Gig review : Corinne Bailey-Rae

Corinne Bailey-Rae unveiled her new work to a packed Hi-Fi club on Wednesday night. She has built up a body of songs that will, all being right in the world, launch her solo career as a singer-songwriter. The room was heaving while the queue still stretched around the block, Corinne was visibly taken aback by the turn out; the crowd were eager and supportive.

Backed by a ten piece band; two keyboards, alto and tenor sax, trumpet, guitar, bass, drums and backing vocalist, one could expect a solo artist to be somewhat diminished, but not here. Her command of the songs was complete, and whilst the guys behind were more than competent, this was her show.

Her voice has strength, range and a soulful beauty; as she sings the refrain “Don’t say that I’m falling in love”, you are held by the sincerity. She plays with the melody of ‘Breathless’, harmonies build up and the varying elements of the song create an emotional crescendo of sound.

These are new songs, but they feel instantly familiar, they echo the sounds of Jill Scott, Erika Badu and Norah Jones, resulting in music that isn’t ground breaking, but replenishes this tradition with a new voice and vigour. Corinne is good at what she does, constructing real songs with a narrative that draws you into them, singing with a heartfelt talent.

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Corinne Bailey-Rae played at the Hi Fi Club in Leeds on Wednesday 10th November.

This review was written for and published by Tasty Fanzine.

Exhibition : Off The Wall

Brahm Gallery, The Brahm Building, Alma Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2AH

Off The Wall curated by Paddy Hartley and Debra Klomp

Monday 1st November, 2004 running until the 30th November

Having been given a 2m piece of wallpaper, wrapped discreetly in brown paper, I, and 21 other artists were asked to respond to the paper and produce a piece 50cm x 50cm. My audio work ' Yesterday's Hot Pot' will be shown in the gallery from the 1st November.

'Yesterday's Hot Pot' : The echoes of a house resonate from a single square of white wallpaper, whispering memories from an unknown yet familiar domestic landscape. 'Yesterday's Hot Pot' is a fictional narrative that explores the interior of suburbia, the life that exists behind closed doors but seeps out when we least expect it. As an artist recently having moved back to my home town I am continually negotiating the overlap between the ghosts of my past and the unfolding of my present, particularly in relation to my middle class suburban upbringing.

For more information : http://www.brahm.com/gallery.html