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It seems as though every major record label has one nowadays - a brand new act with some substance, creativity and, most importantly, soul. In addition to newcomers Chrisette Michele (Def Jam) and Kevin Michael (Atlantic), J Records presents 21-year-old New York City native Emily King. Emily was exposed to music at a young age because both of her parents performed internationally as jazz singers/musicians. At the age of 16, she began to write her own original material and some of those compositions appear on her debut album entitled East Side Story. The executive producer of this project is the legendary Chucky Thompson who's responsible for bringing Emily to the attention of music mogul Clive Davis. During the 1990's, Chucky served as an instrumental member of Sean "Diddy" Combs' Hitmen production team during the 1990's. He's produced hits for Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, The Notorious B.I.G., and many others.
It seems as though every major record label has one nowadays - a brand new act with some substance, creativity and, most importantly, soul. In addition to newcomers Chrisette Michele (Def Jam) and Kevin Michael (Atlantic), J Records presents 21-year-old New York City native Emily King. Emily was exposed to music at a young age because both of her parents performed internationally as jazz singers/musicians. At the age of 16, she began to write her own original material and some of those compositions appear on her debut album entitled East Side Story. The executive producer of this project is the legendary Chucky Thompson who's responsible for bringing Emily to the attention of music mogul Clive Davis. During the 1990's, Chucky served as an instrumental member of Sean "Diddy" Combs' Hitmen production team during the 1990's. He's produced hits for Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, The Notorious B.I.G., and many others.
Emily King has a mature sense of independence and acceptance that she credits to her upbringing in the multi-cultural landscape of New York City's Greenwich Village. East Side Story is a declaration of independence with songs like the first single "Walk in My Shoes." She simply exclaims that she has one life to lead and will take it one day at a time. Fear and ignorance will not be a part of her vocabulary.
On "Colorblind", she confronts fear and ignorance through societal race relations. The well-crafted lyrics are timeless. "I used to think I was the same as everyone until I heard a word that turned it all around. Came home from school one day confused of who I was...I didn't understand the hatred I had found." Emily King is a product of interracial love. Her mother is Italian and Polish. Her father is Native-American and African-American. It's Emily's intention for everyone to recognize our many similarities, not our differences.
East Side Story also has its share of love stories. "U & I" finds Emily in love. The man of her dreams has arrived and she offers him this sweet acoustic-driven melody. Other love stories include "Hold Me", "It Was You" and the tragic "Never Be Lonely." "Never Be Lonely" is a tale of an abandoned lover who bailed on her in the middle of the night.
Wise beyond her years, Emily King is one of the most promising artists in her field today. After touring with Lyfe Jennings and John Legend, Emily's buzz is bellowing throughout the world and many people are comparing her to labelmate Alicia Keys. And much like Keys, on East Side Story Emily King is setting her own groundwork for a long career in music -- and she's off to a great start.
By Akim Bryant