Bestival is best of all for Emma (From Salisbury Journal)

Bestival is best of all for Emma

3:04pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in Entertainments

THIS weekend local girl Emma Hughes will take to the Bestival stage with BRIT Award winning artist Kate Nash.

Emma began the year as bassist for Indigo Rose, a group comprised of musicians from the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford – they played at Salisbury Arts Centre’s Altar Club in February.

Previously she cut her musical teeth with Splendor, a three piece which included current members of Intrecepteurs as well as Eyes Like Knives Drummer Dan Lickard and Music Room’s Carly Anderson.

Last year also saw her starstruck after performing with Pop Rock heavyweights Paramore.

As she prepares to play bass at the Isle of Wight-based, end of the festival season event, Thom Belk finds out about her whirlwind year so far.

Tell us about how you came to join the band?

Well I was lucky enough to be put forward for the audition by my uni.

I was studying at the Academy of Contemporary Music and Kate’s management approached them for musicians.

First of all we had to go for a oneon- one interview with Kate, which was pretty nerve wrecking. The whole day was surreal as I bumped into a tutor who was being interviewed as well so I panicked and thought I had no chance.

Then I got a call asking to go for an audition where I had to learn the whole live set and play with the other successful musicians.

How did you find being on tour as part of a well established act?

Amazing. It is the best thing in the world.

The crew, including Kate, are some of the nicest people I’ve met, which makes everything a million times better. I get to travel and see new places while playing music with some of my closest friends.

Kate’s change of music style drew many different opinions, not all positive. How was it being in that environment at the time?

It’s really exciting and nerve wrecking. When Under-estimate the Girl was released we were all constantly on Twitter and YouTube seeing people’s reactions – good and bad.

I see music as a form of expression and the new “punkier” sound is meant to shock and create a reaction – if it didn’t it wouldn’t be punk.

I think Kate is doing an amazingly brave thing and following her heart, doing what she wants to do not what people expect her to do.

I’m 100 per cent behind the music old and new. It’s great to see her develop as an artist.

What is planned for the future?

I am playing Bestival this weekend and another festival out in Berlin, which I can’t wait for. We are also waiting for the third album, which we recorded out in LA earlier this year, to be released.

Hopefully when that happens we will be back out touring.