Emeli Sandé at the Koko’s MTV Brand New for 2012

MTV together with Koko London present “Brand New for 2012”, a showcase of talented up and coming acts set for big things in 2012. Headlined by Emeli Sande with support from Michael Kiwanuka and Delilah, the show concluded the exclusive two-part gig as part of the MTV annual viewer search to find the very best in new music.

All three acts have been tipped for success in recent months and they did not waste their opportunity to demonstrate why at Koko last night. Emerging from the same soulful school of music as Amy Winehouse and Adele, the performer’s voices channelled the old school soulful sounds of the Motown greats with a modern twist.

In a neon yellow dress, 20 year old Delilah wowed with an incredibly commanding vocal, performing an enchanting rendition of her single Go from her forthcoming debut album From the Roots Up which is set for release on 26 March 2012.

Picked as BBC Sound of 2012 Michael Kiwanuka and his band exhibited the retro folksy-pop sound that has led to him being labelled as ‘London’s answer to Bill Withers’. His incredibly soulful and robust voice echoed and resonated throughout the venue as he sang tracks such as Tell me a Tale, I’ll Get Along and Home Again taken from his new album Home Again out on 26 March 2012.

As Sande stepped onto the stage with her trademark blonde quiff, the crowd’s excitement noticeably intensified.  Throughout the hour long set she did not struggle to keep their attention once as she enthusiastically chatted about the experiences that formed the basis of her song writing, and seemingly effortlessly delivered a number of tracks from her upcoming album Our Version of Events with truly envious vocal range. Sande’s performance mixed a number of unknown album tracks such as Mountains, Where I Sleep and Circus, with those which have already gained chart success: Heaven, Daddy and her new single Next to Me.

Sande’s infectious positive energy and incredibly passionate live vocals created an atmosphere where her forthcoming tracks could be brought to life. Even tracks which I was formerly uncertain of such as Suitcase , a track I felt was slightly dreary, was impossible to flaw live as each note was belted out perfectly, really highlighting the emotion behind the song.

It could not be more obvious that Sande was born to be on stage to display both her remarkably powerful and emotive voice and her astonishing song writing skills.  As she treated the crowd to a merry medley of her songs which have previously graced the charts including: Let Go with Tinie Tempah, Never Be Your Woman with Wiley, Diamond Rings with Chipmunk and the most recent Read All About It with Professor Green, I realised how diverse and accomplished Sande actually is.

The set concluded as the band began chiming the immediately recognisable backing track for Heaven. As the crowd cheered eagerly and almost all sang along smiling, it was clear that Sande’s success story has already begun. Her ability to match outstanding song writing skills with equally outstanding live vocals means that from here she can only get bigger.

Mya Joel