Introduction
Emily Lisa Middlemas (born 26 September 1998), also known as ili, is a Scottish singer-songwriter. In 2016, she finished in fourth place in the thirteenth series of The X Factor. She also competed in the eleventh series of the show, and reached judges’ houses, but failed to reach the live shows.
Early life
Middlemas was born on 26 September 1998, in Glasgow, Scotland, and attended Woodfarm High School. Middlemas auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent at a young age.
Career
2007–2011: Career beginnings
At the age of nine, Middlemas started her performing career in a band called Loud N Proud, and at thirteen, she began writing her own songs.
2014–2016: The X Factor
In July 2014, Middlemas won TeenStar, an annual singing competition held in Birmingham. Later that year, she auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor, and reached judges' houses, but failed to proceed further.
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')". Middlemas was placed in the "girls" category and reached the live shows, where she was mentored by Simon Cowell. 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 eliminated in fourth place.
| 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) |
| Live show 8 | "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) | |
2017–2018: Music releases
In 2017, Middlemas released her first single, "Lost and Found", after which she embarked on her debut headline tour across the United Kingdom. The Memory Lane Tour consisted of 11 dates. In March 2018, she released her second single, "Layla", a tribute to a young girl who died from neuroblastoma cancer. Later that year, she released two further singles, titled "Habit" and "Broken Record".
2019: Changes
In August 2019, Middlemas announced that she would be using the stage name ili from then onwards. On 23 August 2019, she released "A Little Bit" as the first single under her new stage name. In September 2019, "Changes" was released as the title track from her debut EP, Changes. On 1 November 2019, Middlemas released the five-track EP Changes.
Personal life
Middlemas has been in a relationship with fellow The X Factor contestant Ryan Lawrie since 2015.
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Changes |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Lost and Found" | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Layla" | 2018 | |
| "Habit" | ||
| "Broken Record" | ||
| "A Little Bit" | 2019 | Changes |
| "Changes" | ||
| "Plastic Knife" |