Emma Melissa Saville: A Sheffield Soul With a Story to Tell

Growing Up in Sheffield — The City That Shapes Her Sound

Emma Melissa Saville describes Sheffield as a city “layered with history and hope,” where “the old and the new sit side by side (or sometimes on top of each other!).” This mix of “post-industrial grit and often grey skies” combined with “so much heart, resilience, green trees, and diverse community” has deeply shaped her sound and songwriting. She says, “There’s a kind of raw, honest soul to this city that seeps into (pretty much!) everything I write.” Her music captures the city’s tension and beauty, reflected in lyrics about “resilience, loss, love, mental health, and riding life’s waves,” all delivered with “that northern sense of realness and emotional depth.”

A Lifelong Love Affair With Music

Music has been a constant in Emma’s life from a young age. She recalls, “My mum and maternal grandparents were always singing around the house—world music, soul classics, socialist songs, lullabies—you name it.” Starting clarinet lessons at seven and singing lessons at eleven, she had a defining moment at twelve when performing the lead in Brundibár showed her “how a single song could move people, make them cry, smile, connect.” Emma reflects, “That moment changed everything.” She adds, “Music became my way of understanding the world and my place in it. It’s never been just a career path for me—it’s been a space of belonging, free (ish!) therapy, and joy.”

Her early professional work came through collaboration with producer Leigh Devlin at Red Tape Recording Studios. Emma says, “He liked my voice, and a month later asked if I’d like to write and record with him. That changed everything.” Tracks like Be As One have now been streamed millions of times worldwide, showcasing her early impact.

Eclectic Influences — From Soul Legends to Global Rhythms

Emma credits the “greats” such as Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and Etta James as foundational influences. She also cites contemporary artists like India.Arie, Jill Scott, and Emeli Sandé as inspirations, noting, “I like listening to all sorts of genres of music… from soul (old and new), hip-hop, dancehall, afrobeats, jazz, drum and bass, Balkan beat, Kizomba, World, acoustic singer/songwriters, some classical, blues and a variety of Latin music.” Her diverse tastes mirror her life experiences, including “three years in Latin America—mainly in Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Brazil,” which “shaped my worldview, my rhythm, and my understanding of resilience.”

“Building Empires In Our Minds” — A Song of Enduring Love

Her latest single Building Empires In Our Minds is “a kind of love letter to the emotional arc of a relationship.” Emma explains, “It’s about the kind of love that’s not just fleeting or passionate, but enduring—woven into your past, present, and future.” She describes the sound as “a dreamy fusion of Pop, Soul, and R&B, with layered harmonies, rich textures, catchy lyrics, and smooth grooves.” Emma wanted the song to feel “like a slow-burning flame—steady, soulful, and quietly powerful,” a tribute “for the dreamers, the romantics, the people who’ve loved deeply and believe in something lasting.”

The Impact of BBC Music Introducing

Being featured by BBC Music Introducing was “one of those surreal, full-circle moments” for Emma. She recalls, “When Christian Carlisle played my original song ‘Freefalling’ and described it as having ‘some DJ Fresh vibes on the production, & a really powerful vocal performance,’ I remember sitting there with this massive grin on my face.” The experience provided “visibility and confidence” and “felt like someone saying, ‘We hear you. Keep going.’” This validation helped Emma connect with a wider audience and reaffirmed her belief in her music’s power.

The Power of Visual Storytelling

Emma views imagery and style as an “extension of the music, another way of telling the story.” She chose “burnt Spanish orange for my main branding colour as it’s eye-catching, energising, and a bit different.” Emma shares, “Sometimes, I can visualise colour when I write songs—textures, moods, scenes—so naturally, visuals have always been a big part of how I express my art.” For Building Empires In Our Minds, the imagery is “golden light, slow sunsets, soft shadows,” matching the song’s “dreamlike, timeless quality.” Emma emphasizes, “Style and visuals aren’t about perfection for me—they’re about emotion… inviting the listener not just to hear the music, but to step into it.”

Songwriting: A Blend of Inspiration and Discipline

Emma’s creative process “is generally 50% sporadic inspiration and 50% discipline.” She explains, “Usually, when I am working with a producer… I write the melody first, followed by lyrics, and then harmonies.” When working solo, she might start with lyrics or a melody. Emma keeps “several notebooks full of lyric ideas that I revisit periodically,” balancing spontaneous ideas with the discipline needed “to finish (and most importantly, polish) them.”

The Magic of Live Performance

Emma’s most memorable live moment was playing the main stage at Sheffield’s Leadmill. She says, “It felt like another full-circle moment performing in my hometown, on a stage where so many legendary artists have stood before me.” The reaction from the audience was “versions of, ‘Oh wow… THAT is what your music is supposed to sound like. We loved it.’” For Emma, “Live music is immersive, it’s raw, it’s real,” and that night “many people heard the full story of my songs for the first time. And they felt it.”

Collaboration and Creative Growth

Emma believes “two+ creative heads are better than one” and values collaboration deeply. She loves how her band “recreated each of my songs” live, sometimes “acoustically sound[ing] pretty different from my released music.” Emma shares, “When I jam with other artists… there’s this amazing, inspiring, unspoken conversation happening through sound.” These moments remind her that music “isn’t about perfection or polish, but connection,” keeping her creativity fresh and evolving.

Women in the Music Industry: Challenges and Strength

Emma openly discusses the hurdles women face in music today. She says, “More women are producing, headlining, and running the rooms… but opportunities don’t always come equally.” Early in her career, she was often “assumed I was ‘just the singer,’ not the songwriter, co-producer, or marketing/manager.” Emma adds, “I’ve sometimes had to push to have my creative ideas taken seriously.” She also contends with “constant, often unwanted and/or creepy, attention from men,” receiving “50-100 messages a day on social media alone,” including inappropriate requests.

Despite this, Emma stands firm: “Every song I write, every stage I step onto, I’m carving out space—not just for myself, but for the next generation of women coming up behind me.” She embraces vulnerability and emotional honesty, refusing to “water that down to fit anyone else’s mould.” Emma’s story is one of resilience, strength, and breaking barriers.

Staying Grounded Through Adversity

Emma has endured serious health challenges, including Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome contracted while living in Brazil. She reflects, “Those were some of the darkest months of my life… I had no idea when—or if—I’d get back to feeling like myself.” This experience taught her patience and compassion. She credits her family, faith, and close friends as “my anchor,” helping her stay centered. Emma shares, “My Christian faith… gives me a sense of purpose that’s bigger than my circumstances—a quiet strength I draw on when everything else feels uncertain.”

Social Media: A Bridge and a Challenge

Emma appreciates social media’s power to connect her with fans worldwide, sharing, “I’ve had people from the other side of the world message me to say a song helped them through something.” However, she acknowledges the challenges artists face in navigating algorithms and branding. Emma advises that social media “isn’t optional — it’s part of the job,” but stresses the importance of “learning to use it as a tool without letting it define you.”

Looking Forward: New Music and Bigger Stages

Emma is excited about upcoming singles and hopes to “gig more outside of Sheffield/South Yorkshire.” She dreams of recording “an acoustic album” to capture the energy of her live band and continuing to evolve creatively. Emma encourages fans to “keep an eye out for more details” on her socials.

Inspirations and Aspirations

Asked about her dream dinner guest, Emma says without hesitation, “India.Arie… Her music has been a guiding light for me, not just sonically, but spiritually.” She admires India.Arie’s “deep soul truth,” and the way she “creates space for people to feel whole.” Emma aspires to that level of authenticity and healing in her own work.

The song Emma wishes she had written? Superstition by Stevie Wonder. She praises it as “pure electricity,” with a groove that “grabs your soul and doesn’t let go,” layered with “a warning, a social commentary wrapped in rhythm and soulfood.” For Emma, it’s the perfect balance of substance and sound, timeless and soulful.

Follow Emma Melissa Saville on her musical journey:

Spotify: Spotify

Apple Music: Apple Music

Bandcamp: Bandcamp

Instagram: Instagram

Facebook: Facebook

Soundcloud: SoundCloud

YouTube: YouTube

Official Website: Official Website

EPK: EPK