Awarded TSA New Songwriter of the year Emily Hatton, is a Melbourne-born country singer-songwriter, who brings fire and an energy to her performances that few emerging artists can replicate. Seamlessly blending country and pop stylings, her energetic presence delivers catchy hooks coupled with authentic, personal stories. Hatton is a dedicated songwriter with great emotional range. She crafts her music from places of strength to vulnerability, but all the time with heartfelt, true-to-life experience woven in to complete the storytelling.
Recently, Emily has been announced as a Top 40 finalist in this year’s Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition, as well as a semi-finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition. She also performed in Melbourne’s Official Golden Guitar 2021 event, endorsed by the Country Music Association of Australia and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Before the health restrictions crippled any touring plans for 2020, Emily toured with QLD country-rock group Eight Second Ride, playing to near sellout crowds across a dozen of locations. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, nothing has stopped Hatton from releasing her debut self-titled EP (that she co-produced), which hit #4 on the Country iTunes Charts. Being dubbed “One to Watch†by the Nashville Songwriters Association as a songwriter, it’s no surprise her songs have accumulated over 100,000 organic streams across platforms, resonating with international audiences.
Following the success of “Why’d You Have toâ€, (#1 iTunes Country Charts; #2 AMRAP Charts, KIX Country Exclusive Premiere, Runner-Up SongTuner’s Songwriting Competition) Hatton has taken her career to a new high, being announced a Top 10 finalist in the first ever Annual Groundwater KIX Country Start competition.
Emily has also been awarded a scholarship to attend The CMAA Academy, before a string of solo shows at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, all in January 2023.
Having performed in small pubs, all the way to main stages at music festivals, Emily knows how to captivate an audience at every level, and adapt her style, to suit the ambience needed. From crowd-pleaser "bangers," to lazy day Sunday acoustic vibes, or even the Country niche, she's got you covered.
Emily’s new single, “Red White and Wine†is a nod to her connection to, and love of America, through family relations. The track features Katie Jayne (2022 Top 10 Starmaker finalist), and is written around the theme of the American Independence Day, 4th of July. Emily flew up to Newcastle to record with Rhys Zacher (Spinlight Studio), Tim Tricky and Lachlan (Dusty) Coffey of Hurricane Fall. Emily states, “we wanted to create something a bit unique and left of centre, paying homage to traditional Country, whilst also adding a modern flare. Tim jokingly put on an organ effect for his keys, and at first we all laughed, but then after a while, it actually grew on us; we thought it suited that big, American National Anthem-style sound incredibly well. You can hear that on the track.â€
In reference to the writing process, Emily says, “This song got me through the repercussion of seclusion I felt deeply from the past two years. My lyrical brain couldn’t fathom how to channel it at first, but after 8 months of writer’s block, the floodgates opened into a catharsis of escapism - the real, raw emotions painted a story around the 4th of July - Independence Day: I drew the contrast between the epitome of the celebration of liberty, with the legal obligation at the time, not being allowed to venture outside our four walls. The most isolated feeling I ever had, became an epiphany; this was temporary, and the only way was up. Suddenly I could “taste my freedom†from the emotional blue.â€