Each time QM puts on a show at Patterns, the crowd gets a little bigger. They’re reaping the rewards of staying selective, and sticking with a consistently quality group of musicians – better than you can see at most free weekday events. They’ve also clearly identified a soulful theme, of which Giorgia-May’s headline has been the high point so far.

There was clearly excitement in the air over the EP, For My Love, as Patterns was full to bursting. In part this must have been helped by the support from Mariella West, her first gig since the release of her new single ‘Sober’. It’s been getting a lot of local attention since it went live on 31st April – and for good reason, because on the night it came out as hazy, passionate and seductive. In fact Mariella West’s set could have made things awkward for Giorgia-May and her band, if they hadn’t been up to the challenge.

Happily there was no need to doubt. They tackled modern soul with ambition and feeling, great players individually and with an instinctive coherence when taken all together. The band as a whole had a certain abstraction to their character, with soaring and vaporous songs that were full of space and very light. Aspects like the floating keys and elegant backing vocals contributed to a musical backdrop that felt very delicate.

That’s not to say that their music was insubstantial – against this were set frontwoman Giorgia-May’s honest and direct vocals, which stylistically could mimic the band’s airiness or move to a powerful delivery. Her frank manner, complemented by sweet but sharp guitar riffs and solos, cut through the malaise and gave the band’s music ambience and compositional depth.

As an aside, they had a very slick visual aesthetic going on – it’s not as important as the music, but it helps. They were all looking smart, and crucially, like a unified band. Giorgia had also marked herself out visually, wearing a long and shining black ballgown that clashed wonderfully with her Doc Martins, making her a striking front-woman. The effect was professional and memorable – much like the EP in general.

So the band can be very happy with the launch of their EP – from the size and noise in the venue, the crowd certainly were. As a vocalist Giorgia-May is adaptable and sensitive, and as a songwriter, resourceful and romantic. With a band as tight as the one behind her, she’s a very promising feature of Brighton’s music scene, and this second EP makes the modern soul genre that much more intriguing.
Ben Noble

Website: giorgia-may.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/GiorgiaMayMusic
Twitter: twitter.com/GiorgiaMaay