The Village Underground is one of those venues that is constantly boiling, the kind of place where you feel like you're having an ongoing hot flush throughout your time within its intimate arches.
Nevertheless, it seems perfect for Rae Morris' approachable pop sound (even if her most popular single is ironically called 'Cold'), a big room that isn't imposing, a safe environment that still testifies her gradual ascent over the last two years, a rise to acclaim that has undeniably kicked into gear since discovering a new dimension to her sound.
Building from folk foundations, Morris has developed into a inspiring alternative pop star, bringing together a wider range of influences and styles to create something vast and full of possibility.
However, she also remains remarkably unique, imparting her synonymous husky vocals upon a widening variety of instrumental templates to create tracks that are increasingly immersive and effortlessly resonant.
Her creative journey became apparent from the offset at her biggest London show to date, exploding into an electronically charged rendition of 2012 single 'Grow' immediately admist a barrage of flashing lights, this subtle reinvention sitting comfortably alongside the calculated, meticulous nature of her new material.
Crowd-pleasing cuts like 'Cold' and 'Unguarded' were delightfully paced between tracks from the forthcoming debut album she has spent her career working towards, whilst more intimate, simplistic restbite came in the likes of 'Skin' and 'Not Knowing', putting the emphasis on her stunning voice as well as luxurious production and technical wizardry throughout the 60 minute performance.
Exemplifying the fact that this was a celebration for both Morris and her fans, the curly haired songstress drew a rapturous reception by changing up her typical performance style towards the end, getting out from behind the piano to perform her Clean Bandit feature 'Up Again' and future single 'Love Again' - standing up to whoops and cheers across the venue, ending things on euphoric terms and seemingly proving it's only a matter of time before she becomes a force to be reckoned with in the pop world.
Rae Morris' Closer EP is out 22 October on Atlantic Records.
