Live: Ella Eyre

7th October 2014

The Ritz

8/10

After supporting Rudimental on tour last year and playing extensively at festivals over summer, Ella Eyre continues to gain momentum with each show she plays; evidently her first solo tour proves she is not to be taken lightly.

Exploding onto stage, Ella wastes no time in showing the audience her talent and launching into ‘Don’t Follow Me’. Packed with attitude and confidence she struts around completely in her element, exhibiting high energy and carrying a high intensity from the start.

Her notable voice is gravelly and textured; she has a truly distinct tone that sets her apart from her counterparts. Her vocals are even better live than on record, her presence is immovable and her feisty swagger is admirable, exuding an almost gladiatorial stance on stage.

The content of her upcoming LP and much of her previous work is evidently based on a breakup and, although some of her material was penned when she was younger, writing her recent single ‘Comeback’ when she was 16, it becomes somewhat narrow in terms of songwriting. There is a rationale of revenge and anger channelled throughout the performance, which becomes tiresome by the end, but there is a level of empathy amongst the crowd judging by the reception her songs receive.

Ella breaks off her high-energy performance for a weird, souled-out piano version of Jermaine Stewart’s one hit wonder ‘We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off’, but the crowd lap it up in admiration. She shows a lot of honesty in the slower songs and superbly exercises her vocal capabilities. The contrasting upbeat material is well-received and her set includes Sigma’s chart-topping ‘Changing’, which she co-wrote. Her biggest hit to date, Rudimental’s ‘Waiting All Night,’ raises the roof and is the undoubted highlight of the evening, it’s her most recognisable track and the entire crowd are singing by the end of the gig.

There’s no doubt she is a fantastic performer and a spectacular singer; music fans with any vague interest in popular music will admire her energy and voice and, although the content isn’t very diverse, heartbreak sells. I wouldn’t be surprised if she finds herself at the top of the charts anytime soon.