If you’re in the mood for flawlessly executed-slash-tearjerking indie neo-soul, you’ve come to the right place.
The hauntingly delicious vocals of the criminally underrated Celeste will catch you completely off guard – how has this artist not been headlining every festival this summer? (Dear indie blog / booking agents: you’ve missed a trick there).
Brimming with a raw emotive energy, the raspy lead is minimalist without being dull. Taking advantage of an on-purpose lack of movement, the instrumentals are there purely to provide a springboard to the gorgeous melody lines.
Born in Los Angeles but raised in London, her musical fabric seemingly encompasses the best of both worlds. Having only released her debut EP Lately last year, she’s most certainly one to watch, having won the hearts critics and concert-goers alike over the course of the past year.
Her lyrics are mournful and pure, yet tinged with a hint of optimism which appears to define her unique compositional style. Sure, it would be easy to measure her up to the likes of icons such as Billie Holliday and Amy Winehouse, but in reality, her exquisite sound surpasses comparison.
The control she has as a vocalist is truly exceptional – her tone is perfectly balanced, and her delivery is honest and understated. There’s no need for elaborate backing or exaggerated melismas – her simple, soulful voice speaks for itself. It doesn’t exactly take a detective to work out how she’s captured the attention of a number of industry heavyweights, and she’s absolutely one of our favourite breakout artists of the year.
If, like us, you’re dying to hear more of Celeste’s brillianty individual sound, have a creep on her Facebook and Instagram pages, where (hopefully) you’ll be inundated with details of her upcoming world domination.
