Have you heard of the TV show The Slap? Really, no? A couple of months ago, here in Australia, it was everywhere. You couldn’t turn your channel onto the Australian Broadcasting Commision for two minutes without being bombarded for promos for it.

I am too young and innocent and delicate to watch the show, but I could deduct that is was a whole lot of family arguments, explicit sex scenes and drama. What I was really excited about was the song used for the promo. It was called Jungle, by the up and coming indie darling Emma Louise.

I came across the song on a whim a few months ago, breaching my internet limits (I’m so rebel) to get it in the Triple J podcast. I didn’t even listen to it beforehand; just pressed “Download” like all good people should. I cannot remember the amount of times I’ve stumbled across brilliant music just because I felt like wasting up the internet usage.

Afterwards, I listened to it. I had, like I said, not heard of Emma Louise, but this song turned out to be a pulsating pop gem, with washes of lush electro sounds, rumbling exotic percussion and her sweet voice earnestly painting a picture of tension. It was beautiful, and quite hard to believe that she was a newcomer on the scene.

Taken from her EP Full Hearts & Empty Rooms, released in April last year, Jungle’s success lead to touring with the wonderful Josh Pyke and Boy & Bear, her own national tour, use of her song in said promo, interviews for magazines and #23 spot in the Triple J Hottest 100.

Not only this, she’s earned herself an admirable stream of awards. Jungle won her Song of the Year and Best Pop Song at the Queensland Music Awards. Looking back a few years, she also won a few commercial radio comps at the age of fifteen. The most amazing part is she’s nineteen. Yup. Nineteen.

Full Hearts & Empty Rooms is a four track work. The remaining three tracks are more organic sounding compared to the soft electronic sounds featured in Jungle. It kicks off with the bright sounds of Bugs, narrating a sweet story with a memorable chorus, which is then followed by Jungle. Percussion is prominent on Al’s Song, a distinct guitar melody strung over the top to compliment her smooth voice. It begins quickly, with a quiet, soft, sad chorus before swelling into the darker, richer verses. The EP finishes with 1000 Sundowns, which holds a melody that reminded me of Regina Spektor’s Samson. The track won her Folk Singer/Songwriter Award at the QMA’s. It’s a fragile love story, simple but spine tingling.

Already, I’m a fangirl for Emma Louise. I’ve squealed over her, recommended her songs and did a victory dance when her song came on the radio for the Hottest 100. For a girl who picked up a guitar only a few years ago, she’s come a very long way, and I’m positive that she has a lot further to go yet.

[media url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvzu3bKgt5Y]