Emma Smith
"There are many strands to my work and sometimes it's hard to find a balance, but they all feed each other and each part would be weaker without the others."
Emma Smith studied double bass at the Royal College of Music where she was trained in classical double bass technique and repertoire. Building on the language of classical music, and exploring the story-telling aspect of folk music from different parts of the world, Emma has forged a career as a versatile composer, improviser and collaborator.
An advocate for gender balance in the arts, she produces the multi-genre series Bitches Brew, showcasing the best of female instrumental improvising talent, with performances in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Toronto.
Passionate about giving a voice to those who normally fall between the cracks, Emma has spent time in Palestine, El Salvador, the USA and across Europe, training musicians to provide creative spaces for vulnerable and displaced people. This work provided the impetus, imagery and humanitarian insight behind her solo show The Relentless Approach of Better Times. Continuing her exploration of how we work and how we interact, Emma has collaborated with duo partner Phil Hague to look at society's addiction to Blame. She is currently working on a celebration of jazz double bass legend Charles Mingus' 100th birthday for the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival.