Sunshine Coast singer-songwriter Emma-Jo Dau (nee France) is making a name for herself as Dear Willow in the wake of her single 'Father's House'.
While the nostalgic strains of 'Father's House' are currently doing the rounds on national, community radio stations, Em-J says a debut album is still a little way off yet. “A full album is a little bit in the future, I've got a few steps to get to an album first. “I think unless you've already got a captivated audience, an album isn't always the best way to go, sometimes it can just get lost. I'm planning on a single again, hopefully I'll be in the studio in the next couple of months.
“I've been writing a stack of new music so a single and then, here's hoping, next year – initially I said the end of this year but it's not going to happen yet – so hopefully early to mid next year there will be an EP if plans go according to my mind.”
As Dear Willow, Em-J will bring her charming acoustic-folk vibes to a swag of shows in the next month including the pop-up event City Sounds. “I've been doing them for the past couple of months, I seem to getting them at least once a month. They're such a good gig because you don't have to really advertise it, people will be there anywhere because they're held in places where people already are and you can reach so many more people than what you can in a venue.”
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Em-J says that playing as Dear Willow gives her the option of performing as a solo act, or in a band which is something she's been experimenting with lately. “It's developing,” she laughs. “I've got a solid drummer, Tom. He's a good friend and he's actually the bassist in Ayla's band... When we went into the studio for 'Father's House' he did everything but vocals and acoustic guitar.
"So I've got him and at the moment; we've been working as a duo with the acoustic guitar, the two sets of vocals and the drums which is a really cool dynamic actually.”
Dear Willow plays Palmwoods Hotel 27 Sep, Caloundra Music Festival 2-3 Oct, Yamba Shores Tavern 9 Oct, City Sounds pop-up 9 Oct (from 11am) and Nimbin Hotel 10 Oct.
