Emma's Imagination
Birth nameEmma Gillespie
BornEdinburgh, Scotland
GenresPop, alternative
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2010–present
LabelsFuture Records (2010–12)

Emma Gillespie (born in Edinburgh, Scotland), better known by her stage name Emma's Imagination, is a Scottish singer. She came to prominence after winning the Sky 1 TV talent contest Must Be the Music. She was signed to Gary Barlow's music label Future Records.[1] She released her debut solo album, Stand Still in January 2011.

Early years

Emma Gillespie was born in Edinburgh and grew up in Dumfries where she attended St Joseph's College.[2] She lived with her mother Sharon and stepfather. Gillespie was in the Andaman Islands in India at the time of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. She then went on to travel in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, with many of her ideas for music originating while travelling.

Gillespie took up playing guitar when aged 16. Before coming to public attention, she spent time busking on the streets of Glasgow, to which she had moved a year before her breakthrough. She also spent time honing her skills performing in New York.[3] Gillespie released her debut single, "Stamp Your Feet", in September 2009, on independent label Up Next Records, based in Glasgow.

Music career

2010–11: Must Be the Music

Emma's Imagination entered Must Be the Music, broadcast on Sky1 and Sky 1 HD. In the initial televised audition phase, as well as the three semi-finals and final, contestants sang in front of the judges, Jamie Cullum, Dizzee Rascal, and Sharleen Spiteri. The auditions took place in early August 2010 with musicians allowed to play their own compositions. The live finals were held at Wembley Arena with a live audience behind the judges. During the finals, the public voted for their favourite act, which was Emma's Imagination.

After appearing on the show, her first single, "This Day", was released for sale by download and debuted at number 10 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart and number 2 on the Indie Chart.[3] The single also charted on the Irish Singles Chart, where it reached number 9 and on the Scottish Singles Chart, where it debuted at number 7.

Emma's Imagination won the final on Sunday 19 September 2010, and received a prize of £100,000.[4]

2011: Stand Still

Following victory on the show, Emma's Imagination's second single, "Focus", debuted in the United Kingdom at number 7,[5] her second British Top 10 placing. The single also debuted at number 1 on the Indie Chart, number 8 in Ireland and number 5 in Scotland. Her debut album Stand Still was released in January 2011 and peaked at number 14 in the UK Albums Chart.

In 2012, Gary Barlow announced that he was closing his record label.[6]

2013-present: Independent career

In 2013, Emma's Imagination released independently a 6-song EP, Underway, produced by Youth. This would be Emma's last release under the name Emma's Imagination, and she has used her birth name for subsequent releases.

Gillespie released her second full-length album, Pier Siamese, in April 2016.

Emma's singing gained a wider audience when it featured in CBeebies Bedtime Hour series Hushabye Lullabye in 2020. [7]

Discography

Albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
UK IRL SCO
2011 Stand Still 14 48 2
2016 Pier Siamese
  • Released 8 April 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Genre: Pop, Alternative
 — — —
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

EPs

Year Album details Peak chart positions
UK IRL SCO
2013 Underway
  • Released 12 August 2013
  • Label: Pebble Island Records
  • Genre: Pop, Alternative
 — — —
2013 Acoustic — — —
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released


Singles

Year Single Chart positions Album
UK
[11]		 UK
IND		 IRL SCO
2009 "Stamp Your Feet"1 65 15 - 46 N/A
2010 "This Day" 10 2 9 7 Stand Still
"Focus" 7 1 7 5
2011 "Brighter Greener" - - - -
2016 "Mercury" - - - - Pier Siamese
"Your House" - - - -
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released

Notes

  • 1 "Stamp Your Feet" did not chart when it was first released, it charted in October 2010 at the same time she was announced winner of the Must Be the Music contest.

Promotional singles

  • 2010 – "Faerie Lights"

References

  1. ↑ "Gary Barlow signs talent show winner Emma's Imagination". Bbc.co.uk. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "STV programmes news and information". Stv.tv. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  3. 1 2
  4. ↑ "Scots singer wins TV talent show". Bbc.co.uk. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Official Charts" – 26 September 2010
  6. ↑ ""Gary Barlow closes record label"". Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Hushabye Lullabye press release". 5 February 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Emma's Imagination ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM "STAND STILL "AND TOUR DATES". 11 November 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Emma's Imagination – Stand Still – CDs at Play.com (UK)". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "Emma's Imagination – Stand Still (2011)". Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  11. ↑ "UK Charts: Emma's Imagination". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
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