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‘Twas a cold December night and my mission was to observe some soul music in the form of Melanie Fiona supported by Nathan Watson in the cosy (and warm) venue The Luminaire, Kilburn.
Nathan Watson was first to take the stage and hit us with some of his original material, the
Curtis Mayfield inspired ‘Watz Goin’ On,’ ‘Soulsisticated,’ and ‘Somebody Help Me.’ His music bounced between being super funky and super smooth. ‘Leave Me Alone’ was a sort of old country/blues/soul mix, in the same vein as ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’
Watson also played his forthcoming single ‘Reach Out’ and at times reminded me of
Finlay Quaye. He closed with a few covers, an uptempo and funkier version of ‘Ordinary People,’ ‘Superstition’ and ‘I Want To Take You Higher.’ All this soul funk left the crowd salivating for the headline act.
Miss Fiona burst on stage with a whole load of energy, attitude and a hat covering her eyes to the track ‘Ay Yo’ from her album
The Bridge.
It's been a long journey to The Bridge for Canadian songstress Melanie Fiona, one that's taken her across the world. I ask how London matches up to all of the cities she's visited while virtually living out of her suitcase. “I love it! If I could live and work here I would.” ...Over her hometown Toronto? “Well, I can't live AND work in Toronto...” she responds, addressing something I was preparing to discuss later in the interview; Canada's sparse black music scene. While Toronto has a plethora of diverse urban talent, the opportunities for them to penetrate the mainstream Canadian music industry is almost non-existent.