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Biography
Use dmy dates|date=June 2011Use British English|date=June 2011BLP sources|date=May 2009Infobox musical artist|image = Jem Walking 2005.jpg|alt =|name = Jem|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Jemma Griffiths|Born = birth date and age|df=yes|1975|05|18 Penarth , Wales |genre = Trip hop , pop rock , Folk music|folk , New Wave music|New Wave |years_active = 2002present|label = Sony BMG RCA Records|RCA ATO Records|ATO |associated_acts = Glass Pear |website = URL| http://www.jem-music.net Jemma Griffiths (born 18 May 1975, in Penarth , Wales ), http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=blog.view& friendId=33315774& blogId=489021965 Jem myspace blog Thursday, 14 May 2009 better known as Jem , is a Welsh people|Welsh singer-songwriter . Her debut album, Finally Woken , includes elements of rock, New Wave music|new wave -styled electronica and trip-hop . Along with electronic producer Guy Sigsworth ( Bjφrk , Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou ), she wrote the song " Nothing Fails ", which was later re-worked by Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna and appeared on her 2003 American Life album. Her second album Down to Earth (Jem Album)|Down to Earth was released on 16 September 2008.
Biography
Beginnings
Jem was born in Penarth , Wales , a small town near the Welsh capital, Cardiff . Her siblings are Chloe, Yestyn and Georgia. Yestyn is in the band Glass Pear .
Although she began singing and writing songs during her time at Stanwell school at age thirteen in Penarth , Wales, she decided to head into law and attended Sussex University . However, she spent less time and energy on studies and focused on being a DJ talent agent|agent , although she did eventually receive a degree in law. There in Brighton , she spent a lot of time promoting club nights, and helped set up and run the specialist breaks label Marine Parade Records|Marine Parade . She has said she "went to class as little as she could without being kicked out".cite web | last=Kenly | first=Emma | title=Jem's the best of British | date=14 March 2005 | url= http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/life/article214362.ece | work= The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun | accessdate=2007-12-22
In November 1999, she assembled a mobile recording studio where she further developed her songwriting and music production skills. During this period, she completed four demo (music)|demos that would eventually set up her career in the music industry . From there, she moved to London where she collaborated with Guy Sigsworth , and then to Brooklyn to work with Ge-Ology ( Mos Def , Talib Kweli ). In autumn 2002 she met Yoad Nevo , who became her co-producer.
Music career
Jem's solo career began in earnest in 2002, when a demo version of the song "Finally Woken" was played on the Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles radio station , KCRW . The track became one of the most listener-requested songs at the station, landing her in their top 5 played artists, and all prior to any record label being attached. As a result, Bruce Flohr was so impressed with her demos that he offered Jem a recording contract onto Dave Matthews ' ATO Records|ATO label.
She was subsequently signed to the label ATO Records|ATO and released the moderately successful Extended play|EP It All Starts Here in autumn 2003, followed by the album Finally Woken in March 2004.
Jem released the single " 24 (song)|24 " from Finally Woken in 2003 as a limited edition promo single, and then released her debut single, " They (song)|They ", from the same album, which followed the next year in her homeland of the United Kingdom|UK , with a separate music video|video . A remix of the song was the first release on her Gramophone record|vinyl imprint label CrazyWiseMusic.cite web | title=soulseduction.com - jem - they (remix) | url= http://www.soulseduction.com/common/item_detail.php? ItemID=145623 | month=January | year=2005 | accessdate=2007-12-22
Further singles followed in the UK, before she took a gap to write and record a new album. Whilst working on the album, with Lester Mendez , she wrote a song called "Once In Every Lifetime" for the Eragon film|movie soundtrack . The song " It's Amazing " from the Sex and the City (film)|Sex and the City movie soundtrack is the official first single from her second album, which she has entitled Down to Earth (Jem Album)|Down To Earth , released on 16 September 2008.cite web | url= http://www.jem-music.net/? p=news | title=::Jem:: The Official Homepage | date=27 May 2007 | work=Jem: The Official Homepage | accessdate=2007-05-31
Her music has been featured on numerous television program s such as Damages , The O.C. , Desperate Housewives , Wonderfalls , 90210 (TV series)|90210 , Six Feet Under (TV series)|Six Feet Under , Crossing Jordan , '' Grey's Anatomy , Medium (TV series)|Medium , and " Wish I " was used as the theme tune to the ITV show, Celebrity Love Island .
Jem performed live at KCRW Radio in 2002 and 2004; WOXY (internet radio)|WOXY in 2004; Popworld , Glastonbury Festival , Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival , Sasquatch& #33; Music Festival , V Festival , and on Top of the Pops in 2005.
According to Jem's official website, "Jem is currently in the studio finishing up her new album" to be released in the summer of 2011 or early 2012.
She has been presented with the opportunity to pursue her dream as a filmmaker. "I've been studying film-making, screenwriting, and developing script ideas for several years now, hoping one day I'd have the time to follow my passion into movie-land and start making films."Citation needed|date=November 2010 Though she is very proud of the album and promises to be making music "until I'm old and grey",Citation needed|date=November 2010 she will be taking time off from music to film her directorial debut. http://www.jem-music.net/news.php
Personal life
Jem married Joseph George in September 2009.cite web|url= http://www.josephgeorgemusic.com/Joseph_George_Official_Site/bio.html|title=Joseph George's Bio
Discography
Albums
Year
Name
Charts
UK Albums Chart cite book
U.S.
U.S. Heat
U.S. Indie
2004
Finally Woken
First studio album
Released on 24 March 2004
Labels:
Formats: Compact Disc|CD , Music download|download
6
197
11
2008
Down to Earth (Jem album)
Second studio album
Released on 16 September 2008 (US)
Labels:
Formats: Compact Disc|CD , Music download|download
64
43
4
EPs
It All Starts Here (13 October 2003, U.S. only release)
Singles
Year
Single
Chart positions
Album
UK
IRE
AUS
ITA
AUT
NDL
GER
SWE
CAN
US
2005
They "
6
8
28
31
15
27
45
47
Finally Woken
" Just a Ride "
16
27
" Wish I "
24
27
24 "
98
2008
" It's Amazing "
77
Down to Earth
"Crazy"
97
2009
"And So I Pray"
" I Want You To... "
Various
Song
Production Title
Year
Production Type
"Just a Ride"
Music on The O.C.
2004
soundtrack
" Maybe I'm Amazed "
Music on The O.C.
2004
soundtrack
"California Sun"
" Just a Ride "
2005
Single (music)
"Amazing Life"
Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends
2005
soundtrack
"Easy Way Out"
Carmen Rizzo : The Lost Art of the Idle Moment
2005
album
"The Thieves"
Weapons (album)
2006
album
"Once in Every Lifetime"
Eragon (film)#Soundtrack
2006
soundtrack
"Everytime"
Vusi Mahlasela : Guiding Star
2007
album
"Ecouter"
Carmen Rizzo : Ornament of an Imposter
2008
album
" It's Amazing "
Sex and the City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack#Sex and the City: The Movie
2008
soundtrack
" Yellow (song)
Sweetheart: Our Favorite Artists Sing Their Favorite Love Songs
2009
Compilation album
"Until the Morning Comes"
Glass Pear : Until the Morning Comes
2009
Single (music)
Song usage
Song
Production
Year
Type
"Come on Closer"
" Closer (film)
2004 2006 2004 2004
Trailer (film)
" Wish I "
" Celebrity Love Island " " Grey's Anatomy (soundtrack)
2004 2005
title theme unofficial soundtrack
" Maybe I'm Amazed "
" The OC "
2004
official soundtrack
" Just a Ride "
" The OC " " Monster-in-Law " " The Prince and Me " " Grey's Anatomy (soundtrack)
2004 2005 2005 2005 2004 2007
official soundtrack official soundtrack official soundtrack unofficial soundtrack
" They (song)
" The OC " " Crossing Jordan " " Grey's Anatomy (soundtrack)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/jem/ Jem biography from BBC Wales
MySpace-music|jem|Jem
Jem Culture in Cardiff Persondata|NAME = Griffiths, Jemma |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Jem |SHORT DESCRIPTION = Singer, Songwriter |DATE OF BIRTH = 18 June 1975 |PLACE OF BIRTH = Penarth , Cardiff , Wales |DATE OF DEATH = |PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Jem Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:People from Penarth Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex Category:Welsh female singers Category:Welsh singer-songwriters Category:Trip hop musicians Category:ATO Records artists Category:People educated at Howell's School Llandaff Category:People educated at Stanwell School
