Golden Global Music Award for Home Ground

Golden Global Music Award for Home Ground

Noted composer and performer Stephen Emmer -- who scored a hit with SoulTracks readers earlier this year -- has won the prestigious golden Global Music Award for his latest album, Home Ground. With this he becomes the first Dutch composer who has won this international award.

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One of the most important albums of 2017 is Home Ground

One of the most important albums of 2017 is Home Ground

Soul Tracks : Choice Cut

According to Soul Tracks there is no doubt that one of the most important albums of 2017 is Home Ground, the groundbreaking new project by Dutch composer/ arranger and musician Stephen Emmer.

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The talent is undeniable, and the idea ends up working wonderfully.

Modern Vinyl Review

This is certainly not my usual cup of tea. I certainly enjoy quite a few global genres, but the ominous aegis of “world music” is usually enough to send me screaming in the opposite direction of whatever’s being played. So the opening cut to Home Ground, “A New Day,” had me fearing that this was going to be another one of those globally-conscious records which has little but good intent going for it. I was, in fact, quite wrong.

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Home Ground Album
Emmer & Chaka Khan enchant us with their ‘Under Your Spell’ Remixes

Emmer & Chaka Khan enchant us with their ‘Under Your Spell’ Remixes

SoulBounce Premiere

Last June, Dutch composer, arranger and producer Stephen Emmer dropped his album Home Ground. The collection amassed contributions from a who's who of soul singers, including Andy Bey, the late and great Leon Ware, Patti Austin, Ursula Rucker, Kendra Foster and so many more. As you can imagine, the set is an unforgettable listen. One of the album's standout tracks, the Chaka Khan-featuring "Under Your Spell," has received the remix treatment and SoulBounce is more than happy to bring you the exclusive premiere of the reimagined versions of the song.Stephen called on four superbly talented remixers — Tieks, Dani Hageman, Auro and Moods — to put their own spin on the soulful track, which was co-written by him and Chaka.

 

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A conversation with Stephen Emmer

A conversation with Stephen Emmer

North Of The Internet

Conversation Morgan Enos from 'North Of The Internet' had with Stephen Emmer about the spiritual connection between classic and modern music, discovering Beethoven intuitively as a child and working with five generations of singers on his socially conscious new album Home Ground.

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Soul Tracks

Soul Tracks

Premiere : Andy Bey joins Stephen Emmer on new gem for War Child

Stephen Emmer is a Dutch composer/ arranger and musician, who creates contemporary albums that focus on a genre of music brought to life with celebrated vocal styles. Stephen is now creating Home Ground, joined by celebrated, Soul singers such as Chaka Khan, Patti Austin and the late Leon Ware.

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Home Ground proves to be an eloquent meld of messages and music and..

Mojo Magazine Review

Supporting the War Child charity, this concept album by Amsterdam-born Stephen Emmer (whose past work has been produced by Tony Visconti and included cameos from Lou Reed and Midge Ure) takes its inspiration from Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ to articulate a narrative about the human cost of conflict, prejudice and division.

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Home Ground Album
Das Beste (wie immer) zum Schluss... (German)

Das Beste (wie immer) zum Schluss... (German)

Soul Sonic Review - 9 out of 10

Bevor das Jahr zu Ende geht. Zeit um Versäumtes nachzuholen. Zum Beispiel: Stephen Emmer! Warum erst jetzt? Das Beste (wie immer) zum Schluss. Oder so. Sicher ist, dass wir von der Ton-Kunst dieses Herrn erst im Sommer dieses Jahres erfahren haben. Dabei ist er schon seit den späten 70ern in Sachen Musik unterwegs – zuerst mit den Minny Pops (avant garde new wave electro-noise), dann als Mitglied der Associates (mit Billy McKenzie!) und den Lotus Eaters.

 

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Soul and Classical Meet in a Global Collab

Soul and Classical Meet in a Global Collab

Sonicscoop interview with Stephen Emmer

When Stephen Emmer holds the stateside launch for his album Home Ground on October 27 at the Virgil in LA, he’ll have done it with a little help from his friends. Make that a lot of help, from a global-spanning roster of star soul singers and musicians who collaborated long-distance on a particularly important record.

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This effort is definitely something to have as a moment in time...

Okayplayer Premiere

Isn’t music grand? No other medium incorporates sounds, styles and voices like music. Thankfully, Stephen Emmer and his Home Ground crew are here to satiate our needs. The new project combines the eloquence of contemporary orchestral soul with socially conscious lyrics.

Enter: Home Ground.

 

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Home Ground Album Trailer
An eloquent and entertaining rebuttal to the voices of nativism...

An eloquent and entertaining rebuttal to the voices of nativism...

SoulTracks Review

With Home Ground, producer Stephen Emmer has collaborated with a diverse group of vocalists to create a record that is theatrical to its core. However, if you are looking to connect the music on Home Ground to a musical, you might not have a lot of luck. This record is not a soundtrack to a film, nor are these tunes a part of some major Broadway production. One way to view Home Ground is as a soundtrack for the play unfolding before us daily on television, laptop, smart phone and tablet screens as well on in newspapers.

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Stephen Emmer finds his Home Ground with latest project

Stephen Emmer finds his Home Ground with latest project

Interview by Thomas Gerbasi for KO63 Music

If Stephen Emmer wanted to show off the contacts on his mobile phone, jaws would drop. But the great thing about the Amsterdam native is that he’s not “one of those guys.” In fact, despite a body of work that would continue to drop jaws, with the latest being the album Home Ground, Emmer is one of the most affable and humble folks in the music business.

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A quite time and relevant anti-war music project

A quite time and relevant anti-war music project

Afropunk review

Home Ground is a new, international music project that’s been inspired by a classic collection of canonized soul. 

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Stevie musically influenced and Curtis lyrically mostly

Stevie musically influenced and Curtis lyrically mostly

Stephen Emmer interview Vents Magazine

Hi Stephen, welcome to VENTS! How have you been? "Hi there!  I am great thanks. Good to be here with you today." Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Trailer Soil”? Soil is a song on the Home Ground album and I decided to use it as a soundtrack for the video we used as a trailer to introduce the whole album with, as I feel the lyrics of Soil best represent the meaning and intention of the album.

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WXPN - The Key

Review : Ursula Rucker reflects on the idea of home in “Soil”

Bringing together a host of legends such as Chaka Khan, Andy Bey and Marvin Gaye collaborator Leon Ware, Dutch producer / composer Stephen Emmer’s latest project has a diverse guest list and a global focus.

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Soil feat. Ursula Rucker
Chaka’s track, which she co-wrote, is a stand out

Chaka’s track, which she co-wrote, is a stand out

Echoes Magazine Review

Inspired by the symphonic soul of the 70’s, Dutch composer/producer Stephen Emmer’s Home Ground album is an interesting project. 

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The Pan Review

The Pan Review

Interview : Post-modernity in music has only really started

Stephen Emmer describes himself as an 'independent composer/arranger hailing from Amsterdam.' His distinctive musical resume goes back to the Seventies, while he has worked with other great production wizards such as Tony Visconti, Trevor Horn, Martin Hannett and Nigel Gray. 

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Home Ground Preview

Home Ground Preview

Record Collector

Home Ground release announcement in Record Collector (UK).

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Vents Magazine

Vents Magazine

Interview : Stevie musically influenced and Curtis lyrically mostly

Hi Stephen, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Hi there! I am great thanks. Good to be here with you today.

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Pride Magazine

Pride Magazine

Review : A jazzy, emotional record with a message

In a time of such heightened political debate – in all corners of the world – it’s unsurprising that global issues and themes feed into many aspects of our cultural artefacts. And in ‘Home Ground’, the latest release from Dutch composer Stephen Emmer, politics, and the various ways in which humanity can be separated, this is addressed; but in place of anger, aims to unite despite our differences.

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The Voice

The Voice

Review : A selection of iconic musicians for a good cause

Stephen Emmer has gathered an array of soul-singers for a neo soul/classical inspired project in support of War Child. The Dutch composer has brought together a selection of iconic musicians for a good cause.

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Flux BPM

Flux BPM

Review : An iron fist in a velvet glove

Stephen Emmer is a Dutch composer/ arranger and musician, who creates contemporary albums that focus on a genre of music brought to life with celebrated vocal styles. In 2014 Stephen launched the International Blue project, celebrating the art of the pop crooner with Glenn Gregory, Julian Lennon, Tony Visconti, Midge Ure and Liam McKahey.

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The Strange Brew

The Strange Brew

Interview : Combine soul with a contemporary edge

For Stephen’s new long player, Home Ground, he is joined by soul singers such as Chaka Khan, Patti Austin and the late Leon Ware to combine classic soul with a contemporary edge. Jason Barnard speaks to Stephen after hearing an early preview of this socially conscious album. 

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Socially Sparked News

Socially Sparked News

Review : Anti-War Album Project Sparks Retro Activism

The Home Ground anti-war album project sparks Retro Activism this week thanks to the efforts of Dutch composer, arranger and musician Stephen Emmer with the album release. In a world constantly in conflict over land, religion and race, the Home Ground Project aims to raise the global consciousness by resurrecting a lost musical genre of classic soul music, orchestral composition and a socially conscious lyrical style rooted in the past a la Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes, Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield.

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Cent Magazine

Cent Magazine

Article : Who doesn't love the bee gees?

I was recently in a conversation with a friend and they said ‘I don’t trust anyone that doesn’t like music’. While that’s a little extreme, life without a bit of music could be a little dull. Whether it be raining, sun shining bright, whether you’re happy or sad, with the right songs you can feel like you have company or a friend that understands and sings out exactly how you’re feeling.

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Music Republic Magazine

Music Republic Magazine

Review : This is a different one…

Accomplished producer, composer, songwriter, arranger and musician Stephen Emmer’s latest project supports the War child charity, and features a glittering array of singers, including superstar Chaka Khan.

Emmer is a Dutchman who creates contemporary albums that focus on specific genres of music for each project, brought to life with various guest vocalists. In 2014 he launched the International Blue project, celebrating the art of the crooner, with Glenn Gregory, Julian Lennon, Tony Visconti, Midge Ure and Liam McKahey. It later became Visconti’s “Holy Hoy” project.

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What's On

What's On

No two tracks are the same

Stephen Emmers’ new album Home Ground shows an eclectic mix of sounds varying from classical and soul, to using a modern contemporary synthesized timbre. No two tracks are the same, showcasing an impressive line up of artists who were included on the project; featuring Chaka Khan, Patti Austin, the late Leon Ware, Mary Griffin, Ursula Rucker, Kendra Foster, and many more.

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Weer Amerikaanse muziekprijzen voor Nederlandse componist (Dutch)

Emmer heeft wederom bijzondere muziekprijzen in de wacht gesleept

In het Lincoln Center won hij twee Independent Music Awards (IMA’s) voor voor Best Spoken Word Song voor het nummer Soil, uitgevoerd door Ursula Rucker. Emmerwon zowel de publieks- als de juryprijs op de zestiende editie van het event. Het nummer Soil komt van zijn album Home Ground.

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Luister naar Soil op Spotify
OOR (#Dutch)

OOR (#Dutch)

Review : Everything about this album is right.

Zou er een prijs bestaan voor Neerlands meest veelzijdige muzikant/componist/arrangeur, dan zou Stephen Emmer een flinke kanshebber zijn, want zijn carrière is op z’n zachtst gezegd divers. De tijd dat hij in Minny Pops zat en met o.a. The Associates in de UK actief was ligt ver achter hem.

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Van ambtenaar tot kunstenaar (Dutch)

Van ambtenaar tot kunstenaar (Dutch)

De Telegraaf

Meestal willen kinderen van bekende Nederlanders niet te veel met hun vader of moeder worden geassocieerd. Ze zetten zich a? willen het zelf maken. Altijd hangt daar die vage verdenking in de lucht dat ze een kruiwagen zullen hebben gehad of dat de bekende achternaam deuren voor hen heeft geopend. Zo niet Stephen Emmer. 

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Stephen Emmer vond bijzonder stel vocalisten (Dutch)

Stephen Emmer vond bijzonder stel vocalisten (Dutch)

De Volkskrant Review

Producer-componist Stephen Emmer heeft voor zijn nieuwste project een bijzonder stel soul vocalisten (m/v) bij elkaar gezocht en gevonden. Met stemmen die volgens hem de juiste kracht en overtuiging konden geven aan zijn liedjes, die gaan over de huidige tijd waarin de wereld wordt geteisterd door conflicten en rassen- en migratieproblemen.

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JFK Man : Stephen Emmer (Dutch)

JFK Man : Stephen Emmer (Dutch)

JFK Magazine

Mijn leraar Nederlands zei me ooit dat ik van mijn hobby mijn werk moest zien te maken. Dat heb ik gedaan, maar nu heb ik een probleem: ik heb geen hobby meer. Ik kan me heel moeilijk losmaken van de muziek. Als ik iets anders probeer, gaat het automatisch die richting op.

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Geen Nederlander die nooit muziek van Stephen Emmer heeft ... (Dutch)

Geen Nederlander die nooit muziek van Stephen Emmer heeft ... (Dutch)

Het Parool Review

Als componist van herkenningstunes was hij verantwoordelijk voor onder meer de muziek van het NOS Journaal. Bij zulk kortebaanwerk houdt hij het niet. Home ground is Emmers vierde album met een ware sterrencast aan gastvocalisten.

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War Child (Dutch)

War Child (Dutch)

Interview : Eigenwijze muziek met een missie

Nog meer dan zijn naam, doen de muzikale composities die Stephen Emmer (59) maakte voor omroeporganisaties en televisiestations zoals NOS en RTL, bij velen een belletje rinkelen. Na jaren van werk in opdracht, wil hij met zijn nieuwe album ‘Home Ground’ een maatschappelijke bijdrage leveren.

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Written In Music (Dutch)

Written In Music (Dutch)

Review : Hedendaagse evenknie van het legendarische What's Going On

Van het gitaarwerk in Minny Pops via rollen in radioprogramma’s als Radionome, Spleen en Villa 65 en meer en het oprichten en vervullen van de hoofdredacteur van Vinyl terug naar het maken van muziek; zie daar in een ruwe schets de beginjaren van Stephen Emmer.

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De Telegraaf (Dutch)

De Telegraaf (Dutch)

Interview : Op avontuur in de soul...

Als tunes-maker voor onder andere RTL Boulevard, RTL Late Night en het NOS Journaal is Stephen Emmer de best beluisterde componist van Nederland. Dat de Amsterdammer (59) er daarnaast een – zoals hij dat noemt – ’vrije carrière’ op nahoudt is minder breed bekend.

Aan erkenning geen gebrek; Emmers vorige album International blue kreeg internationale lof. Maar ook zijn soul project Home Ground, dat vrijdag verschijnt, verdient eigenlijk meer dan dat.

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Heaven (Dutch)

Heaven (Dutch)

Report : Emmer presenteert album met soul-grootheden in Paradiso

Eigenlijk was het zijn vader, televisie-icoon Fred Emmer, die het zaadje plantte. Na de kijkers naar het NOS Journaal van ’s werelds wel en wee op de hoogte te hebben gesteld, schoot de om zijn feilloze, welhaast mechanische dictie bekendstaande nieuwslezer graag een broek met wijde pijpen aan, om zich vervolgens op plateauzolen richting dansvloer te begeven.

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Soundz (Dutch)

Soundz (Dutch)

Recensie : Een van de betere recente platen van Nederlandse bodem

Stephen Emmer is niet iemand die ons jaarlijks verblijdt met nieuw werk. Logisch ook. De man heeft vele gezichten en houdt zich bezig met talloze artistieke en ook commerciële concepten. Maar als hij een nieuw album uitbrengt, staat de wereld even stil. Met Home Ground komt hij overigens al redelijk snel op de proppen, aangezien zijn zo bejubelde International Blue in 2014 verscheen. Op die plaat werkte hij nauw samen met Bowie-producer Tony Visconti.

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Soundz (Dutch)

Soundz (Dutch)

Interview : Ik was lang de jingle-koning

Er staan nogal wat kanonnen op je album.

SE : We hebben veel raakvlakken. Patti Austin is jarenlang de zangeres geweest die voornamelijk achtergrondkoortjes mocht inzingen en ik was de jingle-koning van Nederland. 

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Jazzism (Dutch)

Jazzism (Dutch)

De zeggingskracht van spirituele, orkestrale soul…

Stephen Emmer is een Nederlandse componist / arrangeur en muzikant die van vele markten thuis is. Momenteel werkt hij aan het project Home Ground, waarop meegewerkt is door mensen als Chaka Khan, Patti Austin en de onlangs overleden soullegende Leon Ware.

In 2014 Stephen lanceerde Stephen het International Blue project, een viering van de kunst van de popcrooner met Glenn Gregory, Julian Lennon, Tony Visconti, Midge Ure en Liam McKahey. Het album – dat werd gepresenteerd in Abbey Road en wereldwijd positief is ontvangen – resulteerde in een ontmoeting van verwante geesten, hetgeen uitmondde in het Holy Holy project van Visconti.

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Interface (Dutch)

Interface (Dutch)

Interview : Zijn bijnaam luidde de ‘seven minute man’...

Hij is de grondlegger van de mediamuziek in Nederland. In 2009 werd hij in het Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid geëerd voor 25 jaar vakmanschap. Zijn bijnaam luidde de ‘seven minute man’, omdat zijn composities op radio en televisie iedere zeven minuten te horen waren, waaronder tunes van het NOS Journaal, RTL Late Night en tal van andere leaders. Daarnaast schreef hij sinds 2012 de soundtracks voor Holiday On Ice. Zijn muziek onder eigen naam is te vinden op albums als Recitement (2008) en International Blue (2014). 

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