We have covered country/Americana artist Emilia Quinn a couple of times here at the magazine, and she is an artist we have been positive about recommending our country/Americana readers to have a listen to! I was happy to be given the task of reviewing her album “Dented Halos” which is released on September 19th.
First, let me share the press release.
“Rising artist Emilia Quinn is set to release her highly anticipated second studio album, “Dented Halos,” on September 19th. A bewitching blend of 70s folk-rock revival and Americana soul. Across 10 lived-in stories, Quinn delivers songs that shimmer with grit and grace. Road-worn ballads, defiant anthems, and captivating melodies that take you through a journey of heartbreak, love and release. “Dented Halos” is an album that holds its scars proudly, a reminder that beauty and truth often live in the cracks. Made possible by the unwavering support of her community, the album was brought to life after Emilia’s Kickstarter campaign soared past its funding goal, proving just how deeply her music resonates. To celebrate, Emilia will embark on a full-band tour this September, bringing the magic of “Dented Halos” to the stage in a spellbinding live experience that promises fire, intimacy, and catharsis in equal measure.”
My review.
The album has ten tracks.
“Call Me By Her Name” was reviewed by Tracy Nash for us in the Summer. I’m happy to use her thoughts here: tells the story of discovering the person you love has been unfaithful. That shattering moment when you realize they have found someone new, and all you want is to have one last night in their arms before they slip away forever. Set against the slow burn of Americana Blues, the track captures the ache of betrayal and the quiet storm that follows.
“This is almost an answer to my previous single, ‘Does She Know,’ showing the other side of the relationship. It’s a true heartbreaker, so listen with caution…” Emilia says.
The song looks at the ruins of a relationship when you feel that you would do anything to be more like ‘her.’ It’s that story we nearly all know when the one we love prefers another and there is nothing we can do about it. Emilia emotionally connects to the lyrics and delivers real passion in this stripped-back track. The chorus gently sways; the pain never leaves, even when you close your eyes. I liked the guitar break that kicks in late in the song, where previously this was folk acoustic, but then it returns to a vocal delivery with backing harmony that reminds us all that we need to be held sometimes.
“Dirty Little Lie” comes across as an intimate live track, one to sit around the artist and enjoy the delivery. The production retains the immediacy and emotion of the track, the slight bite in the chorus and the guitars moving into the mid-track instrumental section.
“Hell” is a gently drifting number. It retains that intimate touch that Emilia does well, fusing a folk storytelling into her country/Americana style. It’s a solid album track and one that would play well live I’m sure.
“Hard to Read” picks up a country beat and is one I quickly lost myself into. I liked this track, it was upbeat and had a solid groove. My little nephew was in (he’s three) and he was dancing away to this one, so a good general approval in my house!
“Without You” has a slightly deeper vocal style and a touch of rock ballad in the country groove. It gives the track an AOR feel to it and the rhythm of the piece was one to sway along to – it was a slick number and one I think would be great to drive to on a sunny evening, even if break-ups are the theme.
“Take it All” is a melancholic number, a song for the chill of the oncoming winter winds. It has the best vocal performance on the album in a track stripped down to the bare branches, a skeletal track full of passion and pain.
“High on Life” was previously reviewed by me for the magazine, and I place my thoughts here as I can’t disagree with myself, even after another listen! Pull on your cowboy boots and hit the line for a dance! This one dances its way through the cinders of that “moody gray cloud of a guy” you have left behind. The track is full of sunshine and getting high on life. If this is an indication of what is to come, then I am certainly looking forward to the album, and I would say that this infectious style of country pop should gain interest from commercial radio, or there is something wrong out there!
“Does She Know” is a comfortable album track, very much in the lane for this album. It was a track I listened to and I noted the emotion in the vocals and the general power of the track, but it was one that passed me by a bit.
“Mama” had much more of a swagger and sway. It is one of those tracks that very much show where Emilia has power in her vocals and the connection with the lyrics she delivers is there in strength.
“Let it Burn” was reviewed by Lorraine for us when a live version was released by Emilia. Lorraine commented how “one of those broken relationship songs, but with that bit of angst in the mix and that’s what elevates it lyrically and for the listener. It has a rawness that fits the song well.
In summary, Emilia Quinn has built a reputation for being one of the brightest rising voices in UK country/Americana, and her second studio album “Dented Halos” proves why. Across ten tracks, she blends grit and grace, heartbreak and hope, all wrapped in a voice that feels unshakably honest to the lyric.
From the raw ache of “Call Me By Her Name” and the stripped-back beauty of “Take It All” to the country groove of “Hard to Read” and the sunshine bounce of “High on Life,” Emilia takes the listener on a journey through scars, survival, and self-discovery. She’s equally at home with intimate, folk-tinged storytelling (“Dirty Little Lie”) as she is with bold, swagger-filled anthems (“Let It Burn”).
What ties “Dented Halos” together is the way Emilia wears every lyric like a battle scar—never polished to perfection, but all the more beautiful for it. This is an album that breathes, breaks, heals, and rises again.
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Stream music from Emilia Quinn here
By Anna-Louise Burgess
