Ili (singer)

Scottish singer-songwriter

Ili

Born|

Emily Middlemas

(1998-09-26) 26 September 1998 (age 26)

Glasgow, Scotland

Education| Woodfarm High School
Occupation| Singer-songwriter
Partner| Ryan Lawrie
Musical career
Genres| Pop
Instruments|

* Vocals
* guitar
* piano

Years active| 2007–present
Website| thisisili.com

Musical artist

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 was 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.

## Early and personal life

[edit]

Middlemas was born on 26 September 1998, in Glasgow, Scotland,[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 June 2022, the couple got engaged.[6]

## Career

[edit]

At the age of nine, Middlemas started her performing career in a band called Loud N Proud,[7] and at thirteen, she began writing her own songs.[7] In July 2014, Middlemas won TeenStar, an annual singing competition held in Birmingham.[8] Later that year, she auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor, and reached judges' houses, but failed to proceed further.[9][10][11]

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')".[12] Middlemas was placed in the "girls" category and reached the live shows, where she was mentored by Simon Cowell.[13] 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.[14][15]

The X Factor performances and results

Show  | Song choice  | Theme  | Result
Auditions  | "Master Blaster (Jammin')" – Stevie Wonder | —  | 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.[16][17] The Memory Lane Tour consisted of 11 dates.[18] In March 2018, she released her second single, "Layla", a tribute to a young girl who died from neuroblastoma cancer.[19][20] Later that year, she released two further singles, titled "Habit" and "Broken Record".[21]

In August 2019, Middlemas announced that she had adopted the stage name Ili.[22] That same month, she released "A Little Bit" as her debut single.[23][24] In September 2019, "Changes" was released as the title track from her debut EP, Changes.[25][26] On 1 November 2019, Ili released the five-track EP Changes.[27] She then released the single "Breath" on 8 May 2020.[28] Two years later, Ili released "Time Goes By".[29] 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".[30] In 2025, she was a co-writer on "Voyage", recorded by Zoë Më to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.[31]

## Discography

[edit]

### Extended plays

[edit]

Title  | Details

|

Changes |

* Released: 1 November 2019
* Label: Independent
* Format: Digital download, streaming

It's Giving... |

* Released: 16 February 2024
* Label: Independent
* Format: Digital download, streaming

### Singles

[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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Scottish schoolgirl wows on X Factor". The Herald. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ 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.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ Tárnai, Eszter (5 June 2022). "X factor star Emily Middlemas from Glasgow engaged to Scots songwriter Ryan Lawrie". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ "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.
9. ^ "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.
10. ^ 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.
11. ^ "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.
12. ^ "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.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ "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.
15. ^ "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.
16. ^ 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.
17. ^ 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.
18. ^ 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.
19. ^ Dempster, Rachel (10 March 2019). "Emily Middlemas Announces Second Single 'Layla'". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
20. ^ 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.
21. ^ "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.
22. ^ @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.
23. ^ "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.
24. ^ 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.
25. ^ "ILI (EMILY MIDDLEMAS) SHARES NEW TRACK 'CHANGES'". Arc Street. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
26. ^ "ili (Emily Middlemas) shares new track "Changes"". Elicit Magazine. 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
27. ^ "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.
28. ^ @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.
29. ^ "PREMIERE: ILI – "TIME GOES BY"". Wonderland. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
30. ^ "Undiscovered: Christian Cohle, KAT & DARGZ". Notion. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
31. ^ "Switzerland: Zoë Më's song for Eurovision 2025 released: "Voyage"". Eurovision World. Retrieved 10 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

The X Factor (UK)

* Discography
* Controversy and criticism

Series|

| Main|

* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10
* 11
* 12
* 13
* 14
* 15

|

Special|

* Battle of the Stars
* Celebrity
* The Band

Winners|

| Main|

* Steve Brookstein
* Shayne Ward
* Leona Lewis
* Leon Jackson
* Alexandra Burke
* Joe McElderry
* Matt Cardle
* Little Mix
* James Arthur
* Sam Bailey
* Ben Haenow
* Louisa Johnson
* Matt Terry
* Rak-Su
* Dalton Harris

|

Special|

* Lucy Benjamin
* Megan McKenna
* RLY

Other contestants|

| Series 1|

* G4
* Tabby Callaghan
* Rowetta Satchell
* Roberta Howett

|

Series 2|

* Andy Abraham
* Journey South
* Brenda Edwards
* Chico Slimani
* The Conway Sisters
* Maria Lawson

Series 3|

* Ray Quinn
* Ben Mills
* The MacDonald Brothers
* Kerry McGregor

Series 4|

* Rhydian Roberts
* Same Difference
* Hope
* Daniel de Bourg

Series 5|

* JLS
* Eoghan Quigg
* Diana Vickers
* Ruth Lorenzo
* Laura White

Series 6|

* Olly Murs
* Stacey Solomon
* Jedward
* Lucie Jones
* Rachel Adedeji

Series 7|

* Rebecca Ferguson
* One Direction
* Cher Lloyd
* Mary Byrne
* Katie Waissel
* Aiden Grimshaw
* Belle Amie

Series 8|

* Marcus Collins
* Amelia Lily
* Misha B
* Janet Devlin
* Kitty Brucknell
* Frankie Cocozza

Series 9|

* Jahméne Douglas
* Christopher Maloney
* Union J
* Rylan Clark
* Ella Henderson
* Lucy Spraggan
* Carolynne Poole

Series 10|

* Nicholas McDonald
* Luke Friend
* Rough Copy
* Kingsland Road
* Tamera Foster

Series 11|

* Fleur East
* Andrea Faustini
* Lauren Platt
* Stereo Kicks
* Stevi Ritchie
* Only the Young
* Jake Quickenden
* Chloe Jasmine
* Blonde Electra

Series 12|

* Reggie 'n' Bollie
* 4th Impact
* Seann Miley Moore

Series 13|

* Saara Aalto
* 5 After Midnight
* Emily Middlemas
* Honey G
* Four of Diamonds

Series 14|

* Grace Davies
* Alisah Bonaobra
* Spencer Sutherland

Series 15|

* Scarlett Lee
* Brendan Murray
* Janice Robinson
* Olatunji Yearwood

Singles|

| Winners singles|

* "Against All Odds"
* "That's My Goal"
* "A Moment Like This"
* "When You Believe"
* "Hallelujah"
* "The Climb"
* "When We Collide"
* "Cannonball"
* "Impossible"
* "Skyscraper"
* "Something I Need"
* "Forever Young"
* "When Christmas Comes Around"
* "Dimelo"
* "The Power of Love"

|

Charity singles|

* "Hero"
* "You Are Not Alone"
* "Heroes"
* "Wishing on a Star"

Related articles|

* The X Factor franchise
* The Xtra Factor
* I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical
* X Factor Around the World

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz
* 2

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