Emily Barker

Emily Barker

Emily Barker is a songwriter and singer from Western Australia who works in alternative folk and folk. Born in 1980, she first appears on the British folk scene at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2002, performing with Rob Jackson, the guitarist with Boo Hewerdine.

Early work and the-low-country

The Cambridge performance leads to the formation of the-low-country, with Barker as songwriter and front person and Jackson as her collaborator. The group releases two albums, beginning in 2003, and plays alt-country venues and festivals. Their work also receives several plays on John Peel’s show.

Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo

In 2005, Barker begins performing and recording as Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. The line-up includes Barker with Anna Jenkins, Jo Silverston and Gill Sandell. Jenkins plays violin, cello and musical saw, while Silverston and Sandell provide accordion, piano and flute, along with backing harmony vocals. Barker continues with this project as her main performing identity.

Albums and label work

Her solo album Photos. Fires. Fables. is part of her catalogue, alongside releases with the-low-country and Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. Despite The Snow, the group’s second studio album, is recorded in live sessions in a 16th-century barn in Norfolk. It is self-released in 2008 on Barker’s label, Everyone Sang. Almanac follows in 2011, and Dear River is released in 2013. Barker also records as part of Vena Portae, Emily Barker & The Choir of Angels, Applewood Road and the-low-country.

Earlier influences

As a teenager, Barker sings heavy metal and soul covers at school assemblies, before moving into folk and alt-country work.