Emily Barker

In the organizer's words:

Award-winning singer-songwriter Emily Barker, best known for her work on the soundtrack to the BBC series Wallander, returns with a new single. Inspired by Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope is the thing with feathers", Feathered Thing reflects Barker's personal journey through loss and hope. The release is a taste of her new album Fragile as Humans, which will be released on May 3, 2024 via Everyone Sang/Kartel Music Group.

While Barker already had a full collection of songs under her belt, a visit to the legendary Wool Hall Studio in Somerset inspired her to write another. In Feathered Thing, Barker processed the pain and healing after an emotional loss: after several failed IVF treatments, she unexpectedly experienced a natural pregnancy, which tragically ended in a miscarriage. In this song, Barker tells her story of grief and healing, made palpable in the gentle, oscillating piano melody and stirring strings.

Barker's music is not easily categorized into a genre - she combines elements of folk, indie and pop with profound, lyrical narratives. Her unmistakable voice floats like a feather-light breeze over the arrangements, which range from delicate piano sounds to intense instrumental explosions. The emotional depth of her lyrics and her craftsmanship make her music unique.

The upcoming album will also include the previously released singles Wild to be Sharing This Moment and Loneliness. Barker hopes that her music will speak to people in similar life situations and make the often unspoken pain visible to create more space for sharing and healing.