Critically acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Emily Saunders is set to release âMoon Shifts Oceansâ â her upbeat, soul-infused album that blends smoky vocals with jazz-fusion and folk-pop sensuality.
Saunders crafts a deeply personal and emotional soundscape, evoking magical nights filled with warmth, connection, and freedom.
Her songs inspire hope and healing, embodying a belief in music’s power to uplift and transform. Her musical influences push boundaries to make music that pops. Think Brazilian and broken beats meet Goldfrapp with echoes of Erykah Badu and India Arie.
The album focus single, is the vibrant, joy-infused âSidewaysâ, which promises to be an anthem of Spring, beckoning listeners to embrace life’s twists and turns with a spirit of joy and resilience.
âSidewaysâ delivers a powerful message of finding light and love amidst lifeâs darkest moments. With multi-layered vocals and poetic lyrics dancing over bubbly riffs and driving grooves, the track is an irresistible call to happiness, light and life. At the core of the track is Emilyâs soaring, enchanting voice, which playfully dances over her infectious tunes and bold music-production in such a way to effortlessly weave their way into the listenerâs soul.
Reflecting on the track, Emily Saunders shared; âSideways is just about tripping through life; that some things can knock us over, and some things lift us up, and how friendships and love can help us see sunshine even on the cloudiest of days. This song is a celebration of how connections and love illuminate our path and cushion the falls with a comforting warmth. âHow we walk through our days, grey clouds shine with sunny golden linings, clouds blow by as the sun lights the sky, warm love on a dark day.ââ
Born in Charing Cross, Saunders grew up in Brixton, South London, in a highly musical family, singing from the age of four. But navigating challenging family dynamics in her teens, she sought shelter and support at a local hostel, where she lived for three years from age 16. âThese difficult years spurred me on creatively, and music became my safe space, where I transformed the adversity from teenage chaos to a deeper understanding of the impact of sound on those turbulent times. This has been my driving force ever sinceâ, she explains.
Saunders had to dig deep when diagnosed with acute psoriatic arthritis in 2017, leaving her semi-paralyzed, unable to walk, and isolated at home. âIt would be easy to ask why me? Why now? But itâs empowering to be free even when everything around you feels like itâs closing in,â says Saunders, who recovered and pushed through the trauma of her disabling injuries to forge an even deeper sound and a determination to self-engineer and fully immerse herself in her music with the freedom to create with no restraints. âFocusing on the creative force within can transform each and every one of us. The trick is to keep believing, keep creating, and keep sharingâ, she says.
Her new album âMoon Shifts Oceansâ is a creation of beauty, strength, and soul. Saunders is at her best, her voice is rich and magnetic, wrapping around melodies with effortless grace and artistry, offering an intimate journey through her world of deep feeling and dynamic sounds. The album conjures the perfect night â the air is warm and sultry, your friends are by your side, and the evening has just begun. Think honey vibes and breathless pop sexiness. Saunders keeps you hooked from the first track. Every note is a reminder to live life with joy and openness.
Dubbed âthe Queen of Jazz Fusion,â her engaging, distinctive vocals, and hands-on production blend pop and soul-jazz with echoes of Brazilian beats. With the album, Saunders masterfully balances depth and joy, offering a soul-soothing escape filled with groove, melody, and heart. Expect catchy songs, infectious grooves, and vibrant rhythms. After her critically acclaimed debut album, her follow-up, âOutsiders Insidersâ, was described by BBC Radio 2âs Jamie Cullum as âabsolutely brilliant,â showcasing her artistry with unique compositions praised for their originality. Today, Saunders is unstoppable. Now, on her highly anticipated forthcoming new album, âMoon Shifts Oceansâ, she has again raised the bar, offering a powerhouse of hits â her best yet, and hailed by critics as the breakout star for 2025.
Saundersâ music has hit the Top 10 on international iTunes and Amazon charts in the UK, USA, Germany, France, and Indonesia, receiving multiple 4-star reviews including: Evening Standard, Guardian, Independent, and Daily Telegraph. Her music has received multiple plays on BBC Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 6; consistently playlisted on Jazz FM; and receives widespread radio play on national stations across the globe, from US and Japan to Australia, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Italy, MĂ©xico, Brazil, Turkey, New Zealand, South Korea, and South Africa.
2025 Live Dates:
6th April- Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester
10th May- Y-Theatre, Leicester.
7th June- Twickenham Exchange Theatre, London.