Lianne La Havas is as angelic as she appears when you first make contact with her artistic expression.
(STORY TIME WITH JESTER: SKIP THE BOLD LETTERING, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SHOW, WITHOUT ME GOING IN ABOUT THE BACK STORY OF MY CONTACT WITH LIANNE LA HAVAS:)
Her show at the Varsity Theater wasn’t the first time I’ve experienced her magic. It was only last year [2014] when she joined the stage with Prince at Essence Festival – performing ‘Sometimes It Snows In April’. I knew after that experience, I would have to see her again. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally charged after that performance, but her guitar strumming and vocal serenade healed me in more ways than one.
What I didn’t expect, was my second experience with her, only less than two weeks after I left The Essence Festival. Prince had invited me to Paisley Park to listen and review his upcoming project Plectrum Electrum. So while nervously preparing for what the night might bring; Unbeknownst to me at the time, she and I actually were in the same hotel, and it was only moments before we left to head over to Paisley – I was told she and I (along w/ her friend) would be in the same car.
She greeted me with joy and said “You Must be Jester! A pleasure to meet you, I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you” Without going too far into a tangent, which is completely possible when I recall that experience – it was absolutely incredible. Her energy level is so down to earth and so real – the music is so good, because of the soul in her blood.
Which leads me into her show last night. Her newest album ‘Blood‘ is rhythmic and fluent. She speaks of going to her roots when making this album ‘Blood’, and the flow of her story is a rushing sensation.
The way Lianne, delicately and intricately plays with her coy yet confident gestures, will pull you in immediately. She started the show off with Green & Gold. A song that charges her recognition of where she comes from.
“I’m looking at a life unfold
Dreaming of the green and gold
Just like the ancient stone
Every sunrise I know
Those eyes you gave to me
That let me see
Where I come from”
Throughout the show, her illumination only begins to grow stronger, and more pulling. She shuffles between songs from her first album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough? Which captures the audience with passion and harmonic vibration.
By the time she gets into “Wonderful,” the room remains quiet yet in full focus to her tone.
“You can trip, flick a switch like a thief
Break the circuit between us
But electricity lingers
In our fingers
Oh you can burn every fuse and refuse
Turn your positive minus
Electricity lingers
In our fingers”
Electricity also lingers through melodic tones. It’s not only her lyrics. It’s her unique ability to wear color, and to sing with melodic conviction. Her songs actually carry a melody, which achieves the best recall in my memory. (I’m guilty of randomly, bursting out her songs in loud yet passionate ways 😀 )
You know she believes what she is saying, and she demonstrates this, by her movement and visual nuance.
Taken by Nancy Andersen 🙂She’s stunning from head to toe and I couldn’t be the only one absolutely baptized by her remarkable beauty. She has this unique charm, and it all stems from the love she puts into her music. She’s more than just a visual masterpiece that is more spectacular each and every time. Her music is a testament to her incredible being.
The show in its entirety was exactly fit for her. The Varsity is a beautiful venue, that really serviced her voice and band so incredibly well!
With Lianne, you are guaranteed several experiences.
•Visual Bliss / She’s Stunningly Beautiful
• Vocal Powerhouse / Phrasing – she can sing anything and it sounds just right.
• Instrument Familiarity / She can really play guitar. (AND BASE GUITAR)
• Story Teller / her lyrics is insightful and uniquely whimsical.
• She exceeds what you expected / Lianne La Havas is Unstoppable.
writing until the pen runs N2 paradise clarity! (by uniform & random means) 