January 2011 - Grapevine Magazine
EMMA CHERRY - PAPER DREAMS
Emma Cherry was born in Ipswich. She completed 5 years studying Performing Arts, leaving in 2001 with a BA (Hons) Degree. In 2006 she wrote and recorded 'Here to Stay' with hubby Gav composing the original music on piano. The following year Emma recorded other original songs with fellow musician and producer Steve Mann at Attic Studios, including 'Losing my Mind'. These songs can be found on Emma's MySpace page. In 2008, paving the way forward, Emma invested in Pro Tools software and has semi converted her dining room at home into a recording studio. Emma's debut album 'Paper Dreams' contains 10 self-written tracks and was released on 26th November 2010 on her own lebel Pink Apple Records. Emma is currently performing shows around East Anglia and London. Her website can be found at www.emmacherry.com
Tracks: Higher/Dora/Stupid Girl/Moon/Lover's Hill/The Clearing/Paper Dreams/Pippa/Blind/Won't Fall Away
Musicians: Emma Cherry, Gav Locksmith, Dave Harmon
Emma Cherry - Paper Dreams (Pink Apple)
Any artist credited with Kate Bush's ethereal traits and Fleetwood Mac's ingrained pop sensibility is surely worth further investigation - which brings us to Emma Cherry.
Recorded in her dining room, in her hometown of Ipswich, and released on her own Pink Apple label, "Paper Dreams" is a debut record that is certainly au fait with a host of female singers, including Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks. Although, and this is important, Cherry is resolutely her own woman, and with great songs like "Dora", "Stupid Girl" and "Pippa", displays more than enough talent to avoid any charges of being derivative, imitative or in any way unoriginal.
In spite of its humble, studio-free origins, at no point does "Paper Dreams" feel lo-fi or under-cooked, so full credit to Cherry and her co-producer Gavin Locksmith for a production which is both atmospheric yet always accessible.
Leicester Bangs