Sapphire Soul at the Hippodrome

Sapphire Soul’s launch show at the Hippodrome Casino is a sparkling event. The three-part group made up of Lisa-Marie Holmes, Sejal Keshwala and Laura Tebbutt are artists in their own right but are an impressive trio when all three of their powerful voices are brought together. An intimately small stage surrounded by tables in a dusky light contributes to the sense of glamour about the event, their sapphire blue evening dresses glittering in the spotlights.

Feeling Good is their opening song, a notoriously difficult number not only because of the range of notes but also because of its popularity, rendering it tough to perform in an original way. However, the sheer power and skill of Sapphire Soul succeed in blowing the audience away and smoothly transitions into a disco medley of popular songs that remain incredibly fun to listen to. Sejal Keshwala slows the performance down from the upbeat disco tempo to a more soulful solo of Prince’s How Come You Don’t Call Me, her husky voice reaching impossibly high notes. A medley from the queen of soul Aretha Franklin once again fills the room with an infectious energy and passion that Sapphire Soul exudes unapologetically. The first act closes with their rendition of Tina Turner’s Proud Mary keeping in step with their dedication to powerful female artists.

Due to their background in musical theatre, the second act of the show incorporates numbers from influential musicals and closes with a tribute to perhaps the most influential female artist around at the moment: Beyoncé. A fusion of Halo and Crazy in Love brings the performance to an explosively soulful end forcing everyone onto their feet to clap the Sapphire Soul divas off the stage. Their first performance is a triumph, Sapphire Soul’s confidence and most importantly their musical skill makes them a fierce trio on the stage.

Miriam Karmali

For further information about Sapphire Soul and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Feeling Good here: