Ella Eyre is used to running across festival stages to drum ’n’ bass drops. Tonight she’s sitting down, in the middle of a three-piece band, in the basement of Quasimodo, Berlin’s jazz club since 1975. Her career really took off thanks to her contributions to the music of DJ Fresh and Rudimental. The latter gave her a massive breakthrough with ‘Waiting All Night’, a number-one single that won the BRIT Award for British Single of the Year in 2014. Big drum ’n’ bass music with pop influences quickly became her signature sound, guaranteeing her a place on festival stages thanks to its high ‘gets-the-party-started’ factor. There’s no escaping it: you’ll know her biggest songs and find yourself singing along to every word.
We’re not going to lie, the thought of seeing an artist like Ella perform in such a stripped-down setting had us worried for a minute. The small room breathes history, and the heat in the basement feels clammy in the best way possible. The crowd is on its feet, impatiently waiting for Ella to open with ‘head in the ground’, the lead single from her latest album. It sets the tone for the night: an unlikely catalogue reworked into jazzy, almost jam-session versions, belted out in a voice that’s larger than life, or at least larger than this room. Watching it unfold right in front of us quickly takes away every concern. Her powerful, husky and slightly raspy voice is the perfect instrument to serenade the jazz club. What a luxury it must be for an artist this far into her career to play a small, intimate show, truly connecting with fans on a much smaller scale. She doesn’t need the big stage, the theatrical energy or endless crowds to bring her music to life.
The fast-paced chorus of ‘Diamonds’ almost mimics jazzy scatting. The song revolves around the search for the perfect match, with a sense of begging and pleading woven into its lyrics. “Where the hell are all the fish out there? Plenty of them in the sea they said. So far all that I found are great whites tryna bite down but I been looking for the real damn thing” feels strongly reminiscent of RAYE’s successful hit ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’. Ella herself seems to agree, seamlessly blending TikTok’s favorite part of the song into the live performance: “I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger, I would like a big and shiny diamond”. It’s almost scary how well the two songs come together, showcasing Ella’s musicality to the fullest.
While her latest album, everything, in time, lends itself perfectly to an intimate jazz performance thanks to its retro funk and more soulful pop sound, the hits most people know her for need brand-new arrangements. Together with her talented band, consisting of keys, guitar and bass, she transforms dance music into unexpected stripped-back versions. Tonight ‘Deep Down’, her collaboration with Alok that reworked The Bucketheads’ ‘The Bomb!’, goes fully back to basics, showcasing just how strong its memorable hook is and proving that all it needs is an incredible vocalist. Ella jokingly tells the crowd that tonight’s version of her other DJ collaboration, ‘Came Here For Love’ with Sigala, is the perfect love song. Press record and remember to use this live version for your wedding.
The night celebrates her new music but wouldn’t be complete without throwbacks to her debut album, Feline. The highlight of the evening goes to ‘If I Go’. Following recent developments in her career, the lead single from her debut album takes on a whole new meaning. Vocal surgery during the pandemic and creative disagreements with her former label prompted a major turning point, leading the singer to go independent. As she emotionally sings, “But if I go, will you love me? Will you love me until I can? And do you know, will you want me? Will you want me like that? And if I leave, will it end?”, it feels like a direct ode to the fans who showed up at the venue tonight. It gives us chills to think about the uncertainty that comes with going independent, not knowing whether your fans will come along for the journey. Hearing the crowd singing back each word answers that question. Magical.
Ella announces that 'Hell Yeah' is her last song, and the incredible show comes to an end. The evening seemingly finishes right there, without an encore. The crowd strongly disagrees. Even as the music starts playing and the lights come on, they keep the standing ovation going, begging the singer to return to the stage. While some people leave the crowd, taking the signs of the show's ending seriously, others refuse to give up. Persistence pays off as Ella and her band surprisingly return, explaining that this really wasn't the plan and that they were already ready to leave the venue. They simply had to come back and give us one last taste of her discography. She can't promise to get all the lyrics right for this spontaneous final song, but she does promise to leave on a high as she energetically performs ‘Just Got Paid’. We leave the building buzzing. It might be near midnight on a Monday, but none of us want the night to end.
