Weirdo - Emma Jean Thackray (2025)
Thackray’s second album goes even further than 2022’s Yellow to show the world the mix of creative talents she brings to bear.
She lost her partner suddenly in 2023, and a lot of this record is her working through her grief. She also looks for representation for neurodivergence and examines that both on its own and as it intersects that grief.
At 19 tracks and dealing with some difficult material, I have to admit it’s difficult to listen to in places, but it’s ultimately a very rewarding experience.
Thackray recorded and produced the whole thing herself with only a few guest contributions. A personal statement like this, made even more personal by doing it all herself, seems like an impossible task, but you’d never know from listening. It sounds effortlessly tuneful, nimble, and soulful.
While the whold thing is very rooted in the London R&B / new jazz scene, There’s plenty of open psychedelic space and more throwback textures than you’d expect. There’s always something new coming.
Tracks I Liked
Let Me Sleep - a musically complicated piece about a feeling we’ve all had at some point.
Save Me - a galloping beat drives a great pop tune
Black Hole - Reggie Watts joins in for an old-school soul trip
Wanna Die - grief and depression, masked, like we all do. A hard truth, but she gives a great voice
