Ili (singer)
ili | |
---|---|
Born | Emily Middlemas 26 September 1998 Glasgow, Scotland |
Education | Woodfarm High School |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Musical career | |
Also known as | Emily Middlemas |
Genres | Pop |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 2007–present |
Website | thisisili |
Emily Middlemas (born 26 September 1998), known professionally as ili (stylised in all lowercase), is a Scottish singer-songwriter. In 2016, she finished in fourth place in the thirteenth series of The X Factor.[1] She also competed in the eleventh series of the programme, and reached judges' houses, but failed to reach the live shows.[2] In 2019, she independently released her debut extended play, Changes.
Early life
Middlemas was born on 26 September 1998, in Glasgow, Scotland,[3] and attended Woodfarm High School.[3] Middlemas auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent at a young age.[4]
Career
2007–2016: Career beginnings
At the age of nine, Middlemas started her performing career in a band called Loud N Proud,[5] and at thirteen, she began writing her own songs.[5] In July 2014, Middlemas won TeenStar, an annual singing competition held in Birmingham.[6] Later that year, she auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor, and reached judges' houses, but failed to proceed further.[7][8]
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')".[9] Middlemas was placed in the "girls" category and reached the live shows, where she was mentored by Simon Cowell.[10] 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 eliminated in fourth place.[11]
The X Factor performances and results | |||
---|---|---|---|
Show | Song choice | Theme | Result |
Auditions | "Master Blaster (Jammin')" – Stevie Wonder | — | Through to bootcamp |
Bootcamp | Unknown | Through to six-chair challenge | |
Six-chair challenge | "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" – Cyndi Lauper | Through to judges' houses | |
Judges' houses | "Ex's and Oh's" – Elle King | Through to live shows | |
Live show 1 | "Closer" – The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey | Express Yourself | Safe (3rd) |
Live show 2 | "Stop! In the Name of Love" – The Supremes | Motown | Safe (3rd) |
Live show 3 | "How Will I Know" – Whitney Houston | Divas & Legends | Safe (3rd) |
Live show 4 | "Creep" – Radiohead | Fright Night | Safe (1st) |
Live show 5 | "What Makes You Beautiful" – One Direction | Girlband vs Boyband | Safe (3rd) |
Live show 6 | "Wishing on a Star" – Rose Royce | Disco | Safe (4th) |
Live show 7 | "It Must Have Been Love" – Roxette | Movies | Safe (4th) |
Quarter-Final | "Toxic" – Britney Spears | Louis Loves | Safe (2nd) |
"Human" – Rag'n'Bone Man | Contestant's Choice | ||
Semi-Final | "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – John Lennon & Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Band | Christmas | Bottom two (4th) |
"Mad World" – Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules | Contestant's Choice | ||
"Wings" – Birdy | Sing-off | Eliminated (fourth place) |
2017–present: Changes and Colours
In 2017, Middlemas released her first single, "Lost and Found", after which she embarked on her debut headline tour across the United Kingdom.[12][13] The Memory Lane Tour consisted of 11 dates.[14] In March 2018, she released her second single, "Layla", a tribute to a young girl who died from neuroblastoma cancer.[15][16] Later that year, she released two further singles, titled "Habit" and "Broken Record".[17]
In August 2019, Middlemas announced that she would be using the stage name ili from then onwards.[18] On 23 August 2019, she released "A Little Bit" as the first single under her new stage name.[19][20] In September 2019, "Changes" was released as the title track from her debut EP, Changes.[21][22] On 1 November 2019, Middlemas released the five-track EP Changes.[23] Middlemas then released the single "Breath" on 8 May 2020.[24]
Personal life
Middlemas has been in a relationship with fellow The X Factor contestant Ryan Lawrie since 2015.[25][26][27]
Discography
Extended plays
Title | Details |
---|---|
Changes |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Lost and Found" | 2017 | Non-album singles |
"Layla" | 2018 | |
"Habit" | ||
"Broken Record" | ||
"A Little Bit" | 2019 | Changes |
"Changes" | ||
"Plastic Knife" | ||
"Breath" | 2020 | Non-album singles |
"Comedown" |
References
- ^ "Emily Middlemas loses place in X Factor final as Matt Terry is saved". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ "Emily Middlemas returns to X Factor for another shot at live shows". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Scottish schoolgirl wows on X Factor". The Herald. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Fulton, Rick (6 August 2014). "Scots teenager Emily Middlemas tipped for X Factor success by Simon Cowell". Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Emily Middlemas Layla Song To Be Released 16 March 2018". neuroblastoma.org. 12 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- ^ "How to 'Make It' in the Music Industry - TeenStar 2014 Champion Announced". TeenStar. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Emily Middlemas returns to X Factor for another shot at live shows". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Darvill, Josh (6 October 2016). "X Factor's Emily Middlemas says Cheryl was right to say no in 2014". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Who is The X Factor's Emily Middlemas? Everything you need to know about Simon Cowell's live act". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ Aspinall, Georgia (5 December 2016). "Did The X Factor's Emily Middlemas blame Simon Cowell for her getting the boot?". Heat. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Emily Middlemas eliminated from X Factor after sing-off with Matt Terry". Belfast Telegraph. 5 December 2016. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Dempster, Rachel (1 October 2019). "Review: Emily Middlemas 'Memory Lane Tour' – Belfast". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Darvill, Josh (1 September 2017). "X Factor's Emily Middlemas kicks off live tour with her debut single". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Duke, Simon (15 September 2017). "X Factor's Emily ready to show the real her with surprising debut". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Dempster, Rachel (10 March 2019). "Emily Middlemas Announces Second Single 'Layla'". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Speirs, Kathleen (18 March 2018). "X Factor singer Emily Middlemas pens a song in memory of youngster Layla Greene". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Emily Middlemas Releases New Single 'Habit' With Producer Rob Late". CelebMix. 7 August 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ^ @thisisili (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" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Premiere: Emily Middlemas Ascends as ili with Stunning Debut "A Little Bit"". Atwood Magazine. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Peters, Jo (27 August 2019). "ili (Emily Middlemas) debuts haunting alt-pop gem 'A Little Bit'". WithGuitars. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "ILI (EMILY MIDDLEMAS) SHARES NEW TRACK 'CHANGES'". Arc Street. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "ili (Emily Middlemas) shares new track "Changes"". Elicit Magazine. 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Ili Shares New Single "Tom Cruise" From Forthcoming EP". Elicit Magazine. 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ @thisisili (22 April 2020). "🦋 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" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Harp, Justin (6 December 2016). "X Factor's Emily and Ryan are already talking marriage". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Foreman, Polly (21 December 2019). "Are Ryan Lawrie and Emily Middlemas engaged or wot?". Heat. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ Duff, Anna (20 December 2019). "Ryan Lawrie Denies That He And Emily Middlemas Are Engaged - Look Magazine". Look. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.