Emma Howett & the Genuine Noise
Control Album Launch
Friday 8th August – Spin The Black Circle
On a sweltering August evening, Spin The Black Circle is packed to the rafters for the launch of Emma Howett’s new album, Control. The heat inside matches the buzz of anticipation as the crowd readies itself for a night of homegrown brilliance. Support comes courtesy of the wonderfully offbeat Icy Moon Explorers, whose quirky charm and inventive setlist make them a name every local-music devotee should have firmly on their radar.
There’s a tangible warmth in the room — and not just from the temperature. Emma’s even brought cake for the crowd, an endearing touch that only adds to the evening’s glow. But the true treat comes from the music. Emma, alongside bandmates James and Neil, delivers a faultless performance of Control in full, peppered with relaxed, good-humoured chatter between songs. The sound is crisp, the ambience revitalising, and the connection between performer and audience is electric.
Three years in the making, Control is the sound of an artist at the height of her songwriting powers. Lyrically, it’s a heart-on-sleeve confessional, unafraid to wrestle with dark corners of past relationships, personal demons, and moments of quiet reflection. Yet for every contemplative ballad, there’s a burst of unapologetically defiant, hook-laden pop-rock. Standout ‘Waiting for the Party to Begin’ marries wistful, almost cinematic verses with a chorus that bursts into full-throttle rock-out territory — proof that three-and-a-half minutes can still carry an entire world of ideas. The record nods knowingly towards the synth-pop, disco, and rock of the ’70s and ’80s, without feeling remotely retrograde.
In all, this launch wasn’t just a gig; it was a celebration of craft, community, and an artist completely in command of her voice. Control lives up to its name — and then some.
By: Paul Richardson
Photography by: Glenn Morrison