Getting to Know Emily Grace

A feature on Emily Grace, so fans of Almost Amy can get to know her a little better.



L2DBlog: Where were you born?
Emily: I was born in Sutton.. a little town in Surrey, just outside of London, and grew up in a tiny village very close to there until I was 18.

L2DBlog: When did you first start playing instruments, singing and/or performing?
Emily: This'll take a while!! Well, I can't remember not being able to play the piano, so I think I literally was sitting at the piano before I could walk or talk! My mum's a piano teacher (although she never taught me) and she always
says that when she was pregnant with me she played piano all the time, so when I came along I was a natural!!! I started competing in music festivals on piano when I was about 4, all the way up until I went to college at 16. I started
having flute and violin lessons at 8 (although I was APPALLING at violin so I
soon gave that up!), classical singing lessons at 14 and alto and soprano
saxophone when I was about 18.

I've always performed.. I was always busy after school with dance classes and
gymnastics and music and exams and competitions... it was pretty hectic! I
started ballet when I was about 3, and I have the cutest little pair of ballet
shoes in a glass case in my bedroom back home!

L2DBlog: How/when did you meet the other band members?
Emily: When I was 16, I gained a place at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, London. During my first year there was a 2nd Year production of Lippa's "The Wild Party" in which they asked me to play in the live band for. That's where I met Mark. He was in the year above me and was playing drums in the band. Derek was also at Italia Conti, 2 years above me, and as Mark and I got to know each other, I inevitably got to know Derek too!

I met Sam and Harry through Mark, a little while after I'd left Conti's, and as
soon as we all started playing together it felt like I suddenly gained four big
brothers!

L2DBlog: Favorite vacation?
Emily: Vacation??? Oh... you mean holiday!! Um... I don't know!! St. Maartin in the Caribbean was stunning.. Tenerife with my boyfriend's entire family (including 4 kids!!) was SO much fun! I also love Hong Kong, because that's where my mum's from, and the culture is so different but so similar at the same time.. it's pretty bizarre... New York is one of my favourite places in the whole world.. it's like London but better!! I'm a huge shopaholic, so me in Bloomingdales is like a kid in a candy shop! There's so many!!

L2DBlog: What do you miss the most about London?
Emily: Aaahh.. London.. I miss my parents and my big brother. I'm so close to my mum and dad, they're like my best friends and I am so fortunate that I can talk to them about anything. Of course I went through those tough teenage years, but as I grew up we became really close. I miss them so much, but we've agreed to meet halfway in New York every so often!! My big brother's awesome too.. He's 6 years older than me, a proper big brother.. He's an awesome street skater with a degree in psychology (random combination I know!!), and he's just a really cool guy! I'm so lucky I've got such a cool family, and I love them all SO much!
Fingers crossed I'll get to see them soon...

There's also my best friend Chris, although he lives in Paris right now. We both
toured the UK together in "Return to the Forbidden Planet", and ever since he's been my closest friend. He's a complete nutter, but a really talented musician.

You know what else I miss?? You won't believe me but... RAIN. I miss snuggling up on the sofa with my boyfriend and my duvet, with the rain pelting down onto the windows. And driving around the wiggly country roads in my little Ford!!

Oooh.. And my mum's cooking!!!

L2DBlog: What is your favorite thing about LA/the US?
Emily: Shopping!!!! Well, obviously not just that. It's been a really exciting time in LA for us recently, there's been so much going on. I love the buzz of the place, Hollywood especially is full of budding actors/musicians/artists, and it just makes the place feel alive! I also love Venice Beach.. I love the sea.. and the rocks.. and all the little shops and stalls..

L2DBlog: What is your favorite Almost Amy song and why?
Emily: To be honest, I have a different favourite every week! Probably right now my two favourites are Running (which is up on our myspace - myspace.com/almostamy) and a new song called Waterworx. I get to play THE best keyboard and piano parts in that song, and sometimes I'm playing piano with one hand, keyboard with the other, and singing at the same time!! It's mad!!! We're writing all the time, so I've always got new faves. I love Silver Bullet too... I don't know.. they're ALL my favourite!

L2DBlog: Who are your favorite bands/musicians?
Emily: When it comes to music... I'm a bit of an oddball! I grew up on classical music.. I love Chopin and Debussy.. and Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto.. All musical theatre, particularly Wicked, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Brooklyn.. But I love jazz too.. And when it comes to pop music - the girlier the better! Christina.. Girls Aloud.. Whitney.. and I LOVE McFly's song "5 Colors in Her Hair".. that's my driving song!! I always put it on really loud when I'm driving on the motorway and sing along!

L2DBlog: Favorite movie?
Emily: Center Stage. It's about a girl who goes to a Ballet school in New York. And High School Musical. Maybe I'm a little too old but I'm sorry! I love it!! We all went to see Wanted at the cinema a little while ago.. and that was awesome too.

L2DBlog: Favorite book?
Emily: I don't have a favourite!! I'm a complete bookworm.. my favourite authors are Jill Mansell (for the lovey girly stuff) and Jodi Picoult (for the stuff that makes you think).

L2DBlog: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Emily: Watch Friends!!! When I've been really busy, I love to have a day to myself in bed with a whole series of Friends. I'd love to say I went to the gym and worked out.. but that would be a lie. However, I still love dancing and I do
that as often as I can. That and swimming keeps me fit.. I'm not the kind of
person that can pound a treadmill for hours - I get bored!!

L2DBlog: Favorite food(s)?
Emily: Hmmm.. did I mention.. my mum's cooking!! It's mostly chinese food (yup.. I'm half chinese!), and it's SO good! I love Sushi too.. and there's a great English pub near Santa Monica Beach that does fabulous English breakfast fry ups!!!

L2DBlog: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Emily: Hopefully still making music with the band, playing live shows.. It's going to be a rollercoaster ride for the band from now on so I'm just going to live life as it comes, enjoy everything, and see what happens!

Emily Grace and Almost Amy singing "I Can't Help It"


L2DBlog would like to give a HUGE thank you to Emily for taking the time to answer these questions! She is not only extemely talented, but super nice!