Well, Wang is nearly here, and this is our final National Jazz Awards Finalists Q&A – this time from Emma Gilmartin. Thanks to all the finalists who participated!
Visit the website for program details
Miriam Zolin: When did you start singing and why?? For example, was there a ‘moment’ when singing came to you as?a calling or vocation?
Emma Gilmartin: I took part in quite a few amateur musical theatre productions whilst at high school. I started out in the chorus and ended up getting a few singing roles. I loved singing but had to work hard at improving. My sister used to tell me I sounded awful! Then when I was 16 I joined my school band “Souled Out”. I was introduced to jazz at around age 18 and loved the style a lot.
The real ‘moment’ for me was when I first performed solo at my year 12 Performing Arts Festival. I sang “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin and performed by Bonnie Rait).
I hoped from then on that I could make singing my vocation.
MZ: Which musicians (singers or otherwise) have been your greatest influences? What about them stood or stands out for you?
EG: My greatest influences have been Rickie Lee Jones, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Frank Sinatra. More recently, I have been listening to a lot of Blossom Dearie and Nat King Cole.
What I love about Rickie Lee Jones, Blossom Dearie and Nat King Cole is the sincerity and sweetness in their voices. I really love the way Nat King Cole’s trio could swing and his phrasing in particular was so good.
Ella, Sarah and Frank were so technically brilliant and I continue to learn so much from listening to their recordings.*
MZ: What do you look for in a rhythm section?
EG: Firstly, I like to work with relaxed and friendly musicians. I also like to work with musicians who are sensitive about volume because I am not a very loud singer.
I like it when my rhythm section really listens to the way I phrase and can bounce off my ideas. Being a good listener is the most important thing to me.?I am working on it myself all the time.
MZ: What are your favourite lyrics, and why?
EG: I love the lyrics to “Blame it on my youth” because they are so sad! My favourite lyrics though, are “Once Upon a Summertime” – they are just so sweet.
MZ: What are you listening to now?
EG: I am learning the solo I will be singing at Wangaratta!
I’m also listening to John Mayer (pop singer/guitarist). I love the tone of his voice.
MZ: What do you hope to get out of the Wang competition?
EG: I hope to have fun and perform well. I’m looking forward to meeting all the other finalists and seeing their performances too.
Links to National Jazz Finalist Q&As
