Live: Kate Tempest

12th February

Gorilla

9/10

Wow. Not many artists would be able to perform the first 10 minutes of their set without a single note playing; the a cappella poem that Kate Tempest chose to open her set with provided the essence of what this Mercury-nominated artist is: Pure passion. Passion for storytelling, passion for performing, and a sincere passion for presenting her view of what could make this world a better place.

Now this could make Tempest seem a bit of a preacher, as she certainly doesn’t keep her opinions to herself. Whilst she walks the tightrope between social commentary and all-out preaching, sometimes she does stumble slightly towards the latter. With most artists this would be cause to turn off, roll your eyes and wait to hear the next song play, but it is Tempest’s passion that saves her. Whilst she speaks you are aware that her words come from a place of caring and genuine desire. A desire to empower the audience and inspire change.

Having left the sold-out crowd at Gorilla in a state of stunned silence after her opening poem, Tempest’s band bring their own element to her unique sound, with a futuristic mix of drum and bass with electronic and dubstep elements. This further adds power to the punch that each song packs. Emotion poured out of each song, intensifying as she went on with her tongue-in-cheek comedic observations alongside hard-hitting social truths, all playing out on her stage.

It’s clear from watching her perform that Tempest has her eyes set sky high and from hearing her talk, she wants to do it on her own terms, not pandering to the stereotypes of what women in the music industry have to be.