EMMA KUPA has been something of British indiepop’s best-kept secret this past decade.
Starting out in North Derbyshire trio Standard Fare, who released two albums of cracking, bouncy guitar pop, coming on like Talulah Gosh’s knowing, insouciant, smokey voiced big sis.
A solo mini-album in 2015 was followed by an album with the former front man of Hefner as the Hayman Kupa Band two years later. And finally a full-length debut, It Will Come Easier, is on the horizon; in advance of which she has teased us with a video for single “Nothing At All”.
And it’s Emma’s voice which is her secret weapon; at once totally in the tradition of the C86 indie gal, it’s all got a ballsy rawness and a folk edge which you might expect to hear more from Eliza Carthy. It’s full-blooded, bruised, still in love with love; but sassier than you, make no mistake.
With Darren Hayman this time behind the mixing desk, the album promises raw tenderness and regret, given to you unblinking with a homespun, folksy indiepop melody to sweeten the pill.
If “Nothing At All” is a measure of what to expect, it’s gonna be a treat.
It Will Come Easier will be released on September 18 by Palo Santo Records in the US and Fika Recordings in the UK and Europe, and can be pre-ordered at https://shop.fikarecordings.com/album/it-will-come-easier
You can also find Emma on Bandcamp, Instagram and Facebook
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