1985 (age 39)
OriginNew York City, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2004–present
Labels
PartnerJeremy Most (2007-2021)
Websitewww.emilykingmusic.com

Emily King (born July 10, 1985) is an American singer and songwriter. She started her career in 2004 and her first album East Side Story was released in August 2007. In December 2007, King was listed as a Grammy nominee for Best Contemporary R&B Album.[1] In 2019 Emily King was nominated for Best R&B Song[2] for the 62nd Grammy Awards and her album Scenery was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.[2] In 2020 Emily King was nominated again, this time for the category of Best R&B Performance[3] for her song "See Me".

Biography

[edit]

Born in New York City in 1985, King grew up in a small apartment on the Lower East Side.[4] Her parents, Marion Cowings and Kim Kalesti, were a singing duo who performed and traveled regularly taking her and her older brother with them. At age 16, King left high school after earning her GED to pursue her music career.[5] She began playing shows in restaurants and venues around New York City including CBGB and The Bitter End.[6]

Career

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King signed her first record deal with J Records in 2004 and appeared on Nas' 2004 album Street's Disciple credited as simply "Emily".[7] Her first album East Side Story was released in August 2007. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album of the Year. After leaving the label in 2008, King continued her work independently with producer Jeremy Most. She self-recorded her follow-up EP Seven in her home, released in July 2011.[5] Throughout this time, King toured domestically and internationally with many artists including Nas, John Legend, Floetry, Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, and Maroon 5.[6]

In 2012, King was awarded the Holly Prize (a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly) from The Songwriters Hall of Fame for recognition of the "all-in songwriter" whose work exhibits the qualities of Holly’s music: true, great and original.[8] In the fall, King was invited by Emeli Sandé to open for her UK tour playing sold out shows in five cities including at The Royal Albert Hall in London.[6] King collaborated with José James on his album No Beginning No End in 2013 and can be heard on the tracks "Heaven on the Ground" and the acoustic version of "Come to My Door".[9] In 2014, King performed as an opening act for Sara Bareilles' Little Black Dress tour.[10]

King's second studio album, The Switch, was self-released by her own label, Making Music Records, on 26 June 2015. The Wall Street Journal remarked that the album is "a tasteful collection of eleven songs that showcase King’s distinctive voice".[11]

She signed with the independent label ATO Records in 2017 and with them released her third studio album, Scenery, on 1 February 2019.[5]

In late 2019, King once again performed as an opening act for Sara Bareilles in her Amidst The Chaos Tour.[12]

In 2019, King helped to compose "Being Human", the ending theme song for the Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe Future, which she sang. Her song "Can't Hold Me" was also used in an episode of the series.[13]

King released her fourth studio album, Sides, on January 17, 2020. The album features acoustic takes on her previous songs, and includes a guest appearance by Sara Bareilles on the track "Teach You."[14] In response to racial unrest in the summer of 2020, King released the song "See Me" in August.[15] The song was nominated for Best R&B Performance in the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

King appeared on stream with Marc Rebillet on March 21, 2021, as his first ever guest performer.[16]

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Curr.
[17] 		US
R&B
HH
[18] 		US
Heat
[19] 		US
Indie
[20]
East Side Story
  • Released: August 28, 2007
  • Label: J
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — 60 18 —
The Switch
  • Released: June 26, 2015
  • Label: Making Music
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 — 41 16 —
Scenery
  • Released: February 1, 2019
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 86 — 6 14
Sides
  • Released: January 17, 2020
  • Label: Making Music, ATO
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — — —
Special Occasion
  • Released: May 5, 2023[21]
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
 79 — — —

EPs

[edit]
Title Details
East Side Story (Sampler)
  • Released: 2006[22]
  • Label: self-released
  • Formats: CD
Seven
  • Released: July 12, 2011
  • Label: self-released
  • Formats: CD, LP, Digital download
Emily King on Audiotree Live
  • Released: November 15, 2015
  • Label: Audiotree Music
  • Formats: Digital download
Change of Scenery (Remix EP)
  • Released: October 11, 2019
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Digital download
Spotify Singles[23]
  • Released: July 22, 2020
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Streaming

Instrumental albums

[edit]
Title Details
The Seven EP Instrumentals[24]
  • Released: 23 April 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Scenery (Instrumentals)[25]
  • Released: 19 June 2020
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

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As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
R&B/
HH
[26] 		US
Adult
R&B
[27]
"Walk in My Shoes"
(with Lupe Fiasco) 		2007 74 22 East Side Story
"U & I" 2008 — 26
"Ordinary Heart" 2012 — — Non-album single
"The Animals" 2013 — — The Switch
"Distance" 2014 — —
"BYIMM" 2016 — —
"Crush (Amazon Original)" 2017 — — Non-album single
"Remind Me" 2018 — — Scenery
"Look at Me Now" — —
"Can't Hold Me" 2019 — —
"Incredible Manage Question" — — Non-album single
"Look At Me Now (Acoustic)" — — Sides
"Radio (Acoustic)" 2020 — —
"Teach You (Acoustic)"
(featuring Sara Bareilles) 		— —
"Being Human"
(Theme From Steven Universe Future) 		— — Steven Universe Future (Original Soundtrack)
"See Me" — — Non-album singles
"First Time" 2021 — —
"This Year" 2022 — — Special Occasion
"Medal" 2023 — —
"False Start" — —
"Special Occasion" — —
"Bad Memory"
(with Norah Jones) 		— — Norah Jones Is Playing Along
[edit]
Title Year Album
"What's Never Gone"
(Jake and Abe featuring Emily King) 		2021 Non-album single
"What Love Can do"
(Robert Glasper featuring Emily King) 		2023 Run the World, Season 2

Guest appearances

[edit]
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Take a Walk" 2008 Tame Waipara Leaving Paradise
"Heaven on the Ground" 2012 José James No Beginning No End
"What Must I Do" Selan Space Flight
"Stay Slow" 2013 Tame Waipara Fill Up the Silence
"Decisions" 2014 Taylor McFerrin Early Riser
"Good Enough" 2019 Kraz Telescope
"That's the Way Life Goes" Hannah Georgas Imprints
"Georgia - J Most Remix" 2021 Brittany Howard, Jeremy Most Jaime (Reimagined)
"If I Can't Have You" Sara Bareilles Amidst the Chaos: Live from the Hollywood Bowl
"Miracles" Benny Sings, Peter CottonTale Music
"Lucky" Jason Mraz Look for the Good (Deluxe Edition)
"Invitation" 2022 Robert Glasper Black Radio III (Supreme Edition)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2008 Grammy Award Best Contemporary R&B Album East Side Story Nominated
2020 Grammy Award Best R&B Song "Look at Me Now" Nominated
2021 Grammy Award Best R&B Performance "See Me" Nominated
2024 Grammy Award Best R&B Album Special Occasion Nominated

Tours

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Headlining

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  • The Switch Tour (2015–16)[28][29]
  • You and I Tour (2017)[30]
  • Scenery Tour (2019)[31]
  • Ever After Tour (2021–22)[32][33]

Supporting

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References

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  1. ^ "Emily King, Auckland Arts Festival". New Zealand Herald. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Grammy Awards 2020: Full list of nominees, winners for 'music's biggest night'". Global News. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  3. ^ "Grammy Nominations 2021: See the List". The New York Times. 2020-11-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  4. ^ Hyman, Dan (30 January 2019). "Is Emily King irresistible, as she has been called? Well, a lot of people are hooked". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Ruddell, Charley (27 February 2020). "Grammy-Nominated Singer Emily King Brings New 'Scenery' To Somerville". WBUR. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Emily King". NPR Music Live Sessions. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. ^ Patrick, Ryan B. (1 February 2019). "Emily King's Minimalist R&B Album 'Scenery' Puts Feelings First". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Emily King | Songwriters Hall of Fame". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. ^ Ratliff, Ben (18 January 2013). "Pursuing Many Paths to Find His Own (Published 2013)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (5 May 2014). "Sara Bareilles Announces Summer Tour". Billboard. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  11. ^ Eric R. Danton (22 June 2015). "Emily King Listens to Her Instincts on 'The Switch' (Exclusive Album)". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 March 2016. (subscription required)
  12. ^ "Emily King Announces Fall Arena Tour Supporting Sara Bareilles". ATO Records. April 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  13. ^ Ifeanyi, K. C. (31 March 2020). "'Steven Universe' creator Rebecca Sugar explains the series finale, 'Future'—and her future". Fast Company. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  14. ^ Sun-Times, Selena Fragassi-For the (12 February 2020). "A big year for Emily King brings Grammy nominations, praise from stars and critics". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Emily King Releases New Song "See Me"". ATO RECORDS. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  16. ^ "TOTALLY NORMAL STREAM". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  17. ^ "Emily King: Chart History - Top Current Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Emily King: Chart History - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Emily King: Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Emily King: Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Emily King Announces 'Special Occasion' Album". ATO Records. February 28, 2023.
  22. ^ "East Side Story [Sampler]". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Spotify Singles - Emily King". Spotify. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  24. ^ "The Seven EP Instrumentals". Bandcamp. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Scenery (Instrumentals) by Emily King". Tidal. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  26. ^ "Emily King: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  27. ^ "Emily King: Chart History: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Emily King's 'The Switch' Is Hitting The East Coast On Tour". Soul Bounce. July 21, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  29. ^ "EMILY KING 2016 SUMMER TOUR IN HOUSTON, WHAT I WORE". Fashion Crazed Foodie. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  30. ^ "Emily King - You and I Tour". Fusicology. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  31. ^ "Emily King on Twitter: "TOUR TIME! We doing this ;) 😎Can't wait to see you guys soon!! 💖-EK http://emilykingmusic.com"". Twitter. Retrieved January 14, 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  32. ^ "Emily King Ever After Tour". Fusicology. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  33. ^ "Emily King - Tour". Emily King. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  34. ^ "SARA BAREILLES ANNOUNCES HER MUCH ANTICIPATED AMIDST THE CHAOS TOUR". Live Nation. 8 April 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
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