by Rene Cobar
photo by Shervin Lainez
Flash back to 2007 when a then-unknown Emily King was celebrating the release of her debut album, East Side Story, and its subsequent Grammy nomination for “Best Contemporary R&B Album”. Are you there yet? Now travel back to 2019 via her supple and soulful vocals, her richly layered synth-driven tunes, and her earnest desire to exhibit her art. The New York City born and raised artist is strutting into Lollapalooza this year, ready to keep her story moving forward. Growing with each record, Emily King’s February release Scenery displays a woman confident in her trajectory, showing strength in vulnerability and power in words through songs like “Remind Me”. It’s easy to see how far the singer/songwriter has come; Chicago is just another step forward. Festivalgoers looking to lose themselves in a profoundly sensitive sonic ambiance influenced by New York City’s vibrant street elegance can count on Emily King to deliver just that.
