Emma Warren is an experienced speaker, panel facilitator and expert interviewer of musicians, artists and creatives, having curated and hosted long-form conversations with world-famous individuals including Björk and Brian Eno. Her speaker topics include music, community, creativity, documenting culture, low-resource ingenuity and the way in which grassroots cultural histories can help us understand who we are. Recent events include interviewing Warren Ellis at Rough Trade for Faber and curating an afternoon of talks titled Women V Culture at The Southbank for London Jazz Festival.
“Emma Warren’s high quality talks and writing are marked by a remarkable sense of empathy, drawing out the unique stories and experiences of artists that resonated deeply with those that had the chance to encounter them. Red Bull Music Academy brought together artists from all different walks of life, and I was continually impressed with Emma's ability to get artists to talk in terms that made just as much sense to the American beatmaker with a lucrative recording contract as it did to the Lebanese experimental musician that had to work two other full-time jobs just to get by. In short, she's able to expertly read a room or craft a piece of writing so that things are clear, concise and entertaining. I know many musicians that have come up to me and said that an interview that Emma conducted changed their perspective on creativity.” Todd L. Burns, Red Bull Music Festivals
“Emma is thoroughly professional and very engaging speaker and interviewer. She is always well prepared and her confidence puts the audience and interviewee at ease. She has other important quality that is rarer than one would think - she is thoughtful - you really get the feeling that she has thought deeply about the ideas and concepts she is discussing. I asked her to interview the writer Luke Turner at this year's Glastonbury. I choose her because not only did I think she would do a good job but also that her reputation would go before her - if she didn't know Luke personally I was pretty sure he would have heard of her and would understand that by choosing her I was taking his interview seriously. I also feel that her most recent writing projects examining the importance of physical space in popular culture are truly groundbreaking. I would have no hesitation in recommending her.” Mathew Clayton, Head of Publishing at Unbound, Founder of the Free University of Glastonbury
“Emma is without doubt one of the most credible, well-researched and versatile broadcasters I have worked with. She presents a regular show on Worldwide FM and is involved in so many of the special events and projects that we instigate, from chairing panels and talks at festivals, to conceiving compelling programming for our coverage of International Women’s Day, to stepping up on the decks at parties. She is someone whose editorial instincts I trust implicitly and whose delivery is invariably to a very high standard. Her portfolio of work speaks for itself and speaks to her currency as a formidable broadcaster and journalist.” Dan Moss, Station Manager, Worldwide FM, BBC 6 Music
“I've had the pleasure of working with Emma Warren since 2013, firstly as a writer and then as a host and moderator. In both roles, she brings a depth of insight to the subject matter, and empathy to the people she is engaging with. Her preparation as an interviewer is meticulous, and by the time the conversation reaches the stage, it is like listening to two old friends catching up. Emma creates a safe space where her interviewees are immediately at ease, and share their stories in an honest and intimate way. Beyond her own specific role in a production, she always brings a calmness and wisdom to the team around her, especially in tense situations. It has been a privilege to work with her.” Ian Calvert, Director of Programmes Red Bull Amaphiko