LIVE REVIEW: CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL, BROOKE LAW, NIA NICHOLLS - THE KARMA SANCTUM - SOHO

Buried in the basement of the Karma Sanctum is a most discreet venue, to get to it, you have to pass a giant statue of a gorilla and a visit to the Gent's toilets seems to be guarded by a life size Dalek - it is the definition of quirky. The doors #TEAMw21 are informed do not traditionally open until 19:30, however a good 10 minutes before that, the queue of expectant music fans is snaking up the stairs and heading back towards reception so possibly an executive decision was taken to open doors early. In another break with usual gig tradition the doors are opened by out host for the evening Charlotte Campbell who checks us in whilst wearing a sparkling outfit that will later catch the lights brilliantly.

The room itself is a nice size, the seating mainly settee's, some with low wooden tables in front of them, the stage is reasonably wide, housing one microphone. It is backed by a white screen, the room presumably used for press previews for the many film companies located in the area. There's a bar at the back and it is all really civilised. The evening is hosted by Charlotte Campbell, and guests tonight include the ever wonderful Brooke Law currently on peak form if judged by recent outings and Nia Nicholls. #TEAMw21 have something of a history with Nia, we covered her debut appearance at Buckle & Boot's as a fresh faced 17 year old, and have chronicled her progress over the intervening years, however this is the first times our paths will have crossed in nearly 10 years. It is only just as things are about to start that the reasoning behind the one microphone is explained, tonight is not s Songwriter's Round but a showcase with each act getting a slot to build up some momentum and really shine.

Opening the night would be Nia Nicholl's sporting the nights second stunning outfit, looking disarmingly similar to when we first met, she had barely aged a day! Se would open with what at the time was her current single, "Goldilocks" written for a man who acted like a child,

Nia has a very unique style of singing almost conversational at times,and possesses a pair of eyes able to convey emotions with one glance that would take many words make the same point. The lyrics are fired rapidly, and quickly we are instantly reminded why she made such an impression all those years ago. It's a seemingly bouncy tune but the lyrics of the chorus do have a somewhat darker side.

Nia's lyrical prowess and her ability to conjure up a melody are very much on show in her new single "If You Were A Song". The version on record, recorded in Nashville is sumptuous sounding and not easy to recreate in a solo environment, but such is the strength of the melody that Nia pulled off the seeming impossible. Her harmonies on the bridge were easily as excellent as on the recorded version.

Playing before a banner proclaiming 1 million streams, "Ex'es" was about a boy never dated and is full of lines that raise a smile. A new unrecorded song would appear in "I'm A Marrionette", bout a friendship break up. Built around a gentle recurring guitar theme, Nia was on top form with this one. Closing with another new song "Movies From Cannes", Nia's wrath was delivered with laugh out loud put downs

"Nobody likes you they all like me!".

An assured performed with all the necessary tools in her armoury to go far, #TEAMw21 look forward at some point so seeing Nia in an extended slot where we can really see her shine even more.

Her material is definitely getting stronger, the current single and the ones to come are certainly indicative of an artist challenging herself to push into new areas. It was a display that fully justified all the hope and prospect that we witnessed in Nia all those years ago - well done!!

Brooke may not have received the sartorial dress code memo, however in her shorts and t shirt she probably fared better in the heat being generated. Brooke has now reached the stage in her career that she now has to decide which songs to leave out when offered opportunities like tonight.

Like Nia, Brooke is in a rich vein of songwriting form, and when the venue is like to night, pin drop silent and attentive, she is really able to play with the acoustics and volume of her songs without fear of of being talked over. She would open with "Flying Solo", before each chorus she would almost stomp her left foot and swivel, while at the tail end of the chorus

"I can see angels calling" was an example of where she can move from a roar to a whisper.

"Millionaires" always charms #TEAMw21, with it's ability to hide the bleakest of lyrics about crying babies, leaky taps and unpaid fines in the jauntiest of tunes. Brooke's once seemingly fanciful predictions about AI interfering with out private lives, now seem quite prescient with various dubious offers out there on the internet, She is a modern day Cassandra predicting the future!

Her latest single "Big World" addresses the problems of modern day life, She echoes her own advice and closes her eyes for the opening line. It's another song where both her playing and delivery can be turned up or down to draw attention to certain elements of the song.

Closing out her all too brief set was the song brought back from a Texas Songwriting retreat - "Gypsy Woman" - it would show an increased confidence in her guitar playing and a little extra stage magic thrown in. looking upwards on the line

Looking out to the skies

Currently gathering material for an album due later in the year and playing at a number of festivals including the Isle Of Wight and Country Calling, Brooke's stock continues to rise at pace.

Every time #TEAMw21 happen to see a busker at Waterloo, more often than not they are playing "Wonderwall" or "Walk Of Life" yet one day, just maybe we'll come across Charlotte Campbell.

Celebrating the 10th year of her debut album "Making Waves", Charlotte would don the attire that is pictured on the album cover. It would become immediately apparent that although Charlotte has escaped the #TEAMw21 radar for all of those years, in between she has gathered a loyal following who know and singalong to every song creating something of a party atmosphere. The opening song "Streets Of London" ( no not that one!) details her adventures busking on those aforementioned streets. It's normally a closing song

"I don't need your coins I just need your ears"

It came with a folky optimism and possibly a howling nod to Warren Zevon,

Divesting herself of her album cover attire Charlotte would initially follow the track listing of the album with "Share Your Love" which you could not help but like the moment you heard the line

"You're teaching me ballet - you keep me on my toes"

and that was just one of many quotable lines,

An invitation to a festival in Greece led to "Matala", which was another audience singalong. With her first single "Little Songbird" following , a pattern was starting to form, snazzy lyrics matched to upbeat folky tunes with the occasional singalong chorus built in.

"I'm just a book of words and 6 strings"

Playing for the interest of the disinterested commuter has given Charlotte an array of transferable performing skills. For the excellent "Little Voice" the spoken intro was done while playing the more considered guitar intro.

Charlotte was something of an open book, sharing every detail of every song, no matter how personal, when the lyrics more than aptly already explained - "She's An Angel" being a case in point, though every revelation did seem to come with a smile.

"Safe Harbour" built around a recurring guitar refrain was another song where the audience would sing out each word of the chorus with Charlotte.

"Princess Hair" saw Charlotte take solace from a compliment from a young girl, and turn it into a song.

Charlotte would leave us with a future new single, "Everybody's Leaving London" a single due out next month, a literal list of friends who had left the capital, detailing where and why they had gone. It was a nice way to finish and we look forward to hearing the recorded version.

It was a most highly enjoyable of evenings, full kudos to Charlotte for curating such an excellent bill, giving us a full nights entertainment yet wrapping it up just after 21:30. These showcases occur every 2 months and #TEAMw21 highly recommend them.

Brooke Law will be playing at Country Calling https://www.country-calling.com/