More about: Gia Ford

In London's most luxurious underground venue, Laylow, attendees are eager to witness the sultry sounds of an upcoming artist who is said to embody the thrilling attributes of Lana Del Rey, Sharon Van Etten, and Roxy Music. Returning after a two year hiatus but still followed by all the buzz that earlier releases POSTER BOY and Murder In The Dark captured, the excitement is high and the lighting is low.

Taking to the stage donning an oversized nineties suit, Gia Ford, fresh off the release of her latest single, 'A Car Crash For Two', greets the crowd with an abundance of gleeful energy. Noting the sweltering heat inside the venue and out, she wastes no time in getting the ball rolling. Populated by mostly unreleased tracks, it made no difference - Ford's lively setlist packs a punch, featuring big riffs, ample melodies, and tight-knit drums.

'Sleeping In Your Garden' is a post-grunge bop at its best. Its droning riff takes the listener through the murky waters of a hedonistic night, ending with a well-deserved nap in nature. With Ford highlighting its somewhat down tempo nature, 'The Valley' sees the audience captivated by its minor groove, echoing Bond themes old and new. "Lost at 24" recalls when Ford felt mystified by the inevitability of time moving forward but assures us that things are starting to make sense one year later. Such self-awareness adds to her infectious charm and allows her to take artistic risks. None more so than on the stripped-back Elvis Costello'esque " 'Falling In Love Again'. Without much as a breather, Ford wraps up the set with the aforementioned new single, which receives the night's biggest cheer. Stating its case as her future signature song, it sets the course for what is to be a very illustrious future. 

Gia Ford dazzles with her impressive artistic stamina with only brief interludes of chitchat between numbers. Encompassing wit and wisdom into a strong showcase of what's to come, the Laylow audience is beaming with admiration, already prepped to add Gia's name to the long list of artists that blew up from that lush red velvet clad room.

See photos by Matt Chapman below:

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More about: Gia Ford