Emilie Claire Barlow is a Juno Award winner. There was never a Plan B. There are no fallback plans or day jobs in the event that music doesn’t work out. She said, “I’ve always loved singing.” “I just knew that that was what I was, who and what I was going to do.” The Toronto-born jazz singer and arranger says that music was a part of her DNA from the beginning. She learned to read music at the same time as she learned words. Barlow recalled childhood trips to recording studios as a part of her family’s language, recalling with her parents, Brian Barlow, and Judy Tate. Barlow was 7 years old when she was asked to perform the line for her mom in a Tide jingle. Barlow’s untrained, natural voice and ability to keep it in tune guaranteed her work in television commercials and radio. Barlow’s voice has remained unaffected over the years. Her phrasing and pitch have improved, but her vulnerability and warmth remain intact. Her work contains no over-sung melismas. Barlow was inspired by Holly Cole early on. “She has a unique voice. There was chemistry between her and her musicians. She takes a song, reimagines and reinvents it. Barlow stated that she does this because Bobby McFerrin and Tony Bennett, Kurt Elling, Sarah Vaughan and Joni Mitchell are all important artists that caught her attention. The idea was to be original and not copy. from www.emilieclairebarlow.com
