Many of the finer things in life are unassuming at first. So it goes with Jessy Lanza, the R&B-inspired artist from Hamilton, Ontario, who easily impressed a devoted crowd at New York’s Mercury Lounge (QRO venue review) along with Chicago duo The Drum (QRO photos). Her debut album Pull My Hair Back, released last September on renowned electronic label Hyperdub, quietly racked up accolades to become one of 2013’s most acclaimed records. With her striking sound, it’s no wonder that Lanza got at least one marriage proposal from the audience.
It seems overly reductive to call her music simple, but Pull My Hair Back, co-produced with Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan, is decidedly intimate and pared-down. Mercury Lounge’s sound system is notoriously unfriendly to keyboard-loving types, but either the venue got an upgrade that we didn’t hear about or Lanza was able to cut through the fog with ease. Fan favorites like “Kathy Lee” and “5785021” sounded bold and warming on the chilly night, and the Canadian songstress even shared a new, untitled track. Lanza’s presence might not be flashy, but she doesn’t need any embellishments when her songs are anything but low-key.