EMILIE CULSHAW: THE RISE OF A DARK DREAM POP FORCE, AND READY FOR THE ‘’I GUESS YOU CHANGED’’ TOUR

Liverpool’s multi-award-winning pop artist takes her most ambitious step yet with the

I Guess You Changed

UK Tour

From the heart of Liverpool’s independent music scene to international radio airplay, award recognition and hundreds of thousands of streams, Emilie Culshaw is entering one of the most exciting chapters of her career.

The multi-award-winning dark dream-pop artist is preparing to take her music on the road this October with the I Guess You Changed UK Tour, presented by Big Condo Records. Running from 1st to 11th October 2026, the tour will see Emilie perform across eight dates in Wigan, Chester, Chorley, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Leeds and her hometown of Liverpool.

At the centre of the tour is Emilie’s debut EP, I Guess You Changed, a body of work that reflects the emotional honesty, vulnerability and cinematic storytelling that have become hallmarks of her music.

A SOUND BUILT ON EMOTION

Describing herself as a dark dream-pop artist, Emilie Culshaw creates music that sits comfortably between genres. Pop, soul, rock, blues and R&B influences combine with atmospheric production and haunting vocals to create a sound that is both cinematic and deeply personal.

Her songwriting explores love, resilience, self-discovery, vulnerability and empowerment. themes that allow her music to connect on an intensely personal level while remaining relatable to a much wider audience.

Her influences include some of the biggest names in contemporary music, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, Madison Beer and Taylor Swift, but Emilie has developed an identity of her own, using those influences as a foundation for music rooted in her own experiences and perspective.

FOUR SINGLES, AND A GROWING AUDIENCE

Since signing with Big Condo Records in September 2024, Emilie has released four singles, each surpassing 100,000 streams.

Her label journey began with “Trapdoor,” a powerful track centred on anxiety, self-doubt and overcoming the barriers that can stand between us and our ambitions. The single reached number one on the Brazilian radio charts, received international airplay and was followed by a successful UK tour.

Next came “Cherry Haze,” a dreamy exploration of the rush and vulnerability of falling in love at first sight. Its atmospheric sound helped the track gain worldwide attention and secure rotation across thousands of radio stations internationally.

Emilie continued that momentum with “Fake Friend,” another emotionally driven release that further demonstrated her ability to transform personal themes and experiences into music that resonates with listeners.

Her fourth single, “Cradle to the Grave,” arrived on 20th July and represents perhaps her most personal and inspiring release yet.

Built around themes of strength, sacrifice, resilience and perseverance, the track reflects the difficult journey involved in chasing a dream and refusing to give up when life presents obstacles. Wrapped in Emilie’s signature cinematic dream-pop sound, it ultimately delivers a message of hope and determination.

With all four singles passing the 100,000-stream mark, Emilie has established a significant foundation for an artist still firmly in the emerging stages of her career.

AWARD-WINNING FROM THE START

Emilie’s progress has been accompanied by an impressive collection of industry recognition.

Her collaboration with dance producer Mark Moncrieff on the acclaimed single “Strong” earned Tune Fountain’s Single of the Year award, alongside extensive playlist support and widespread radio airplay.

She later received Tune Fountain’s Artist of the Year award before being crowned Best Music Influencer at the UK Top Influencer Awards in 2025 and 2026.

Her achievements extend beyond recorded music. Emilie has performed at prestigious events including the Merseyside Woman of the Year Awards and appeared on television through VIP Boxing in partnership with Trinity Entertainment.

Her music and work have also attracted coverage from the BBC, as well as radio stations, podcasts and publications across the UK and internationally.

The growing reach of her catalogue has been recognised with 3 label plaques celebrating more than 300,000 YouTube views, alongside a TuneCore award recognising more than 100,000 streams across digital platforms.

FROM LIVERPOOL TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE

While Emilie’s roots remain firmly in Liverpool, her audience is increasingly international.

Her music has travelled far beyond the UK through radio, streaming platforms and digital media, with releases receiving international airplay and support from audiences around the world.

That growing reach is particularly significant for an independent artist. Rather than relying on a single defining moment, Emilie has built momentum release by release, performance by performance and audience by audience.

The I Guess You Changed tour is the natural next step.

THE I GUESS YOU CHANGED UK TOUR

The tour opens at Side Door (Barneys) in Wigan on 1st October, before travelling through Chester and Chorley and arriving in Birmingham on 4th October.

After a short break in the schedule, Emilie returns to the road for dates in Manchester on 8th October, London on 9th October and Leeds on 10th October, before bringing the tour home to Liverpool for the final night at Shipping Forecast on 11th October.

TOUR DATES

01/10/2026 — SIDE DOOR (BARNEYS), WIGAN

02/10/2026 — G21 (THE SADDLE INN), CHESTER

03/10/2026 — NELIPOTS, CHORLEY, LANCASHIRE

04/10/2026 — THE RAINBOW, BIRMINGHAM

08/10/2026 — FUEL CAFÉ, MANCHESTER

09/10/2026 — HOPE & ANCHOR, LONDON

10/10/2026 — SANTIAGO BAR, LEEDS

11/10/2026 — SHIPPING FORECAST, LIVERPOOL

CELEBRATING THE NEXT GENERATION

An important part of the tour is the extensive line-up of independent artists joining Emilie across the eight dates.

Rather than simply treating the support acts as an addition to the bill, the tour provides a platform for a remarkable collection of emerging talent from across the UK. Emilie and Big Condo Records have made a point of recognising the artists joining her on the journey.

WIGAN — 1 OCTOBER

Side Door (Barneys)

Carolyn • Amelie Langley • Lexxi Raine • Hannah McMillan • Amber Jules • Songbird • Molly Hunter • Emma Echo

CHESTER — 2 OCTOBER

G21 (The Saddle Inn)

EMZz • Mollie Rose • Xav • Dawn Destiny • Cassie • Mallory Storm • Belle Jones • Jess Roberts • Enya Louise Welsh • Chantelle Anderson

CHORLEY — 3 OCTOBER

Nelipots

Brian Hobbs • Aylif • Rachel Wyche • Lily Bob • Graciemay • Hellen Kelly • Leah Eccles • Chloe Mellodey • Paper Jones • Jackson Ward

BIRMINGHAM — 4 OCTOBER

The Rainbow

Chloe Jessica • Lauren Paige • Lily Maye • Eiina • Emlee • Mxlissa • Mckenzie • Rosie K • Jemma Naomie • Phil Beale

MANCHESTER — 8 OCTOBER

Fuel Café

Karly Go • Pearls • Jazmin Jago • Lois Brooks • IZI • Molly Lou • Archie

LONDON — 9 OCTOBER

Hope & Anchor

Martha May • Dulps • Jessie Simpson • Anna Rey • Karly Go • Loreleix • Bethany Gibson • Frankie Freeman

LEEDS — 10 OCTOBER

Santiago Bar

Matthew James Pearce • Chloe Blood • Lucy Hall • Ada Blue • Lily Cooke • Lori Murchie • Lorna Mattison • Lewis Robyn • Ryan Swift

LIVERPOOL — 11 OCTOBER

Shipping Forecast

Tasha Mc • Amaranth • Velvet Fevers • Isla Jane • Liberty • Baby Belle • Mia G • Lydia Hawksey • Phoebie Rae

THE ROAD AHEAD

For an artist who has built her career around emotional honesty, the I Guess You Changed tour represents more than simply another run of live dates.

It is a chance to bring the songs, stories and experiences behind her music directly to audiences, while also shining a light on the independent artists sharing the stages with her.

From her Liverpool beginnings to international radio, award-winning collaborations, television appearances and four 100,000-plus-streaming singles, Emilie Culshaw’s trajectory is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Her music has already travelled further than she perhaps could have imagined when the journey began.

Now she is taking it to the stage.

INTERVIEW WITH JESSIE SIMPSON WHOS ON TOUR WITH EMILIE

1. How does it feel to be working with an established label like Big Condo Records, and what does that opportunity mean for you as an emerging artist?

I feel very grateful and lucky that Big Condo Records came across my page and reached out to work with me. Although I have been performing my whole life, I only began posting on social media and releasing my own music within the last year. This opportunity has not only provided me with my first real promotion opportunities, but has also introduced me to so many amazing new artists.

2. The Emilie Culshaw tour is making history as one of the biggest grassroots emerging-pop tours, with more than 80 support acts being given opportunities across multiple dates. What does it mean to you to be part of that history?

I think grassroots artists and venues should be celebrated and supported for their authenticity and their integral role in the music scene, both globally and locally. Giving platforms to smaller artists allows new music to be heard and appreciated by people who perhaps wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to discover it, especially more alternative sounds.

Being part of the Emilie Culshaw tour means so much to me because it does exactly this. It gives emerging artists an opportunity to perform, connect with new audiences and support each other within the grassroots music community.

3. What has been the highlight of your journey as an artist so far, and what’s been the biggest moment that made you think, “This is really happening”?

The highlight of my journey as an artist so far was probably the day my first single, “Love Bomb,” came out.

I wrote the song about five years ago, but it wasn’t until I met my friend Eddie at university that releasing it became realistic. Eddie and I went on to collaborate on further songwriting, and he produced the track from home.

We released it about four months ago, and I remember playing it in the car on Spotify and thinking, this is so crazy, that’s my voice and that’s my song.

When it reached 2,000 streams, that was another really special moment. Knowing that a song I had written in my student halls bedroom when I was 18 had been streamed 2,000 times was incredible.

4. For anyone discovering you for the first time through the tour, tell us a little about Jessie Simpson, where did your musical journey begin, and what inspired you to start making music?

I first got into music through playing the trumpet as a child in orchestras and brass bands. Then, towards the end of primary school, I joined a theatre group and began performing on stage as part of musical theatre shows. That was the first time I sang in front of a live audience.

I was very lucky to attend a secondary school that really prioritised funding the arts. It was there that I started learning guitar and piano, as well as receiving classical vocal training.

I also joined a band with some of my friends called KAJE, and we started playing regular gigs around Leeds. I have such fond memories of those gigs. Unfortunately, when we all went to university, the band split up, but we still remain friends and occasionally get together for a jam when we’re all back in Leeds.

I still love musical theatre and continued taking part in shows throughout university, but my focus now is mainly on writing and performing both covers and originals with my guitar. I’ve been a semi-professional musician, playing in bars and pubs around the country, for around two years now.

5. How would you describe your sound and your identity as an artist? Are there any artists or influences that have played a big part in shaping you?

I would describe my sound as acoustic pop. As my songs are produced by my friend at home, I would also say my sound is definitely part of the rising trend of “bedroom pop,” which has been popularised by artists such as Clairo and Steve Lacy.

As a younger musician, I was always inspired by Hayley Williams. I thought her voice was amazing, but I also loved her stage presence as the frontwoman of an all-male band. I think she’s so cool.

I’m also inspired by my aunt, who is an amazing singer. I remember watching her sing “Fame” at karaoke and being completely in awe of her.

6. Being a grassroots artist can come with plenty of challenges. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far from performing, creating music and building your career?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you have to know your limits, especially with live performance, because it can be exhausting.

I’ve also played gigs where there has literally been one person in the room watching — and it’s been my dad! Sometimes that’s just how it goes, but you have to stay determined and not let it put you off, because who knows? At your next gig, there could be 100 people there.

Celebrating the small wins is also so important. There may only be one person watching, but you’re still on stage doing what you love, and you have to remember that.

7. What have you currently got going on outside of the tour? Are there any new songs, releases, collaborations or projects that fans should be looking out for?

I have a new song coming out on 20th September called “Deja Vu!”

It’s another collaboration with my producer and co-writer, Eddie Kirkby-Geddes, and I would describe it as acoustic-indie pop. We’ve been working on it for a while, and I’m super proud of it!

I’m also very lucky to have a talented friend called Saskia Cranston, who designed the cover art for my previous single, “Love Bomb.” She has created another amazing piece of artwork for “Deja Vu!”, so I’m super excited for it to come out and to share all this incredible grassroots art with the world.

8. Has being part of this tour changed your confidence or your outlook on where your music career could go?

For sure! Especially hearing all the other musicians who I’ll be playing alongside.

I would love to be able to tour in the same way that Emilie Culshaw is right now, and this experience has definitely put it on my radar as something that could be a possibility sooner rather than later.

9. Once the Emilie Culshaw tour comes to an end, what would be your dream next step? Where do you hope this opportunity takes you?

I’ve only recently moved to London, so I hope to start performing in more places and meet more London-based musicians.

I would also love to release an EP within the next year and perform it live in my hometown of Leeds, but also at a grassroots venue here in London.

I love collaborating with other musicians, so that would definitely be something I’d like to incorporate into the EP as well.

10. Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to another emerging artist who is just starting out and hoping to get their own opportunity, what would you say to them?

Perform as much as you can.

Open mic nights are amazing for getting yourself out there and meeting other musicians, and don’t be shy about asking other musicians for advice, whether that’s in person or through a DM.

That’s actually how I got my first gigs.

Most of the time, we want to help each other, and I find there’s a lot of camaraderie within the music community. The grassroots scene is full of people who are passionate about music and willing to support one another, so put yourself out there, make connections and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Emilie Culshaw — I Guess You Changed UK Tour
1st–11th October 2026
Presented by Big Condo Records

For Emilie Culshaw, this is not the destination.

It is the next chapter.

FOLLOW EMILIE CULSHAW

Instagram: @EmilieCulshaw⁠

Facebook: Emilie Culshaw⁠

X/Twitter: @EmilieCulshaw