ANDITSOUNDSSONICE GIG REVIEW:

I wrote a previous post having heard a couple of Julia Biel's tracks via YouTube. Thanks to a gig she did at Hoxton's Underbelly; I'm writing this post having seen her live.

With a full band.

Let's just say that the game has now changed.

And not just because I'm ever-so-slightly obsessed with live music either. But mainly because the 10 track set completely validates everything that the two YouTube vids previously hinted at: Julia Biel is an artist to watch.

Here's why:

As cliche as it is to say that her voice is captivating; her voice is captivating. So much so that jazz singers of recent years are not the crowd with which her voice should be lumped. Not because it's a copy of Sarah Vaughan's- because it isn't, nor because she sounds like Nina Simone- because she doesn't. But instead because it stands alone in a way that voices had to back then. Super big words, I know, but go and see her live and you'll agree. You'll probably also agree that as well placed as her voice would be among a back drop of 1940's Jazz, it would make just as much sense on a hip-hop beat, a house track, reworked by Jamie XX... A list which I imagine can and will go on.

Secondly, Julia's 2005 success gained from her debut album 'Not Alone' was followed by a hiatus during which she rediscovered and redefined her sound, which led to a wealth of new material of which 10 tracks made up the Underbelly set. The 10 track underbelly set showcased her approach to song composition and as a result, I now have no doubt in my mind that this is one of the main things that sets Julia apart. Now rather than do this approach a complete injustice by proceeding to describe it, I'll just redirect you to the video that begins this post. It's your best bet.

And lastly there's the fact that I'm ever-so-slightly obsessed with live music and with a band comprised of Seb Rochford on drums, Neil Charles on bass, Marco Piccioni on lead guitar and Dave Pearson on rhythm guitar; I was basically rendered speechless for the majority of the night.

I remember watching Later With Jools Holland some years back and seeing Amy Winehouse in the early stages of her career sing 'In My Bed' from the album Frank. The feeling I felt then is the same feeling I felt that night downstairs at the Underbelly. And something about the way that the once noisy crowd at the multi-artist night hushed as if the headliner they'd come out to see had finally taken to the stage tells me that I won't be the only one!

Sarah Gyasi