Emma-Jean Thackray Shares Spiritual Piece ‘Um Yang’

Influenced by Taoism and recorded straight-to-disc...

UK jazz composer Emma-Jean Thackray has shared new piece 'Um Yang'.

Raised in Yorkshire, Emma-Jean Thackray was introduced to Eastern spiritual practice by her father, and this has influenced her approach to creativity.

New project 'Um Yang' is a deeply-felt realisation of this, and it traces the Taoist philosophy of duality and harmony.

'Um' and 'Yang' are opposites in Korea, and she explores these concepts through a large-scale group, featuring Soweto Kinch and Steam Down’s Wonky Logic.

A full septet, the group worked direct-to-disc at Artone’s vintage recording studio in Dutch city Haarlem.

“Recording in (Artone) was such a dream,” Thackray recalls. “It had all the fantasy analogue equipment you daydream about one day being able to use. The desk looked like something Uhura would use. All the instruments were natural, woods and metals, no plastic in sight, and everything was to be hit or blown, all analogue. I really needed everything to be natural and real, because the music is about the universe, about the energy of all things, and what is more real than that.”

Out shortly, you can check out a clip of 'Um Yang' below.

Related: Move The Body, Move The Soul – Emma-Jean Thackray Interviewed

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