🌹🎶 A Luminescent Voyage of Song
A Rambling Rose Review of Emeli Sandé at the Southbank
Photo Credit: Pete Whitehead
Emeli Sandé at Chaka Khan’s Meltdown, The Southbank Centre
Emeli Sandé is a consummate performer with a deep, intuitive ability to illuminate and connect with the heart and soul of humanity through song. Declaring her intention to share the love, she and her amazing band (Hannah Montrose, Digby Lovatt and Micky Brown) take us on an unforgettable musical voyage.
Charting the Highs and Lows of love, we pass through the Hurts of heartbreak and the tenderness of Emeli’s first love song Beautiful Eyes. Effortlessly authentic, Emeli shares her childhood musical awakening in Scotland, her love for her partner classical pianist Yoana Karemova and the voices of her Zambian family. From the first moment we are drawn into a compelling performance delivered with passionate spirit, as Emeli’s soaring, soulful vocals ripple out across the auditorium.
Photo Credit: Pete Woodhead
Beautifully architectured lighting accentuates and underpins the storytelling, flooding the stage in sea blues for Breathing Underwater. Drummer Hannah Montrose commands the beat with absolute precision, whilst Digby Octave deftly holds the bass line and keyboard player Nicky Brown provides a deep wash of sound infused with strains of gospel Hammond organ. Emeli remains mesmerisingly uncategorizable as she fuses gospel, soul and EDM influences in her unique sound.
This powerfully intentional performance catalyses awareness of the preciousness of each passing moment. Emeli’s extraordinary rendition of Abide with Me, which captivated global audiences at the 2012 London Olympics, flows into her forthcoming single Roots, inviting us to reflect on our unique place in time - “There is no tomorrow without yesterday/ History is within us, it’s in our DNA… Time will bring its changes/ But our roots will remain.”
As we stand for the end of show ovation following Read All About It, Emeli closes with Shine, leaving us convinced of her musical stardom and magical ability to affirm and sing to the brightness in us all.
Photo Credit: Pete Woodhead
With thanks to Esther Austin, Editor of Turning Point Music and Lifestyle for inviting me to attend as a columnist for the magazine.
Chaka Khan’s Meltdown continues at the Southbank Centre until June 23rd.
