Days Are Done are singer songwriter Emmy Kay (from Blackpool) and BAFTA winning TV & film composer Adam Lewis (from South Wales), who are both based in Kingston-upon-Thames. Having come to the attention of BBC Radio 2 with their single Turns To Dust. With an EP release scheduled for the end of summer.
Can you tell us about yourself? Where you’re from and what you’ve been up to over the past few years?
Emmy: I’m originally from Blackpool and I moved down South when I went to college and just never went back. I’ve been in bands before, so I’ve always been writing and performing songs. Adam and I formed Days Are Done by accident, I was definitely a little reluctant to start a band again but it felt so natural and joyful writing and performing together, it seemed crazy to ignore it, so here we are!
Adam: I’m from a small village in South Wales. I moved to London for uni and stayed. A friend of mine offered me a house share in Kingston and I’ve been here ever since. I also write music for film and TV – somehow I even managed to win a BAFTA a few years ago!
How would you describe your music?
Simple and intimate, with some conflict. Everything starts with just the two of us and guitar athat’sats what you get on stage. It’s very much “come into the world of Days Are Done”
Can you tell us a little bit about your influences?
Emmy: Ah so many! I listen to a lot of bands – I love both of her albums. Beyonce’s Lemonade is great. I love Solange too. I wouldn’t say they were immediately obvious influences, writing wise, but I do love pop music. I also thought Ben Howard’s last album was really great. I’m a lot more pop leaning than Adam but there are some classic artists we both love- Joni, Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel, Dusty Springfield.
Adam: I’m definitely more into older artists – we share a love of people like Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake. I guess my direct influences come from that era, although I’m a big jazz fan too so there may be some indirect bits and bobs coming from that!
What are you currently promoting?
We’ve just released our single “You” – the first single from our forthcoming debut studio EP ‘Closer’ which we’re really excited about.
Have you got a particular song you’ve done that you’re particularly proud of, one that might define you?
We love all the songs on the new EP but I think we’re maybe a little early in our career to answer that one!
What are you currently listening to?
Emmy: Banks ‘The Altar’
Adam: I’m alternating between David Ramirez “Fables” and Bill Evans “Sunday At The Village Vanguard”.
And your favourite album of all time, the one you couldn’t do without?
Emmy: I agonised over this one! Maybe Dusty in Memphis.
Adam: Oh god! That’s too hard! Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
What are your hopes for your future career?
Emmy: To keep creating as honestly as we can. To have our music reach as many people as is humanly possible.
If money were no object what would be your dream project?
Adam: To be honest I think it’s this! I’ve done various project in the past and none of them felt as easy or comfortable as this one!
What’s the best thing about being a musician?
Emmy: You get to create literally whatever you want and then share that with people. Thats an amazing thing. To go on stage and tell a little story through a song you wrote in your front room and see people respond to it….it’s wonderful. The joy of that will never get old.
Adam:: I agree – making something from nothing and then have other people relate to it is a real buzz.
And the worst?
Emmy: It’s almost impossible to switch off your musical brain! I keep a notebook by my bed because the 3am lyric idea is not uncommon.
Adam: There’s not enough hours in the day to do everything you need to do!
Finally, have you anything you’d like to say to the readers of Americana UK?
Come find us and hear and watch our music!, But also ‘Its 5 o’clock somewhere” because it is…
https://youtu.be/eP8ShEGrhxA
