Thursday 17 January 2013

Caught Live: SOLANGE KNOWLES at XOYO, London. 16th Jan 2013


Last night saw the return to London's music stage for the first time in nearly 4 years of Miss SOLANGE KNOWLES.

Often overshadowed, both musically and personally, by her big sister (who, for the 3 people reading this that don't already know, goes by the name of BEYONCÉ) it can often seem as though she has a point to prove.

However on the strength of this performance, she really has no need to worry.



With much more of a free reign with her musical style and without the constraints of a major record company to hold her back, THIS Knowles is free to explore a variety of different musical directions, which is clearly displayed on her new EP 'True' which she was in town to promote. Often this leads to a much more interesting sound which she was able to showcase here.




In the intimate surroundings of East London's XOYO, SOLANGE appeared on stage for the first of two shows in front of a sell out crowd to the chugging beat of 'Some Things Never Seem To F****** Work', looking resplendent in a matching floral patterned trouser suit & shirt.




She proceeded to showcase other track from the EP, with the help of it's co-producer, co-writer, co-vocalist and guitarist DEV HYNES, but also took time to take it back with some of her past work from her last full album 'SoL-AngeL and the Hadley Street Dreams' (including the singles 'T.O.N.Y' & crowd pleaser 'Sandcastle Disco') and one track from her 2003 debut 'Solo Star', the Pharrell produced 'Crush', asking the audience 'who has been following me since I was 15??'

 


The band, whom she admitted were only playing their 4th ever gig together, were tight and the perfect accompaniment to SOLANGE's epic vocal performance and perfect tone. She also showed she had a few moves which she displayed on some of the uptempo cuts (see 'Locked In Closets' below).


She also threw in an unusual cover in the form of, what she described as, one of her favourite songs, a version of late latin superstar SELENA's 'I Could Fall In Love'.



There was also an opportunity for an exclusive debut, the full length version of one of the True's shorter tracks 'Look Good With Trouble'


The hour long set was wrapped up with a energetic performance of the EP's lead track and dancefloor favourite 'Losing You'



SOLANGE may never reach the levels of fame that her sister has achieved but if this means that she continues to have the freedom to produce intelligent and interesting soulful music of this quality and enjoy performing it as much as it appears she does on the evidence of this show, then perhaps this is can only be a good thing.

Full set list:

Some Things...
Don't Let Me Down
T.O.N.Y
Lovers In Parking
Bad Girls
I Could Fall In Love
Crush
Look Good
Locked In Closets
Cosmic Journey
Losing You
Sandcastle Disco


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