An Interview with Emma-Jean Thackray

By Graham Clark

Drawing on an eclectic mix of influences—grunge, pop, soul, P-funk and jazz—Emma-Jean Thackray is set to release her new album, Weirdo, a celebration of survival and individuality. Written, performed, recorded, mixed, produced and arranged entirely by Thackray – originally from Leeds – in her South London flat, the album showcases her musicianship and self-expression.

Originally conceived as a meditation on neurodivergence and mental health, Weirdo evolved following the unexpected loss of her long-term partner in January 2023, resulting in an album that feels deeply personal and universally resonant. With intricate compositions and raw emotion, the album is a bold leap forward for the artist, evoking comparisons to Meshell Ndegeocello, Kate Bush and Nirvana—but on the dancefloor.

What made you decide to leave Leeds?
I made the decision to leave Leeds because I wanted to go to the Royal Welsh College in Cardiff. After that, I went to Trinity College in London—and I never left.

What do you miss about Yorkshire?
The attitude to life. People in the north have a real determination, and I also miss being near Elland Road, as I’m a big Leeds United fan. There’s a lot of pressure being a fan and a player of the club, as it has such a rich history.

Who were your influences?
I liked a lot of neo-soul artists, dance music, a bit of techno, and bands like Radiohead and Steely Dan. I said to the record company when I was making the album, “Try to imagine if Kurt Cobain was in Radiohead, and they got together with Steely Dan and locked themselves away in a cabin in the woods for a year—this is the album they would have come up with.”

What can we expect from the new album, Weirdo?
This is my first new album in a few years, as I needed a break. After losing my partner, I went through a really bad time. I had to find a way back to myself, so I locked myself in the studio and came up with this new record. I wrote, produced, recorded and mixed it, and played everything on the album myself. It was a really therapeutic process, and in many ways, making the album saved my life—it gave me a reason to get up, and a new meaning. Part of me doesn’t really care if people like the record—what mattered was making it.

When you go on tour, are you going to have a live band?
There will be a few different set-ups. I’ve got the in-store tour, which will just be myself. After that, I’ll be doing the band shows with musicians I’ve been performing with for a long time.

The video for the single “Wanna Die” shows you playing every instrument—was that a difficult one to make?
We filmed it in one day. It was a real labour of love and cost a lot of money and energy. I wanted to show people my sense of humour, especially with the album being so heavy—particularly the lyrics. Gilles Peterson is in the video, though originally we wanted John Thomson from The Fast Show, as he did a great Jazz Club comedy routine. I wanted to replicate that in the video, but another job came up for him and he had to take it—he was very apologetic about it.

There’s a good balance in your music—is that intentional?
I like things to have duality. I think it’s easier to absorb the darkness of the lyrics if the music is uplifting. I really hope my music resonates with a lot of people—there aren’t many new albums that deal with loss, grief and mental health struggles.

The new album, Weirdo, is released on 25th April. Emma-Jean Thackray plays Headrow House in Leeds on 1st May