It’s hard to resolve that Hamzaa, opening to a sold-out Omeara audience yesterday evening, has only just turned 20. It’s rare to see such confidence and soulful vocal precision from an artist so young, but Hamzaa has both in abundance.
As demonstrated early on with the edgy Stranded Love, Hamzaa sings with a wisdom well beyond her years. “You still had my heart in the palm of your hand,” she sang, the lyrics filled with heartbreak and reminiscent of a 19-era Adele.
Hailing from Dalston, Hamzaa originally applied to be a contestant on The Voice but changed her mind before filming began. A connection she made during the application process got her a management team. Soon after, Hamzaa appeared on BBC’s Later... with Jools Holland to much acclaim: sold-out gigs followed.
The performance was, at times, beautifully minimalistic. The streamlined band and backing allowed Hamzaa’s powerful, soulful voice to soar, especially on the deeply personal song Red, which she wrote about a period of feeling suicidal. All of Hamzaa’s songs felt autobiographical, and the audience clearly adored her shattering honesty. Hamzaa enthused and uplifted too, when she moved around gleefully — her passion on stage proved infectious throughout.
Guest appearances from Shakka on Chance and Wretch 32 on Breathing impressed. The latter song was extended, with Wretch 32 emotionally praising Hamzaa towards the end of the evening.
Both Breathing and the penultimate song, the devastating You, showcased how much of a talented sonic storyteller Hamzaa is, her expressiveness making the delivery more emotive.
Before the show, Hamzaa shared an Instagram picture of Omeara’s sold-out sign with the simple, proud caption: “Moments.” After a performance as memorable as this, you get the feeling that it won’t be long before Hamzaa will deservedly be selling out some of the biggest venues.
