Ili (singer) explained

ili
Birth Name:Emily Middlemas
Birth Date:1998 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Education:Woodfarm High School
Partner:Ryan Lawrie
Module:
Embed:yes
Years Active:2007–present
Genre:Pop

Emily Middlemas (born 26 September 1998), known professionally as ili (stylised in all lowercase), is a Scottish singer-songwriter. In 2014, she auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor but did not progress to the live shows. She returned two years later for the thirteenth series, where she was the ninth contestant eliminated. She competed in both under her birth name, Emily Middlemas, but in 2019, she began using her stage name and independently released her debut extended play, Changes.

Early and personal life

Middlemas was born on 26 September 1998, in Glasgow, Scotland,[1] and attended Woodfarm High School. Middlemas auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent at a young age.[2]

Middlemas has been in a relationship with fellow singer Ryan Lawrie since 2015.[3] [4] [5] In June 2022, the couple got engaged.[6]

Career

At the age of nine, Middlemas started her performing career in a band called Loud N Proud,[7] and at thirteen, she began writing her own songs.[7] In July 2014, Middlemas won TeenStar, an annual singing competition held in Birmingham.[8] Later that year, she auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor, and reached judges' houses, but failed to proceed further.[9] [10] [11]

Middlemas then returned to audition for the thirteenth series of The X Factor in 2016, singing a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster (Jammin')".[12] Middlemas was placed in the "girls" category and reached the live shows, where she was mentored by Simon Cowell.[13] Following the eliminations of Gifty Louise in week 4 and Sam Lavery in week 6, Middlemas became Cowell's last remaining act in the competition. She was in the bottom two in the semi-final, against Matt Terry, and was the ninth contestant eliminated.[14] [15]

In 2017, Middlemas released her first single, "Lost and Found", after which she embarked on her debut headline tour across the United Kingdom.[16] [17] The Memory Lane Tour consisted of 11 dates.[18] In March 2018, she released her second single, "Layla", a tribute to a young girl who died from neuroblastoma cancer.[19] [20] Later that year, she released two further singles, titled "Habit" and "Broken Record".[21]

In August 2019, Middlemas announced that she had adopted the stage name ili.[22] That same month, she released "A Little Bit" as her debut single as ili.[23] [24] In September 2019, "Changes" was released as the title track from her debut EP, Changes.[25] [26] On 1 November 2019, ili released the five-track EP Changes.[27] She then released the single "Breath" on 8 May 2020.[28] Two years later, ili released "Time Go By".[29] Then in May 2023, she released the song "Tongue Tied", which was noted by Notion for "beginning to transcend Scotland’s borders and make an impact globally".[30]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Changes
It's Giving...
  • Released: 16 February 2024
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Lost and Found"2017rowspan="4"
"Layla"2018
"Habit"
"Broken Record"
"A Little Bit"2019Changes
"Changes"
"Plastic Knife"
"Breath"2020rowspan="2"
"Comedown"
"Time Goes By"2022It's Giving…
"2 Cool 2 Be Somebody"
"Tongue Tied"2023
"Saturday"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scottish schoolgirl wows on X Factor. The Herald. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220909/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13181089.scottish-schoolgirl-wows-on-x-factor/. live.
  2. Web site: Scots teenager Emily Middlemas tipped for X Factor success by Simon Cowell. Fulton. Rick. 3 December 2018. 6 August 2014. 4 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005626/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-teenager-emily-middlemas-tipped-4173983. live.
  3. Web site: X Factor's Emily and Ryan are already talking marriage. Harp. Justin. 6 December 2016. Digital Spy. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220911/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a816107/x-factor-emily-middlemas-and-ryan-lawrie-marrying/. live.
  4. Web site: Are Ryan Lawrie and Emily Middlemas engaged or wot?. Foreman. Polly. 21 December 2019. Heat. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220854/https://heatworld.com/celebrity/news/ryan-lawrie-emily-middlemas-engaged/. live.
  5. Web site: Ryan Lawrie Denies That He And Emily Middlemas Are Engaged - Look Magazine. Duff. Anna. 20 December 2019. Look. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220925/https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/entertainment/tv-and-film. live.
  6. News: Tárnai . Eszter . X factor star Emily Middlemas from Glasgow engaged to Scots songwriter Ryan Lawrie . 29 August 2022 . . 5 June 2022.
  7. Web site: https://www.neuroblastoma.org.uk/news/emily-layla. Emily Middlemas Layla Song To Be Released 16 March 2018. neuroblastoma.org. 12 March 2018. 6 December 2018. 7 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181207102913/https://www.neuroblastoma.org.uk/news/emily-layla. live.
  8. Web site: How to 'Make It' in the Music Industry - TeenStar 2014 Champion Announced. TeenStar. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220907/https://www.teenstarcompetition.co.uk/News/how-to-make-it-in-the-music-industry-teenstar-2014-champion-announced. live.
  9. Web site: Emily Middlemas returns to X Factor for another shot at live shows. Radio Times. en. 18 November 2019. 17 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191117162331/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-08-28/emily-middlemas-returns-to-x-factor-for-another-shot-at-live-shows/amp/. live.
  10. Web site: X Factor's Emily Middlemas says Cheryl was right to say no in 2014. Darvill. Josh. 6 October 2016. TellyMix. 18 November 2019. 22 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161222100631/http://www.tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/281629-x-factors-emily-middlemas-says-cheryl-right-say-no-2014.html. live.
  11. News: Emily Middlemas returns to X Factor for another shot at live shows. Radio Times. 26 April 2020. 10 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200810120150/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-08-28/emily-middlemas-returns-to-x-factor-for-another-shot-at-live-shows/. live.
  12. Web site: Who is The X Factor's Emily Middlemas? Everything you need to know about Simon Cowell's live act. Radio Times. 21 July 2020. 14 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170614180725/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-12-04/who-is-the-x-factors-emily-middlemas-everything-you-need-to-know-about-simon-cowells-live-act. live.
  13. Web site: Did The X Factor’s Emily Middlemas blame Simon Cowell for her getting the boot?. Aspinall. Georgia. 5 December 2016. Heat. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220851/https://heatworld.com/entertainment/tv-movies/x-factor-emily-middlemas-simon-cowell/. live.
  14. News: Emily Middlemas loses place in X Factor final as Matt Terry is saved. Evening Standard. 26 April 2020. 17 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191117162317/https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/x-factor-2016-emily-middlemas-loses-place-in-final-as-judges-save-matt-terry-a3412076.html. live.
  15. News: Emily Middlemas eliminated from X Factor after sing-off with Matt Terry. 5 December 2016. Belfast Telegraph. 18 November 2019. en-GB. 0307-1235. 28 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190428152403/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/emily-middlemas-eliminated-from-x-factor-after-singoff-with-matt-terry-35268204.html. live.
  16. Web site: Review: Emily Middlemas ‘Memory Lane Tour’ – Belfast. Dempster. Rachel. 1 October 2019. CelebMix. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220854/https://celebmix.com/review-emily-middlemas-memory-lane-tour-belfast/. live.
  17. Web site: X Factor's Emily Middlemas kicks off live tour with her debut single. Darvill. Josh. 1 September 2017. TellyMix. 18 November 2019. 29 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929115210/https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/328552-x-factors-emily-middlemas-kicks-off-live-tour-debut-single.html. live.
  18. Web site: X Factor's Emily ready to show the real her with surprising debut. Duke. Simon. 15 September 2017. Chronicle Live. en. 18 November 2019. 25 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925122002/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/emily-middlemas-debut-single-newcastle-13620183. live.
  19. Web site: Emily Middlemas Announces Second Single ‘Layla’. Dempster. Rachel. 10 March 2019. CelebMix. en. 18 November 2019. 31 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331143925/https://celebmix.com/emily-middlemas-announces-second-single-layla/. live.
  20. News: X Factor singer Emily Middlemas pens a song in memory of youngster Layla Greene. Speirs. Kathleen. 18 March 2018. Daily Record. 18 November 2019. 17 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191117162330/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/x-factor-singer-emily-middlemas-12209062. live.
  21. News: Emily Middlemas Releases New Single ‘Habit’ With Producer Rob Late. 7 August 2018. CelebMix. 30 November 2018. en. 1 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181201010801/https://celebmix.com/emily-middlemas-releases-new-single-habit-with-producer-rob-late/. live.
  22. thisisili. 1162031431100567552. 15 August 2019. it’s time for change, new beginnings and a whole new era...i feel confident in my own skin and for the first time in my life, i am fearless. power is not given to you- you have to take it. i have never felt more in control, this is a different kind of passion. this is ili..
  23. Web site: Premiere: Emily Middlemas Ascends as ili with Stunning Debut "A Little Bit". 22 August 2019. Atwood Magazine. en. 18 November 2019. 7 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191007093933/http://atwoodmagazine.com/ialb-ili-a-little-bit-song-premiere-emily-middlemas/. live.
  24. Web site: ili (Emily Middlemas) debuts haunting alt-pop gem ‘A Little Bit’. Peters. Jo. 27 August 2019. WithGuitars. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220853/https://www.withguitars.com/ili-emily-middlemas-debuts-haunting-alt-pop-gem-a-little-bit/. live.
  25. Web site: ILI (EMILY MIDDLEMAS) SHARES NEW TRACK 'CHANGES'. Arc Street. en. 18 November 2019. 24 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191024103024/http://www.arcstreet.com/2019/09/ili-emily-middlemas-shares-new-track-changes.html. live.
  26. Web site: ili (Emily Middlemas) shares new track "Changes". 24 September 2019. Elicit Magazine. en. 18 November 2019. 17 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220914/https://www.elicitmagazine.com/ili-changes/. live.
  27. Web site: Ili Shares New Single "Tom Cruise" From Forthcoming EP. 1 November 2019. Elicit Magazine. en. 18 November 2019. 6 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191106192729/http://www.elicitmagazine.com/ili-tom-cruise/. live.
  28. 1252980541223243779. BREATH colours era is here and im so excited to announce my next single is coming on the 8th of may. this song means so much to me and i hope this will connect with you all. pre save now. thisisili. 22 April 2020.
  29. News: PREMIERE: ILI – "TIME GOES BY" . 29 August 2022 . Wonderland.
  30. News: Undiscovered: Christian Cohle, KAT & DARGZ . 16 August 2023 . . 19 May 2023.