Bio and profile of Emma Dean

Singer/Songwriter

Emma Dean loves music.

At the age of three, Emma began her ‘studies’ at the Stoliarsky School of Music and this is where she started playing the violin and amongst other things, learnt quite quickly “Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?”! Not long after, an upright piano became an added piece of furniture in the Dean household and before long, Emma was writing songs!

In 2005, after playing in the duo Bittersuite for three years, Emma began an exciting solo career with the release of her debut EP Hanging Out The Washing (see Listen). In reviewing the EP, Time Off wrote:

“When has this inventive singer/songwriter ever put a foot wrong? Retiring her folk-pop duo Bittersuite to strike out on her own, 21-year-old Dean continues to take risks with her solo work and still pulls off every lilted note with absolute class and chilling intuitiveness.”


Since her solo debut Emma has performed in many original music venues around Brisbane (eg Troubadour, Spark Bar) and at venues along the Australian east coast (eg The Vanguard Sydney, Cornish Arms Melbourne). She has also performed at festivals (eg Groove and Grape Festival, 2 High Festival) and corporate events (eg Australian of the Year Awards – Qld)

In 2005, Emma performed in The Courier Mail Spiegeltent as a Showcase artist for the Australian International Music Market, and in July 2006, she and her band returned to the Spiegeltent as part of the Brisbane Festival.

Later in 2006, Emma will perform alongside six other women in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre production Women In Voice.

Not only is Emma known as a solo performer but she can also be spotted as the violinist and backing vocalist for Kate Miller-Heidke who has recently been signed to Sony BMG.

Emma’s voice is as sultry as it is beautiful and her music has been described variously as quirky, original, inventive, jazzy, soulful, honest, and dynamic.

Emma performs either solo on piano or with her incredible backing band comprising Dane Pollock (electric guitar), John Turnbull (electric bass) and Anthony Dean (drums).

Keep your eyes peeled for a gig near you!