I love listening to and discovering new bands and artists, especially ones that have a good soulful groove going on!
I love going out early in the morning or late at night, armed with my Canon EOS 350D camera to take photos. You will find me at festivals or events as near to the front as I can get - sometimes in the photographer's pit, taking photos too. Then after all of that - comes the editing in Photoshop! I love it! :o)
Music
Music is like lace. And what makes the lace so beautiful? It's the holes in it, the gaps! Make your silence and your gaps as beautiful as your music.
My whole life has been an experience so every moment I have survived through naturally becomes a strong influence on me as well as these bands:
Danelle Harvey, Gavin "hollerzz" Holligan, Sting, Myke Masters Band, Macy Gray, Mariah Carey, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Apurva, Ash Grunwald, Cat Stevens, Celion Dion, Transglobal Underground, Natacha Atlas, Talvin Singh, King Tubby, Clotaire K, Bill Laswell, Ojos de Brujo, dZihan & Kamien, Dub Gabriel, Tabla Beat Science, Oojami, Temple of Sound, Suns of Arqa, Radio Tarifa, Spaceport Orchestra of Benares, Peter Gabriel, Gotan Project, Bob Marley, Smadj, Fatboy Slim, Maghrebika, Psalm Drummers, 40 Thieves Orchestra, Gnawa Diffusion, Duke Special, Atlum Schema, Massive Attack, B.B. King, Black Eyed Peas, Bjork, Corinne Bailey Rae, DJ Shadow, Dhol Foundation, Goo Goo Dolls, Hope of the States, John Davis, Leonard Cohen, Madonna, R.E.G Project, Ry Cooder, Ali Farka Toure, Santana, Steely Dan, Taj Mahal, Talking Dog, Tom Waits, Blind Boys of Alabama . . .
Don't Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest, you must - but don't you quit
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As everyone of us sometimes learns
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow
You might succeed with another blow
Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst, that you must not quit.
Anon
So let's see where all you lovely visitors come from then!
Emma is both an experienced musician (flute and percussion) and photographer. She has played and recorded with the likes of Mick Cox, Dan Cutrona, Larry Norman, Dave Markee, Henri Spinetti, Gavin "Hollerzz" Holligan, Graham Kendrick, Duke Special, Temperance Society Chip Bailey, Psalm Drummers, Terl Bryant, Ed Freitas, Daniel Beddingfield, Danelle Harvey, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, Georgian Banov, Lynieve Austin, Jessi Markee, Suzy Yaraei, Leonard Jones, Secret Archives of the Vatican, Uncle Riotous and Talking Dog.
From the age of 13, she was playing to large audiences with the Bromley Youth Orchestra around Europe. At the age of 17, she achieved Grade 8 Flute with Distinction and has been developing her musical repertoire ever since. She has played with World Music bands in the UK and the Middle East, as well as loving her time playing rock, blues, motown, reggae and dub style with various people over the years.
Emma has appeared numerous times on God Channel as well as BBC Northern Ireland's Top of the Pops. She is also no stranger to radio broadcast interviews, despite feeling like a nervous wreck each time!
Emma is also a photographer working with bands for album artwork and tour/gig photos. When not playing herself at festivals, she manages to work as an official photographer too! Have a look through the profile photos. Remember to keep checking back as they are updated regularly.
I'm learning new conga and Middle Eastern rhythms to incorporoate into my repetoire from this great book called 'Middle Eastern Rhythms' which I ordered from Poland of all places! A fantastic book which has now become like a bible to me!
Summer is normally the busiest time for me in terms of festivals, but there are drum workshops throughout the rest of the year you can see me organising!
GIG SLIDESHOW
You can see some of my work in the photographic portfolio slideshow such as the photos for Asthma UK taken at the 2005 London Marathon (who were sponsored by Paula Radcliffe) as well as for the Jessi Markee band's website.
Comments & Endoursements:
Emma is a raw talent, with a percussionist's and flutist's ear. She demonstrates a musicality similar to mine Emma has a musical talent that I support and she has always been a blessing to me whenever we've played together. She is travelling down a musical path just like me to develop her skills and doing what she is naturally gifted in and in a way she truly loves with a burning passion and desire.
MICK COX (Producer, Keyboardist and Guitarist - Van Morrison, Tom Jones, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker.The Alleykatz, Eire Apparent, Lee Fardon, Arrival, Laurie Styvers and Hank Wangford) plus many of his own solo albums).
A woman percussionist is a rare find, and a good one even rarer, but once found she brings something special to rhythm in music. Emma is just that find; she is sensitive, but bold, studied but not over technical, reliable, creative and musical. A good find indeed!
TERL BRYANT (Drummer/percussionist for John Paul Jones, Faith Hill, Honeyz, Iona, Matt Redman. Founder of Psalm Drummers).
I've known Ems for over 10 years and found her not only to be a gentle, kind and easy-going young lady with a great sense of humour but also an inspiring, versatile and eloquent musician. Her natural talent and feel for rhythm and melodies shows the great future she has ahead of her as a professional. A great find and a solid backbone for any band.
DAVE MARKEE (bassist for Faith Hill, Eric Clapton, Session musician for The Who).
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Who I'd like to meet:
Emma is keen to meet anyone who is interested in hiring her as a musician and/photographer, especially in the Croydon and London area.
I like my Hat, thank you very much bucko ! LOL Now what hat were you referring to ? LOL Main pic hat is cool , I don't know what your talkin about. B - Out
Hey Emma Bentham whats going on, Thanks for becoming a new friend on the infinite space, hope you were diggin some of the new songs, my music just went on hopefully you'll pick up some tracks! hope your good!
I would love to come, not sure what we can do this time but we coujld schedule another time. Have you told them aobut me? What have you told them and what is your church like? Looking forward to seeing you in a week or so. It will be good to see you. Blessings on you.
haha really? its so boring there really is nothing to do, well apart from the lovely woolworths store that decided to employ me! haha, and yeah i noticedyou werent around much. i havent been really either coz i did things i shouldnt have done, which you may, may not have heard about, may effect you talking to me or not but meh. :)
Life goes on, but it doesn't make me any richer! I'm ok, and looking forward to Greenbelt. Hope you're well and are gonna make it to GB too! David xXx.
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