“Boring DJs be very afraid: Gareth Emery is about to kick your arse”. So said Mixmag, when in 2002, they took the bold step of predicting that a virtually unknown 22 year-old would rise to become a major dance music star. However, six years later, it’s likely that even their expectations have been well surpassed. His current tour diary reads like the departure board at London’s Heathrow Airport. Desert island raves in Indonesia and snow-drenched mountains in Vancouver sit alongside major global events like San Francisco’s iconic Love Fest and Holland’s 30,000 strong Trance Energy. The likes of Asian superclub Zouk and Bondi Beach in Sydney complete the picture: in short, you’ll find Gareth at a mouth-watering, hand-picked selection of the planet’s coolest clubs and events, including UK super brands like Ministry of Sound and Gatecrasher.
When not on tour, he’s kept rakishly busy in his Cambridgeshire studio as one of the scene’s most in-demand producers and remixes. If you’re not familiar with anthems like ‘More Than Anything’, ‘Formentera What’ or his seminal classic ‘Mistral’, you’re probably a little out of touch with the modern dance scene, but suffice to say that Tiesto, Oakenfold, Ferry Corsten and Judge Jules are all big fans, and Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren liked his work so much that they both commissioned him to work on their respective labels (Vandit / Armind). However, the majority of his music is still released on his Five AM imprint, (described by DJ Mag as ‘the most consistent trance label in the world’), where he’s a co-owner and A&R. Whatever the label, one thing that’s clear is that Gareth Emery stamps his hallmark of quality on a record, people listen.
Always ahead of the game, Gareth was the one of the first leading DJs to embrace podcasting when he started his fortnightly radio show The Gareth Emery Podcast in early 2006. The show become an overnight success, immediately becoming an essential download for savvy dance music fans, and its widely imitated format has since helped to explode the popularity of dance music podcasts. It was also nominated for a Miami WMC IDMA Award for ‘Best Podcast’ along with Roger Sanchez and Pete Tong in 2007.
Although he always ranked well in the annual DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, he became cynical about the amount of advertising and self-promotion that DJs put into it, and in 2013 asked fans not to vote for him.
Gareth haș worked with a number of collaborators and vocalists, including his sister Roxanne Emery.
Gunshots
Gareth Emery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nowhere on this Earth that I'd rather be
Again, I read the news and tears filled my eyes
If He really does exists, He's on the wrong side
Gunshots like church bells all over town
Run for your life and keep your head down
I can hear them calling to me
Your thoughts and your prayers will fade like the night
But hearts, they will break and stay broken for life
Another unmarked car, pure evil in sight
It was over in a flash, please, tell me you tried
Gunshots like church bells all over town
Run for your life and keep your head down
I can hear them calling to me
If this is freedom, I don′t wanna be free
In Gareth Emery’s song “Gunshots”, the lyrics talk about the turmoil and tragedy of living in a country where gun violence is prevalent. The singer sings about their love for their homeland and their desire to be free, but also about the despair they feel when they hear about the countless gun-related tragedies that happen too often. The singer asks poignant questions about God’s existence and if they are on the right side because how can it be right if there are so many lives being lost to gun violence. The chorus compares the sound of gunshots to that of church bells, a stark reminder that violence has become such a common occurrence that it seems to have become a part of everyday life.
The second verse of the song addresses the helplessness that people feel when they offer their thoughts and prayers after a shooting occurs but nothing seems to change. Hearts will stay broken, and people’s lives will still be taken. The lyrics speak of the sight of yet another unmarked car, a symbol of the ongoing cycle of violence. The hopelessness felt by the singer as they plead to be told that someone at least tried to do something, anything, to stop the gun violence.
Line by Line Meaning
This land is my home, I′m breathin', I′m free
I feel free and alive in my homeland
Nowhere on this Earth that I'd rather be
I am content and happy in my current state and location
Again, I read the news and tears filled my eyes
I became sad and emotional after reading recent events in the news
If He really does exists, He's on the wrong side
If a higher power does exist, they should not allow such terrible things to happen
Gunshots like church bells all over town
The sounds of gunshots are heard frequently throughout the town like the ringing of church bells
Run for your life and keep your head down
People should be cautious and protect themselves from harm
I can hear them calling to me
The sounds of gunshots and violence seem almost magnetic and demanding my attention
If this is freedom, I don't wanna be free
The current state of violence and danger does not feel like true freedom
Your thoughts and your prayers will fade like the night
Mere thoughts and prayers do not solve the ongoing issue of gun violence and will eventually be forgotten
But hearts, they will break and stay broken for life
The pain and heartbreak from these incidents will not easily subside
Another unmarked car, pure evil in sight
Another instance of negativity and hate was present in the form of an unmarked car
It was over in a flash, please, tell me you tried
The suddenness and brevity of violent events make it difficult to process and handle
Gunshots like church bells all over town
The prevalence and frequency of gunshots have become almost ritualistic in the town
Run for your life and keep your head down
Survival and self-protection are necessary to stay safe in such an environment
I can hear them calling to me
The sounds of violence and death seem almost hypnotic in nature
If this is freedom, I don't wanna be free
Living in a world where gun violence and danger are so prevalent does not feel like true freedom.
Writer(s): Gareth Thomas Rhys Emery, Anthony John Galatis
Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevin
"This land is my home, I'm breathing, I'm free
Nowhere on this earth that I'd rather be
Again, I read the news and tears filled my eyes
If He really does exist, He's on the wrong side
Gunshots like church bells all over town
Run for your life and keep your head down
I can hear them calling to me
If this is freedom, I don't wanna be free
Your thoughts and your prayers will fade like the night
But hearts, they will break and stay broken for life
Another unmarked car, pure evil in sight
It was over in a flash, please tell me you tried
Gunshots like church bells all over town
Run for your life and keep your head down
I can hear them calling to me
If this is freedom, I don't wanna be free"
Thank you Gareth Emery.
After Skool
No matter what’s going in the world, Gareth Emery’s music always seems to make sense of things.
Peter Hans
He's a hell of an artist
Shawn Morphis
I love Tiesto and appreciate everything he did for trance, and I love and appreciate everything AVB has done and continues to do. However... this dude is the best! I'll take his top 10 songs over ANY other DJ's top 10 any day. He continues to have ownership of the majority of my playlist, and its a pretty decent sized list. Almost 100 techno songs. Says it all I think. Thank you Gareth for all you do for us! Long live the PLUR!!
PYRO JUNKIE
Yeah and that's not techno. Maybe a little here and there but live performers and trance is what he does.
PYRO JUNKIE
Tiesto had his time. He did very well and so did above and beyond. Now Gareth Emery gets his turn.
Shawn Morphis
@FFPThomas just now saw your reply. Nobody ever said Gareth doesn't do vocal trance. Reread my initial comment. I said Gareth dominates my playlist, which at that time was 100 techno songs. I said techno because not every song on my playlist is vocal trance. I now have close to 200 techno songs, and still, Gareth has more songs than anyone, although a few started closing in.
Shawn Morphis
@SEC007 I don't think anyone would disagree with you, mainly because nobody said that there's no comparison to Gareth. I gave AVB and Tiesto their props. All the music that Tiesto created when he was a trance DJ, and how Armin took the torch from Tiesto and his ASOT puts both of those men on a level that Gareth definitely has the potential to reach in terms being that "ambassador" of the genre. All DJ's mentioned could and would headline most events. But I still would take Gareth and 10 of his songs over any other mentioned DJs 10 songs that have been brought up. And that's a true testament to Tiesto because I'd take his 10 after Gareth's. Another DJ who has fallen back to earth after such remarkable songs and albums in the beginning is George Acosta. Got to see him live and that was a dream come true.
SEC007
Gareth Emery is definitely one of the best and most original trance DJ's/Producers out there but to say nobody compares is totally wrong. Roger Shah absolutely must be regarded as one of the best. He makes all kinds of magical trance music including brilliant chillout under the guise of Sunlounger. There are others too... Tenishia are an awesome duo, Daniel Kandi takes you to another universe and the most aptly named The Blizzard who send chills down your spine with everything they touch.
Yakuuzy
The lyrics are incredibly powerful... compared with Annabels angelic voice it makes a very mesmerizing and haunting (but in a very good way) mixture. Amazing, simply amazing... :)
Aram Alikhanyan
Another masterpiece by Gareth Emery !!! Really a huge song !