BUSY WOULD BE the best way to describe Emma Langford’s state as she takes a phone call this week.
The Limerick singer was prepping for not only the online release of her debut album Quiet Giant but also a 26-date tour of Switzerland and Germany.
The launch of the album, which will be made official on 2 December in Dolan’s Warehouse, will cap a busy 18 months for the alt-folk singer-songwriter.
Described by Phil Coulter as a “breath of fresh air”, Langford successfully crowd-funded and launched her debut EP which was toured across the country,
Coupled with touring the country, she has supported artists Ron Sexsmith, Declan O’Rourke, Roisín O and Hermitage Green.
Not bad for a career that started trying to avoid studying.
“My mam would have wanted me to play guitar because she plays guitar, but I kind of put it off.
Then I picked up a guitar in my teens, mostly to procrastinate during my Junior Cert. I’d always been doing poetry and things like that, so the songs just kind of came out.
“Then when I was in college I was doing voice and dance in UL but mostly cos I wanted to be involved in music in some way. Our final year project was to make a music CD. I got some people to and put a band together and recorded a couple of songs. I must have been bitten by a bug, because I loved it.
“I’ve gone from there to supporting Ron Sexsmith – like here I am sharing a stage with people I’d never thought I’d meet.”
With the EP’s success and her strong online presence, one could have been forgiven for assuming that Langford would take this year slowly, but no.
Recording, mixing, mastering and releasing her album in just six months, Langford is now spending a month travelling Switzerland and Germany as part of the Irish Folk Festival tour.
Niamh Dunne from Beoga and I have been friends for years and she recommended me for the festival tour. But they told told me I would have to record an album and produce a music video.
“Of course, I said yes and worked it out afterwards. It will be a bit of fun.”
As the album launches. Langford is already pleased
“That’s the most satisfying thing – when people who I’ve never met say nice things – they have no obligation to be nice to me.”
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