HARLEIGHBLU / BABY QUEENS | LIVE REVIEW
Gwdihw, Cardiff, Sat 15 Feb
Sprightly all-girl five-piece Baby Queens hit us first with a bold fusion of r’n’b, hip-hop and neo-soul. Their sound is characterised predominately by their vocals, whereby they sing heartily in unison and harmony. If you listen to their most recognised material, Red Light off of their second EP Life Goes By, you will hear the stirring harmonic and rhythmic interplay of their voices, backed by a steady rhythm section.
They didn’t bring said rhythm section with them on this occasion, opting instead for a more vanilla approach, with just a few guitars for accompaniment. In this instance, I wish I hadn’t heard their EP before the show – although their vocals are arguably the reason to see them, I had the appetite for a full band. They’re all unquestionably blessed with powerful and soulful voices, yet I feel without backing there was a hole in the sound. They could have used the opportunity to make more with their voices and fill the empty space perhaps with a partially a cappella interpretation, but this is coming from someone who frequently overdoses on Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Regardless, they put on a good show and particularly excelled in their interaction with the crowd; often problematic for a young band. They were able to energize the audience and deliver a strong performance. Whilst they didn’t fully meet some expectations, they certainly showed enormous promise.
The main attraction was the charismatic Harleighblu, a fiery young artist from Nottingham with a voice uninhibited, versatile and full of attitude.
It’s a voice that seems to have its roots firmly in jazz and soul with a tone that borrows from old and new trailblazers such as Marlena Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary J Blige and Amy Winehouse.
Harleigh knows how to ‘bring it’ to her audience and it’s clear from the start that she’s in control of her ensemble and the effect they have on those watching. Engaging, jovial and not averse to peacocking her sultry persona, Harleighblu is thoroughly convincing as an artist. She and her band offered us ingenuously crafted songs, in a modern soul/hip-hop/electronica vein thematically pointed towards the tribulations and joys of love. Not in the contrived or clichéd form we’re used to – she’s perceptive and innovative, especially in her rendition of Eurhythmics’ Who’s That Girl. Her band is equally in tune with her voracious attitude, practically overloading the Gwdihw sound system with their intense, dead-set groove.
So there you have it: an exceptional cast of musicians and singers put together by passionate promoter Bustin’ Loose, aka Cardiff MC and musician Skunkadelic. Keep ‘em coming.
words CHARLIE PIERCEY
