Elaine Mai, Live, Upstairs At Whelan's

Galway singer Elaine Mai takes to the cosy surroundings upstairs at Whelan’s to launch debut EP Dots. Following a stellar warm-up job from Dublin singer-songwriter Leanne Harte, Mai emerges with guitar and laptop, setting the scene for a show which will mix edgy acoustic stylings with some seriously impressive looping.
Four-tracker Dots showcases Mai’s vocal talent, and tonight the singer uses the loop pedal to offset the lushest of harmonies against electro beats, particularly gob-smacking on the excellent ‘Guarded’. Layers of guitar riffs, beats, and even a xylophone solo on a cover of ’What Is Love?’ by ‘90s star Haddaway (remember him?) gradually build to epic climaxes, making it hard to believe you’re in the presence of just one musician here. The lovely ‘Rewrite’ is a highlight (make sure to give it a listen), and Mai closes with non-EP track ‘IOU’. A fantastic set from a singer you’ll definitely be hearing more of in future.