BIG UP AKIN AND ABUK FOR BEING EARLY ON THIS ONE…BUT I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS MUSICAL TREASURE YESTERDAY…
Yesterday evening, the lovely people at Warner Records invited me and some other press to dinner, and then to see a musical showcase. That musical showcase was at the Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston, and came in the form of Lianne La Havas – a girl, her guitar and her voice. Nothing more, nothing less.
She performed an intimate gig, warming up for her appearance on Jools Holland tonight and she literally blew everyone away. “I’m just overcoming a cold” she told us, but hearing her voice, you would think that she’s never had a cold in her life. Hitting every single note precisely, effortlessly and with ease, she took her voice (and us along with it), to sonic perfection.
Everything about Lianne is mesmerising but of course the most prominent thing about her, is her immeasurable talent. There is nothing more exposing than being on stage with just your voice and a blues guitar, because there are no gimmicks to hide behind or take refuge in. This for me was and is the beauty of Lianne – everything about her performance was natural and genuine.
She sang a handful of songs, each one better than the next and by the end of the show, I think we were all a little bit in love – with Lianne, with music and maybe with each other. My own favourites were a beautiful song she recently wrote (and played live for the first time last night) called ‘Oh Cinema’ and a song called ‘Age’ – a classic tale of being in love with an older man. She also performed her new single which features Willy Mason, ‘No Room For Doubt’.
At the end of the show, I was rendered speechless for the first time in a long while. For me that is the mark of excellence – nothing I say will do justice to Lianne’s brilliance. And if you ever get to see her live, you will know exactly what I’m talking about…or more appropriately, what I’m not talking about.
I just want to take this moment to thank Lianne for reminding me that there are still people out there doing music because music is in their blood and because they actually have a talent. In this world of manufactured pop music, where people’s careers are based on their looks, their controversies, their outrageous outfits and everything but their talent – it was refreshing to listen to actual music – pure, unadulterated and true.
Catch Lianne live on Jools Holland, BBC2, 10pm, TONIGHT.
For more information on Lianne visit: www.liannelahavas.com
