With a sound that's already been compared to the likes of Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Dua Lipa, Irish star-in-the-making Michelle Grimes released her debut single 'Going Going Gone' in October.

Bringing an eclectic setlist of original tracks, diverse covers and even a Christmas song; charismatic pop/R&B act Michelle Grimes gave an energetic performance that begged for a live audience. Supported by Cormac and Ben on guitar and percussions/drums, Grimes also introduced piano melodies during her livestream but mostly let her powerful voice speak for itself. Kickstarting with her debut single, 'Going, Going, Gone', the young musician emanates the vocal prowess of fellow female acts Becky Hill and Anne-Marie, making sure to deliver infectious choruses for the audience to remember.

"I'm honoured to be here today seeing as I only have one song out," the singer-songwriter laughs, confirming that her original tracks are mostly unreleased but 2021 will see a slew of singles emerge. Her smooth vocal intonations have the stamp of honey-toned R&B inspirations, as well as the range of pop artists from the early 2000s, namely Christina Aguilera. Her second track performed is a cover of Foushée's 'Deep End', a soulful song that was first popularised on TikTok after Sleepy Hollow (Dwayne Wade) sampled her voice, yet Foushée herself went uncredited. She has since made an appeal on the platform that garnered over five million views and has earned her credit the hard way, but the track now has over 21 million views.

Grimes puts her own spin on the current song, before launching into another original inspired by a walk along the Shannon with her dad. Titled 'Find a Way', Grimes describes the message behind the track as one of longing for the happiness of past time in her life, and a foregone relationship. Filled with perfectly-hit falsetto notes and hints of nostalgia, it's another unreleased rendition from the musician. The Weeknd's 'Call Out My Name' comes next, with the singer standing up to belt out the wide-ranging melodies. Original track 'Never True' offers a shout out to the women who have experienced infidelity and lies, and has the most R&B flare out of her repertoire.

Grimes' bubbly personality is on show throughout her livestream, with an easygoing back-and-forth with her fellow musicians supporting her in the background and maintaining a connection with her audience. Her sense of humour also gives her an accessibility that brightens her upbeat pop gems. With an undeniably polished flare, Grimes isn't afraid to place her vulnerability on show in her lyrics and slow down the tempo but balances the personal words with relentlessly catchy hooks. A majorly impressive cover of Lady Gaga's 'Always Remember Us This Way' from the Bradley Cooper-directed flick A Star Is Born comes before her final song, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. The former is a notoriously tricky track to cover, so we applaud her brave choice. Overall, her talent demands attention and her relatable charm will inevitably earn her a connection with her growing number of fans. A fitting end to a rousing set comes complete with Christmas cheer and dazzling vocals; 2021 is going to be big for Grimes.

Watch Michelle's full Y&E Series livestream performance below:

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