Emily Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1984-10-08)8 October 1984 (age 41) South Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | J.Williams (brother) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | Sony BMG |
| Website | www |
Musical artist | |
Emily Williams (born 8 October 1984) is a New Zealand-born Australian singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 2005 on thethird season ofAustralian Idol and became the runner-up of the competition. AfterIdol, Williams signed withSony BMG Australia and enjoyed commercial success as a member of the Australian girl groupYoung Divas. The group released two top-ten albums,Young Divas (2006) andNew Attitude (2007), and achieved three top-fifteen singles, including the hugely successful "This Time I Know It's for Real". After the Young Divas disbanded in 2008 and Williams' contract with Sony BMG ended, she began releasing her solo musicindependently. Williams' debut solo single "Spellbound" was released in 2010, followed by the release of her debut solo albumUncovered in 2012.
Emily Williams was born on 8 October 1984 inSouth Auckland, New Zealand, to aFiji–Samoan family.[1][2]
Williams' has an older sister –Lavina Williams, who was a contestant onAustralian Idol in 2006 and also a younger brother –J.Williams, a singer/dancer in New Zealand.[1] During Willams' early years, her father was very strict when it came to devoting yourself to religion and music.[1] Before appearing onIdol, she worked as a forklift operator fromInala, Queensland.[3]
Williams auditioned for thethird season ofAustralian Idol in 2005. During the season, she scored three touchdowns from judgeMark Holden.[4] On 15 November 2005, betting agencyCentrebet announced their final-week prediction that Williams would win the competition, with her odds at $1.36 andKate DeAraugo at $3.00.[5] However, on 21 November 2005, it was announced that the winner was DeAraugo.[6]
| Round | Song choice | Original artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | "Rock with You" | Michael Jackson | Advanced |
| Theatre Week(Round 1) | "Can't Help Falling in Love" | Elvis Presley | Advanced |
| Theatre Week(Round 2) | "Finally" | CeCe Peniston | Advanced |
| Theatre Week(Round 3) | "Fallin'" | Alicia Keys | Advanced |
| Top 30 | "Make It Happen" | Mariah Carey | Wild Card |
| Wildcard | "To Zion" | Lauryn Hill | Advanced |
| Top 13 | "Buses and Trains" | Bachelor Girl | Safe |
| Top 11 | "Respect" | Aretha Franklin | Safe |
| Top 10 | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Queen | Safe |
| Top 9 | "Hero" | Mariah Carey | Safe |
| Top 8 | "All the Way" | Frank Sinatra | Safe |
| Top 7 | "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" | Whitney Houston | Bottom 2 |
| Up Close & Personal | "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" | Prince | Safe |
| Top 6 | "River Deep – Mountain High" | Ike Turner &Tina Turner | Safe |
| Top 5 | "I'm Every Woman" | Chaka Khan | Safe |
| Top 4 | "Can't Help Falling in Love" | Elvis Presley | Safe |
| "Blue Suede Shoes" | |||
| Top 3 | "...Baby One More Time" | Britney Spears | Safe |
| "I Will Always Love You" | Whitney Houston | ||
| Top 2 | "Since U Been Gone" | Kelly Clarkson | Runner-up |
| "Emotion" | Samantha Sang | ||
| "Maybe Tonight"(winners single) | Kate DeAraugo |
In January 2006,Sony BMG Australia announced that William's had signed a recording contract with their label, and that she would release her debut album later that year.[4] She re-located toMelbourne to begin writing and co-writing tracks with both local and international songwriters.[4] However, Williams' album was never released.
In early 2006, Williams was asked by her record label to be part of agirl group concept, with previousAustralian Idol contestantsPaulini,Ricki-Lee Coulter and Kate DeAraugo, for a 17-date national tour to promote all four singers as solo artists.[7] Alongside the national tour, they released a cover of theDonna Summer classic "This Time I Know It's For Real" in May 2006, under the nameYoung Divas.[7] The song peaked at number two on theARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments of 70,000 units.[8][9] A second single followed in November 2006—a cover ofLonnie Gordon's disco classic "Happenin' All Over Again". It peaked at number nine and was certified gold for shipments of 35,000 units.[8][10] Following on from the success of their singles and tour, the Young Divas released theirself-titled debut album, featuring remakes of disco classics, on 14 November 2006.[11] The album debuted at number four on theARIA Albums Chart and was certified double platinum for shipments of 140,000 units.[8][12] A cover ofHazell Dean's 1983 hit "Searchin'" was released as the group's third single in March 2007, and reached number 40.[8]
In May 2007, Williams became a contestant on the New Zealand reality television showPop's Ultimate Star, and placed fourth in the competition.[13] In September 2007, it was revealed thatAustralian Idol season four runner-upJessica Mauboy was the new member of the Young Divas replacing Coulter, who left the group to resume her solo career.[14] They then went on to release their second studio albumNew Attitude on 26 November 2007.[15] The album debuted at number 10 and was certified gold, while its lead single "Turn Me Loose" peaked at number 15.[8][12] In August 2008, it was announced that both Paulini and Mauboy had quit the Young Divas in order to resume their solo careers, leaving DeAraugo and Williams as the only remaining members.[16] However, both DeAraugo and Williams also resumed their solo careers, and the Young Divas officially disbanded. Following the group's disbandment, Williams' contract with Sony BMG ended.
In 2010, Williams became a reading ambassador for The Pyjama Foundation, which raises awareness and support to help children improve their literacy skills.[17] On 21 October 2010, she made a television appearance onReady Steady Cook with fellowAustralian Idol contestantCosima De Vito.[18] On 1 November 2010, she released her debut solo single "Spellbound", independently.[19] The single was promoted by Williams through a live televised performance onThe Morning Show.[20] She also performed the song atclubs inBrisbane andSydney, and also toured shopping malls inMelbourne andGold Coast.[21] The music video premiered onYouTube on 4 November 2010.[22] In December 2010, Williams received a nomination for "Australian Female Artist of the Year" at the PopRepublic.tv IT List Awards.[23] Williams' second single "You're Mine" was made available fordownload on 14 February 2011, to coincide withValentine's Day.[24][25] She performed the song onThe Morning Show.[26] On 1 March 2011, she released aballad titled "Never Alone", to raise support for the February2011 Christchurch earthquake.[27][28] All proceeds from the single went to theNew Zealand Red Cross.[28]
Williams' debut solo albumUncovered was released independently on 10 February 2012.[29] In June 2012, she was featured on dance music producer The Popstar's single "Spotlight", which also appeared on her albumUncovered.[30][31] In April 2013, Williams released her fourth lead single "Get It".[32] In 2013, Williams was featured on British rapper andThe Valleys starLeeroy Reed's single "Can't Get Enough" and scored her second nomination at the PopRepublic.tv Awards for "Favourite Australian Female Artist".[33][34] In January 2014, she was featured onGeordie Shore starGaz Beadle debut single "Party Like a Rockstar (Up Your Game)" with UK groupThe Risk.[35][36] In July 2015, Williams released her fifth lead single "The Way It Is", which debuted at number seven on theAIR 100% Independent Singles Chart.[37][38] This was followed up by the release of her sixth lead single "Get Your Life" in October 2016, earning her another nomination at the PopRepublic.tv Awards for "Favourite Australian Female Artist".[39][40]
In 2017, Williams made her musical theatre debut in theAustralian production ofThe Bodyguard, as the alternate lead for Paulini, playing the lead role of Rachel Marron at certain performances.[41][42][43] Williams also made a cameo appearance in the 2017 Australian horror filmBoaras a passenger.[44][45][46]
In 2021, during the lockdown, Williams collaborated with international DJs Ricci-G and Josh Goodwill to release "Ride with Me."[47] Later, there was another collaboration for the track "All I Need" with Kisch, which was signed to Love and Other Records UK.[48]
In 2022, Williams headlined a tour in Australia named Synthony 2022/23.[48][49] Subsequently, Williams began her own solo tour in Australian venues called Woman of Colour.[50] During the tour, she performed a range of songs from various artists.[50]
In 2023, producers Michael Harrison and David Ian revealed that Emily Williams would play Rachel Marron in the UK tour of 'The Bodyguard' Musical.[51][52] She is the first woman of Polynesian descent to score a leading role in a UK musical.[53]
In September 2023, Emily was recognized as the Global Ambassador for Women of Colour Australia.[54]
In October 2023, Williams released "What Am I Gonna Do" with DJ John Course, which reached #8 on the ARIA Club Charts.[55]
Williams has a daughter with Richie Lio. She separated from Lio in 2007.[56]
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Uncovered |
|
| Thirty Something |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Albums |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS Indie [38] | |||
| "Spellbound"[19] | 2010 | — | Uncovered |
| "You're Mine"[24] | 2011 | — | |
| "Never Alone"[27] | — | N/a | |
| "Get It"[32] | 2013 | — | Uncovered |
| "The Way It Is"[37] | 2015 | 7 | N/a |
| "Get Your Life"[39] | 2016 | — | |
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart. | |||
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Spotlight"[30] (The Popstar featuring Emily Williams) | 2012 | Uncovered |
| "Can't Get Enough"[33] (Leeroy featuring Emily Williams) | 2013 | N/a |
| "Party Like a Rockstar (Up Your Game)"[35] (Gaz & Olabean featuringThe Risk and Emily Williams) | 2014 |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Buses and Trains" | 2005 | Australian Idol 3: The Final 13[58] |
| "Ready" | ||
| "I Will Always Love You" | 2006 | Young Divas[11] |
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Spellbound"[22] | 2010 | |
| "Get It"[59] | 2013 |
| Year | Type | Recipient | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards | Young Divas | Fave Group | Nominated |
| "This Time I Know It's for Real" with Young Divas | Fave Song[60][61] | Won | ||
| 2010 | PopRepublic.tv Awards | Emily Williams | Favourite Australian Female Artist[23] | Nominated |
| 2013 | Emily Williams | Favourite Australian Female Artist[34] | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Emily Williams | Favourite Australian Female Artist[40] | Nominated |
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