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Ili (singer)
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Emily Middlemas (born 26 September 1998), known professionally as Ili (stylised in all lowercase), is a Scottish singer-songwriter. In 2014, she auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor but did not progress to the live shows. She returned two years later for the thirteenth series, where she been the ninth contestant eliminated. She competed in both under her birth name, Emily Middlemas, but in 2019, she began using her stage name and independently released her debut extended play, Changes.
Key Information
Early and personal life
[edit]Middlemas was born on 26 September 1998, in Glasgow[1] and attended Woodfarm High School.[1] Middlemas auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent at a young age.[2]
Middlemas has been in a relationship with fellow singer Ryan Lawrie since 2015.[3][4][5] In 2022, the couple got engaged.[6] They got married in 2025.[7]
Career
[edit]At the age of nine, Middlemas started her performing career in a band called Loud N Proud,[8] and at thirteen, she began writing her own songs.[8] In July 2014, Middlemas won TeenStar, an annual singing competition held in Birmingham.[9] Later that year, she auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor, and reached judges' houses, but failed to proceed further.[10][11][12]
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')".[13] Middlemas was placed in the "girls" category and reached the live shows, where she was mentored by Simon Cowell.[14] 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 the ninth contestant eliminated.[15][16]
| The X Factor performances and results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Show | Song choice | Theme | Result |
| Auditions | "Master Blaster (Jammin')" – Stevie Wonder | N/a | 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) | |
In 2017, Middlemas released her first single, "Lost and Found", after which she embarked on her debut headline tour across the United Kingdom.[17][18] The Memory Lane Tour consisted of 11 dates.[19] In March 2018, she released her second single, "Layla", a tribute to a young girl who died from neuroblastoma cancer.[20][21] Later that year, she released two further singles, titled "Habit" and "Broken Record".[22]
In August 2019, Middlemas announced that she had adopted the stage name Ili.[23] That same month, she released "A Little Bit" as her debut single.[24][25] In September 2019, "Changes" was released as the title track from her debut EP, Changes.[26][27] On 1 November 2019, Ili released the five-track EP Changes.[28] She then released the single "Breath" on 8 May 2020.[29] Two years later, Ili released "Time Goes By".[30] Then in May 2023, she released the song "Tongue Tied", which was noted by Notion for "beginning to transcend Scotland’s borders and make an impact globally".[31] In 2025, she was a co-writer on "Voyage", recorded by Zoë Më to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.[32]
Discography
[edit]Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Changes |
|
| It's Giving... |
|
| Confessions of a People Pleaser |
|
Singles
[edit]As solo artist
[edit]| 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" | ||
| "Time Goes By" | 2022 | It's Giving… |
| "2 Cool 2 Be Somebody" | ||
| "Tongue Tied" | 2023 | |
| "Saturday" | ||
| "Gelato" | 2024 | Non-album single |
| "Mean to Me" | 2025 | Confessions of a People Pleaser |
| "Super Elastic" | 2026 | |
| "Tears Ago" | ||
| "In Your Head" |
As featured artist
[edit]| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Strange World" (Ummet Ozcan featuring Ili) |
2021 | Non-album single |
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Tárnai, Eszter (5 June 2022). "X factor star Emily Middlemas from Glasgow engaged to Scots songwriter Ryan Lawrie". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "X-Factor stars say 'I do' in stunning wedding ceremony". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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 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 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.
- ^ "PREMIERE: ILI – "TIME GOES BY"". Wonderland. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Undiscovered: Christian Cohle, KAT & DARGZ". Notion. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Switzerland: Zoë Më's song for Eurovision 2025 released: "Voyage"". Eurovision World. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
External links
[edit]
Ili (singer)
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Biography
Early life
Emily Middlemas, professionally known as ili, was born on 26 September 1998 in Glasgow, Scotland. Raised in the city, she attended Woodfarm High School. Middlemas also auditioned for Britain's Got Talent at a young age. She developed an early passion for music. At the age of nine, Middlemas began her performing career by joining the youth band Loud N Proud, a group affiliated with a local music club. The band performed at festivals and events across Scotland and the UK, providing her with foundational stage experience and the opportunity to learn piano. Through these early gigs, she built a small fan base and honed her skills as a performer.[9][10] By age 13, Middlemas started writing her own songs, further nurturing her musical interests before transitioning to more formal opportunities.[9]Personal life
Ili, whose real name is Emily Middlemas, has maintained a private personal life centered in Scotland, where she was born and raised in Glasgow. She has been in a long-term relationship with Scottish songwriter Ryan Lawrie since 2015, having known each other as childhood sweethearts from their hometown.[11] The couple announced their engagement in June 2022, following Lawrie's proposal at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt during a romantic trip.[12] They married in a traditional Scottish ceremony in August 2025, nine years after both had appeared on the same talent show as teenagers.[13]Career
Talent show appearances
Ili, then known by her birth name Emily Middlemas, first gained competitive recognition in the music industry by winning the TeenStar singing competition in Birmingham in July 2014 at the age of 15. This national event for young performers marked her initial breakthrough, showcasing her vocal abilities and stage presence to a wider audience.[10] Later that year, Middlemas auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor UK, performing Cher Lloyd's "I Want U Back" during the room auditions, which impressed the judges enough to advance her. She progressed through the arena auditions with a rendition of Coldplay's "Yellow," earning praise for her tone and confidence, and reached the bootcamp stage where she sang Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen." At judges' houses, under mentor Tinie Tempah's girls category, she performed One Direction's "Story of My Life," receiving positive feedback on her emotional delivery but ultimately not selected for the live shows.[14] Middlemas returned for the thirteenth series of The X Factor in 2016, auditioning with an acoustic cover of Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster (Jammin')," which drew enthusiastic responses from the judges; Nicole Scherzinger described it as mesmerizing, while Simon Cowell called her voice "special."[15] She advanced through the six-chair challenge with Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and judges' houses with Ariana Grande's "The Way," securing a spot in Sharon Osbourne's girls category for the live shows.[16] During the 2016 live shows, Middlemas delivered a series of standout performances, including Elle King's "Ex's & Oh's" in week 1, which Osbourne lauded for its rock edge, and a haunting cover of Radiohead's "Creep" in week 4's fright night theme, where she broke down in tears post-performance amid judges' acclaim for its raw emotion from Scherzinger and Cowell.[17] Other notable moments included her upbeat take on One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" in week 5, earning Osbourne's comment on her growing star quality, and an original arrangement of Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love" in week 7's movie week, praised for vulnerability.[18] Despite consistent positive feedback, such as Cowell's prediction of her as a future recording artist, she was eliminated in the semi-final after performing Birdy's "Wings" in the sing-off and Radiohead's "Creep" in the final vote, finishing in fourth place overall.[19][16]Professional debut and releases
Following her visibility from The X Factor UK appearances, Emily Middlemas transitioned into a professional recording artist by releasing her debut single "Lost and Found" on September 29, 2017, an upbeat pop track she co-wrote that explored themes of regret and reconciliation.[20] This release marked her first independent output, self-produced without a major label backing, and led to her inaugural UK headline tour later that year.[21] In March 2018, Middlemas issued her second single, "Layla," a poignant ballad dedicated to three-year-old Layla Greene, a Glasgow girl who had succumbed to neuroblastoma; all proceeds from the track supported Neuroblastoma UK.[22] The song highlighted her growing songwriting voice, blending emotional depth with accessible pop melodies, and was released independently to honor the young fan's memory.[23] By 2019, Middlemas adopted the stage name "ili" (stylized in lowercase) to reflect her evolving artistic identity and artistic independence.[4] Under this moniker, she released the single "A Little Bit" on August 22, 2019, an intimate pop track introducing her rebranded sound. She continued her self-release strategy, dropping the title track "Changes" in September as a precursor to her debut EP of the same name, a five-track project issued on November 1 that delved into personal transformation and introspection.[24][25] The EP solidified her commitment to independent production, allowing full creative control over her sound. ili extended this phase with the single "Breath" on May 8, 2020, a reflective piece amid the global pandemic that emphasized resilience and emotional release, again self-released to maintain her autonomous approach.[24] In 2022, ili released "Time Goes By," which peaked at number 4 on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts. Subsequent singles included "Tongue Tied" and "Saturday" in 2023. "2 Cool 2 Be Somebody," released around this period, was featured on Spotify's New Music Friday and Fresh Finds playlists, garnering support from BBC Radio London and Amazing Radio.[2] In 2024, she issued her second EP, It's Giving..., along with the single "Gelato." Her most recent single, "Mean To Me," was released in November 2025. These releases continued her focus on anthemic, independent pop.Songwriting and collaborations
Ili has established herself as a prolific songwriter and top-liner, contributing lyrics and compositions to tracks for international artists across pop, electronic, and K-pop genres.[3] Her work often involves collaborative sessions where she crafts hooks and melodies tailored to the artist's vision, drawing from her experience writing since age 13.[3] One of her most prominent contributions is co-writing "Voyage" for Swiss singer Zoë Më, selected as Switzerland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Released on March 10, 2025, the song was composed by Ili (credited as Emily Middlemas), Zoë Më (Zoë Anina Kressler), and producer Tom Oehler, blending introspective pop with orchestral elements to explore themes of personal journey and resilience.[26][27] Performed at the contest in Basel, "Voyage" earned 214 points entirely from national juries, securing tenth place in the grand final.[8] This collaboration marked Ili's entry into the Eurovision ecosystem, highlighting her ability to adapt her songwriting to high-stakes international projects. Beyond Eurovision, Ili has penned tracks for established acts, including "Fake Love" for Polish pop star Doda, released in December 2021. Co-written with Doda, Twan Ray, Solar State, Dominic Buczkowski-Wojtaszek, and Patryk Kumór, the track features empowering pop production centered on themes of deceptive romance.[28][29] She also contributed to "Gimme Gimme" by Chinese singer Sunnee, a 2021 release, co-composed with Lewis Gardiner and Ryan Lawrie to deliver an upbeat, anthemic dance-pop sound.[30] In electronic music, Ili co-wrote and provided vocals for "Strange World" by Dutch DJ Ummet Ozcan, released in October 2021, which fuses trance elements with introspective lyrics about global uncertainty.[31] Additional credits include "Survivors" for Austrian duo Harris & Ford (December 2021), peaking at number 18 in Austria and emphasizing themes of endurance through EDM beats, co-written with Patrick Pöhl and Marius Gröh.[32] More recently, she co-composed "Chocolate" for South Korean artist Chuu, part of the February 2024 album Strawberry Rush, blending sweet pop melodies with collaborators Lewis Gardiner, Ryan Lawrie, and Musikality.[33] These partnerships underscore Ili's versatility in crafting commercially successful songs for diverse markets.Discography
Studio albums
Ili's debut studio album, Made of Lace, was released on August 11, 2025, as an independent project comprising 11 tracks exploring introspective pop themes of dreams, surrender, and emotional depth. Produced by Ili and collaborators, it marks her transition to full-length releases with anthemic production and multi-instrumental elements.[34][35]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Like a Dream | 4:07 |
| 2 | Parallel Universe | 3:53 |
| 3 | Surrender | 4:11 |
| 4 | Never Know | 4:16 |
| 5 | Naked Soul | 5:13 |
| 6–11 | [Additional tracks not detailed in available sources] | — |
Extended plays
Ili's debut extended play, Changes, was released on November 1, 2019, marking her first major project following appearances on talent shows.[36] The five-track EP explores themes of personal transformation and emotional vulnerability through polished pop arrangements. Production was handled internally by Ili and collaborators, emphasizing her multi-instrumentalist background with guitar-driven elements and synth accents.[37]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Little Bit | 2:58 |
| 2 | Changes | 3:01 |
| 3 | Plastic Knife | 3:09 |
| 4 | Tom Cruise | 2:51 |
| 5 | Up | 2:47 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | It's Giving... | 3:09 |
| 2 | Tongue Tied | 2:21 |
| 3 | Babe Me Up | 2:40 |
| 4 | Saturday | 2:48 |
| 5 | 2 Cool 2 Be Somebody | 3:07 |
| 6 | Time Goes By | 3:19 |
Singles
Ili's solo singles career began with her debut release in 2017, marking her transition from talent show contestant to independent artist. These standalone tracks, primarily distributed digitally via platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, showcase her evolution from teen pop influences to more introspective and retro-inspired pop sounds. Released under her own ILI Music Ltd label or through distributors like DistroKid and Empire, her singles have garnered modest streaming attention, with several achieving viral traction on social media and live performances.[40][38] Her early singles, starting with "Lost and Found" in 2017, established her as an emerging UK pop voice, leading to her first headlining tour. "Layla," released in March 2018, served as a poignant tribute to a young cancer victim, highlighting her songwriting depth. That same year, "Habit" (featuring Rob Late) and "Broken Record" explored themes of emotional cycles, receiving positive fan reception and industry buzz. By 2019, "A Little Bit" marked her rebranding to the stage name ili, blending polished pop with personal storytelling and premiering via music outlets.[40][41][4]| Title | Year | Label/Distributor | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Lost and Found" | 2017 | Independent (pre-ili) | Digital single | Debut single; teen pop style; preceded UK headlining tour.[40] |
| "Layla" | 2018 | Independent (pre-ili) | Digital single | Tribute to neuroblastoma victim; released March 16.[40] |
| "Habit" (feat. Rob Late) | 2018 | Independent (pre-ili) | Digital single | Explores relational patterns; official music video released.[41] |
| "Broken Record" | 2018 | Independent (pre-ili) | Digital single | Themes of repetitive heartbreak; fan-favored track.[42] |
| "A Little Bit" | 2019 | Empire | Digital single | Debut under ili name; premiered August 23; glistening pop production.[4][43] |
| Title | Year | Label/Distributor | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Comedown" | 2020 | DistroKid | Digital single | Introspective post-pandemic release; soulful lyrics.[44][49] |
| "Time Goes By" | 2022 | DistroKid | Digital single | Visualizer video; peaked at #3 on indie charts; themes of loss.[45][46] |
| "2 Cool 2 Be Somebody" | 2022 | ILI Music Ltd | Digital single | Retro-pop for misfits; groovy drums and dreamlike vocals.[47][48] |
| Title | Year | Label/Distributor | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Tongue Tied" | 2023 | ILI Music Ltd | Digital single | Upbeat take on infatuation; live performances at venues like OMEARA.[51][59] |
| "Saturday" | 2023 | ILI Music Ltd | Digital single | Joyful weekend anthem; featured in live sessions.[54] |
| "Gelato" | 2024 | ILI Music Ltd | Digital single | Flirtatious pop; official music video released; no major charts but viral potential.[55][56][60] |
| "Mean to Me" | 2025 | ILI Music Ltd | Digital single | Ballad on toxic relationships; released November 14; strong initial social media reception.[57][58] |