Emily Burns - New Waves

Today’s new artist has already recorded at Abbey Road and played London’s O2, yet the chances are you’ve not heard of her. So let us introduce you to 18 year-old Emily Burns from Rugby, Warwickshire and if the likes of Nina Nesbitt and Gabrielle Aplin are your thing, then Emily could just be your new favourite singer. There are five songs on Emily’s Soundcloud page and every single one is a big scoop of sugar coated, chocolate sprinkled, hook laden, melodic acoustic pop.

So how has Emily already played the O2? OK, first we should clarify it’s the Indigo 02, not the huge Arena venue next door. How did Emily get there? By entering Live and Unsigned and negotiating her way through the heats to bag a place at the final in London. She didn’t win the competition, but as we all know the best artist never usually does (exception to the rule: Girls Aloud). Since then she’s attended a BBC Introducing masterclass session and following that was given the opportunity to record at Abbey Road. Not bad going for someone who is only just old enough to buy a drink in a pub.

Emily’s songs are typical nuggets of the life of a teenager and of course that means relationships. “Maybe we’re not perfect we’ve got flaws, but I know that I’m always going to be yours,” she sings on the two minute ditty You Make Me Free which subtly reminds us a little of Birds by Kate Nash in its lyrical simplicity and directness, but with the delivery of a female Ed Sheeran . The Sheeran influence continues on Making Time, in fact it wouldn’t surprise us at all if the ginger one co-wrote this, it’s so similar to his style. It’s not all the joys and excitements of never ending teenage love though: “Take me to A&E, they can fix my broken heart,” she sings on the summery sounding pop of Plasters, Glitter and Glue which we're streaming below. Bless her.

Next on Emily’s adventures are some selective festival slots this summer – keep an eye out if you’re at T in the Park or The Secret Garden Party on the smaller stages. Emily will be cropping up there. She'd make a fine way to start your day.

Emily Burns - Plasters, Glitter and Glue