King was born to an international jazz duo, Marion Cowings and Kim Kalesti. King and her brother were always exposed to music, especially jazz and classical sounds during their childhood. "It was an amazing experience," she says. "It was very challenging. We went from the fanciest hotels one day, to the dirtiest motels the next day -- you know, just living off a musicians paycheck. Also, being around so much incredible music. We were in the jazz world so I was with Dizzy Gillespie one day to Clark Terry the next day. It was my education."
As the daughter of two singers - one Italian, one African American - who performed internationally as a Jazz duo, King has always been exposed to music, its challenges and its rewards, from an early age. She always knew she would follow in her parents' footsteps. "I had a hard time in school," she says, "because I already knew what I wanted to do, so I was like, let me just get started." At age 16, King took two giant steps: She got her GED, and she started writing songs.
The music on her J Records debut, East Side Story, reveals roots that are both deep & ambitious. Kings words are packed with references to the wide range of great artists that inspired her - the Beatles, Nas, Sarah Vaughn, Radiohead & Michael Jackson. "Every record that I’ve ever heard has been an influence on me", she says.
The very first song that she completed, "Business Man" - a commentary on heartless capitalists - is a central moment on East Side Story. "I always thought if I write a song, it's not going to be about relationships," she says. "There are so many things in this world to talk about." She quickly advanced from banging around on a guitar in her apartment to performing on the local folk club circuit at such noted venues as the Bitter End and CBGB's Gallery.
In the meantime, King had discovered hip-hop and immersed herself in a culture that would add yet another ingredient to her musical mix. She met Sony Music publisher Bill Brown who introduced her to Sony writer/producer Chucky Thompson, a member of Bad Boy Entertainment's famed Hitman studio team who had recorded smashes with the likes of the Notorious BIG and Mary J. Blige. Thompson signed her to his production company, and together they began searching for the right sound to capture King's eclectic tastes and styles. After taking her demos to various labels, they signed with J Records.
In 2012, King was awarded the Holly Prize (a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly) from The Songwriters Hall of Fame for recognition of the "all-in songwriter" whose work exhibits the qualities of Holly’s music.
King's second studio album, The Switch, was self-released by her own label, Making Music Records, on 26 June 2015.
She signed with the independent label ATO Records in 2017 and with them released her third studio album, Scenery, on 1 February 2019.
King released her fourth studio album, Sides, on January 17, 2020.
More information can be found at www.emilykingfans.com or www.emilykingonline.com
Sleepwalker
Emily King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
something 'bout the night that makes you see what you don't want
i think about it every time i sleep, there is someone
creepin' at me, I swear they haunting me, tellin' me run
Oooh I feel my body, without me again
Ooh like a sleepwalker, gettin' closer to you, gettin' closer to you
forgot to lock the doors to keep me in, didn't hide the key
I feel the cold air, i feel the dirt under my toes
something tells me that I'm far away, and I'm not alone
Oooh I feel my body, without me again
Ooh like a sleepwalker, gettin' closer to you
Oooh I feel my body, without me again
Ooh like a sleepwalker, gettin' closer to you, gettin' closer to you
Now we're alone, whispers disturb a quiet home
No one will know
No one, darling
Come close
Oooh I feel my body, without me again
Ooh like a sleepwalker, gettin' closer to you
Oooh I feel my body, without me again
Ooh like a sleepwalker, gettin' closer to you
I gotta hold ya
I gotta hold you
I gotta hold ya
I gotta hold you
I gotta hold ya(feel my body)
I gotta hold you(Off without me)
I gotta hold ya
I gotta hold you(I could see you walking)
I gotta hold ya
I gotta hold you(without me again, without me again)
I gotta hold ya
I gotta hold you(gettin' closer to you)
In Emily King's "Sleepwalker," the lyrics set a haunting tone as the singer describes the feeling of being haunted by a presence that calls them closer to it. The first verse sets the scene; something is in the air calling the singer to turn on the light. There's a sense of fear and unease in the air, and the night is causing them to see things they don't want. The song's chorus highlights how the singer feels out of control, like they've lost all autonomy over their body, and they're being carried by something outside of themselves, just like how a sleepwalker moves. The second verse deepens the fear; the singer thinks they're going crazy, and the idea of being trapped made it worse. Their body is numb, and they're sensing things they can't explain. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the feeling of being out of control and feeling lost, haunted by something beyond their understanding. The last verse ties it all together, as the singer and this presence are now alone, whispering to each other. No one knows what's happening, and the listener is left in a state of uncertainty as the song ends.
Line by Line Meaning
Something in the air is calling me, turn the light on
I feel an unexplained presence in the room, prompting me to turn on the light
something 'bout the night that makes you see what you don't want
The darkness makes me envision things that I don't want to see
i think about it every time i sleep, there is someone
I have recurring thoughts while sleeping that there is someone watching me
creepin' at me, I swear they haunting me, tellin' me run
I feel as if someone is lurking around me, constantly haunting and urging me to run away
Oooh I feel my body, without me again
I feel like my body is moving on its own, without my control or guidance
Ooh like a sleepwalker, gettin' closer to you, gettin' closer to you
I feel like a sleepwalker, moving closer and closer to you without even realizing it
I think I might be going crazy now, someone stop me
I fear that I may be losing my sanity and desperately need someone to intervene and help me
forgot to lock the doors to keep me in, didn't hide the key
I forgot to take necessary precautions to keep myself safe and secure from any external threats
I feel the cold air, i feel the dirt under my toes
I am physically sensing the environment around me, including the temperature and ground beneath my feet
something tells me that I'm far away, and I'm not alone
My intuition is signaling that I am no longer in my familiar surroundings and am accompanied by someone else
Now we're alone, whispers disturb a quiet home
The two of us are alone, and we can hear hushed whispers that disrupt the peace and quiet of our home
No one will know
No one else is aware of our time together
No one, darling
My term of endearment for the person I am with, emphasizing our intimate connection
Come close
Encouraging the person to approach me and drawing them nearer to me
I gotta hold ya
I feel an overwhelming desire to embrace and hold onto you
I gotta hold you
Expressing my need and want to physically hold the person I care about
I gotta hold ya(feel my body)
My body is responding to my intense emotions and the need to hold onto you
I gotta hold you(Off without me)
Even without any direct input or guidance from me, my body is still driven to hold onto you
I gotta hold ya(I could see you walking)
My thoughts and senses are still focused on you and seeing you walk towards me
I gotta hold ya(without me again, without me again)
My body continues to move on its own, driven solely by my feelings and emotions towards you
I gotta hold ya(gettin' closer to you)
My body is inching closer and closer to you, as I feel an unbreakable connection with you
Contributed by Kaelyn K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
yelynnnn
Love the way she grooves :) love everything about her
FlauntFace
Ahhhhh this song is so good! Amazing arrangements esp the drop at 2:30!!! Feel good music x10!!!
Thiago Soares
Eu amo essa música (Brazilian - i love this music)
Favor Mitchell
Thessseeee harmonies!!! I love everything about this Audiotree session! YESSSSS
ouch110 Fragrance Reviews
Yesss! I hope she comes to London UK soon! She will dominate..LOVE YOU EMILY
smshortcake99
Yasssssss!!!! I also liked the version that was sung at a club. That guitarist killed on that one. It gave me life!!!
Calvin McHoward
Emily is amazing! I love her music. And on a side note, Jamie is gorgeous :)
Ava Monroe
Never gets old‼️💯
Save Robbie
She’s so talented
Bri_Mohr
I. love. this. long. Every time I listen to it I have to have it on repeat at least 10 times. I can't decide if I enjoy closing my eyes and feeling the groove or watching Emily preform. I love it. 10 years from now I'll feel the same way.