Rachel Sermanni, live at Whelan's

The first thing Rachel Sermanni says when she finishes opening song 'Ever Since the Chocolate', is how the audience are so quiet. It's true.. We are quiet. We're in shock. The singer-songwriter has one of those voices that makes you wonder where she has been all your life. That’s right. I fell in love in Whelan's on Friday night.
The last time Sermanni toured Ireland was in 2009, and she's over here again touring and promoting the release of her debut folk album, Under Mountains. Somewhat reminiscent of Lisa Hannigan, her natural musical ability is obvious in every tiny detail of her performance, and her vocal range is phenomenal. Songs on the album captivate her memories of her Scottish Highland living, with winding melodies that stretch from haunting low bass lines to the sweetest notes of the melodic scale.
Her set is both entertaining musically and in the way she interacts with the crowd. The quirky 20-year-old tells a story representing each song before singing it. Of 'Burger Van Man' she explains, 'This is for the man who put sugar on his chips and blamed me.' It was written while she worked in a burger van in the Highlands and stands out as one of the best songs of the night. Other highlights include 'Sleep', 'I’ve Got A Girl', and 'The Marshmallow Unicorn'. Listen out for these. At a much slower and darker pace there's something eerie but mature and beautiful about these songs. She ends the night with the audience's choice; 'Egg Shells'.
With the release of her album in the UK last week, and in Ireland and the rest of the world on October 9, Rachel Sermanni will most definitely make her mark this year.