Music speaks when you can’t...

Kal Lavelle

The Irish gal with a London postcode has hit the right note with BBC heavyweights Tom Robinson (BBC RADIO 6), Aissetou Ngom (BBC Switch), Dj MistaJam's (Radio 1 & Radio 1xtra) and Channel 4’s Alex Zane who simply and concisely praised Kal’s voice as "beautiful". But what lies beneath the reversible sweaters and peroxide crop is one of the most philosophical and logical people, both in life and love, I have ever had the pleasure of meeting...not to mention Ed Sheeran’s personal chum and UK and Ireland tour support act.

The tale starts in Dublin, Kal’s homeland, after she won the golden ticket and one thousand pounds in true Charlie and The Chocolate Factory fashion under the plastic casing of a Mars Bar at the age of ten. With the money Kal, bought her mother a washing machine and for herself, her very first guitar, and boy are we glad she did (as was her mother, hand washing is a thing of the past don’t cha know!)

It is a rare thing in the age of talentless tele-folk and destructive divas to be able to listen to a record and feel as if you are at the most intimate of gigs. Shivers, her debut EP, is a wonderfully effortless platter of folk inspired melodies which show the Irish singers talent off to a T. There is no sight of over production, unnecessary over emotive cracks, or irritating electronics, just delicately stuck pianos and lightly strummed guitars which act as a bass for truthful lyrics, which lay bare all those things you once wish you could have said.

Shivers, the title song on her EP, is a seductive tale that holds the ability to reawaken that closeted exasperating feeling for that person you have convinced your friends that you are ‘so over, okay!’ The lyrics leave you in a musical euphoria, in which the breath-imprisoning lines; ‘holy god, you give me shivers up my spine the lot’, act not only as a chorus but a promise.

For all of those whom prefer a beat and a touch of bass with their lyrics you will be interested to know that her talent has been recognised by Artful (Dodger's) Mark Hill, who was so impressed by Kal's vocals, he asked her to feature on his track 'Could Just Be The Bassline' - the first single from his new album. The track featured on Music Week's prestigious 'Playlist', was Dj MistaJam's (Radio 1 & Radio 1xtra) 'Jam Hot record of the week' & was playlisted on Radio 1xtra. (With the video on rotation on MTV.)

With her debut EP climbing to #5 in the Singer Songwriters iTunes chart, this wild thing is not to be caged. On the 1st of January 2012, The Sunday Mirror (UK National Newspaper) listed Kal in the top 5 'Hot for 2012' ones to watch list. With such an incredible start to the year Kal is more focused than ever, so expect more gigging, writing and a second EP...Oh and maybe a trip to Curry’s; we hear that washing machine is getting a tad rusty.

B x