Live Report: Kayleigh Noble brings uninterrupted feminine energy to the Y&E Series

Dublin pop-princess Kayleigh Noble has been making waves on the Irish music scene. From filling some of Dublin’s hottest live venues to being featured on influential Spotify playlists, the singer-songwriter has gone from strength to strength.

Perched in front of an entirely hot-pink background, Kayleigh was joined by friend and producer Jessica, aka whenthebeatisbad. With a riff on an electric guitar as intgroduction, the pair launched into the first song of the evening, ‘<3’, which is the first track on Kayleigh's debut album Just A Girl, released October 19th. A melancholic ballad, it explores the theme of romantic turmoil while maintaining self-love. Complemented by the electric guitar, Kayleigh’s vocals built through the bridge, then dipped into a delicate chorus.

Song two was another from Just A Girl, titled ‘meanie’. Slightly more sombre in tone, the song invited Kayleigh to showcase her emotional intensity and female rage. Her approach is comparable to the work of SZA and FKA Twigs, with Kayleigh’s unapologetic cool-girl energy gleaming through the screen.

Turning to the camera, Kayleigh and Jessica joked, “all the songs have been so sad!” Track three – the title track from her album, ‘just a girl’ – continued in the same vein. Letting viewers know about the upcoming music video, the pair dove into what proved to be another dynamic encapsulation of common female experiences in a dysfunctional relationship. The melancholy mood of the lyrics and the stripped back nature of the set notwithstanding, the R&B and pop undertones supplied by the electric guitar gave the performance a feel-good spark.

Next up came ‘don’t change’, another frustration-laden track about being in a relationship, “and you keep hoping that they’ll change, but they don't and that's ok.” The song explores the idea that there is fresh strength to be discovered in finding yourself amidst a relationship that's breaking down. Again, the sing is a testament to Kayleigh’s talent as both a lyricist and vocalist.

Wrapping up the evening was ‘Imaginary Boyfriend’, the only track not taken from  Just a Girl. Released in 2022 as the leading single of EP Hot Mess, the R&B number shows Kayleigh’s versatility as an artist.I can only assume got the crowd singing along at home as well, 'cos thast was howe I reacted. A fine end to an excellent performance.

 

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Catch the following artists this weekend as part of the Young and Emerging Series:

Friday 27th: Siobhán Winifred
Having grown up in an Irish family in the tranquil embrace of Dorset, Siobhan Winifred’s music has deservedly earned plaudits from some notable names in music - including James Bay, Modernlove., and BBC Introducing. Inspired by acts such as Rufus Wainwright, Leonard Cohen, and Alex Turner, her most recent single ‘Killers’ explores navigating complicated relationships with narcissistic individuals - showcasing her innate ability to transform complex human experiences into poignant musical narratives.

Saturday 28th: Aaron Rowe
Aaron Rowe has earned acclaim in his native Dublin for his powerful vocal ability. No stranger to the live scene, he has supported Irish titans like Christy Dignam, Gavin James, Paddy Casey and Mik Pyro amongst many others. Rowe makes his long overdue transition from pub singer to bona-fide recording artist with the emotive 'Drawing The Line' - a song encapsulating the artist's struggle for self-esteem following an untimely break-up.

Sunday 29th: Taylor D
A Clondalkin native transcending conventional pop boundaries , this award-winning songwriter has been making waves across the globe - crowned "First Choice Radio UK Artist of the Year," Taylor D’s music has garnered radio play as far away as Australia, Japan and the U.S. Her flirtatious Fan Girl EP is a fun homage to her listeners and pop diva superfans all over the world.