It's been a big year for IAMDDB, aka Diana Debrito, and after opening for neo-soul queen Lauryn Hill, Bryson Tiller and Jhene Aiko, the Manchester-raised songstress is home at last for her very own gig - the grand finale of her The Volume Experience European tour.
The 23-year-old hits the stage in a floaty, patterned mini-dress and black boots and launches straight into a chronological performance of material from her first Volume project Waevey Bby Vol.1 through to her latest release Swervvvvv Vol. 5, her last mixtape ahead of her full-length debut, and featuring her signature blend of urban jazz, trap and hip hop.
She might be a new artist but there's no mistaking her name - she tells us five times in as many minutes.
From the start, she relies heavily on recorded backing vocals and distractingly heavy bass, making the gig seem only quasi-live and giving the impression of merely colouring in a piece of artwork as opposed to creating it.
Those crowd favourites come thick and fast though, with Vibe and Back Again getting the audience suitably revved up before she exchanges her boots on stage for a pair of distinctly un-rapper, white, fluffy unicorn slippers.
Falling Far (she doesn't, despite the bulky footwear) and Doobies follow before she reveals that she was once an employee at this very venue.
"I was working in this exact building trying to pay my motherf***ing rent and now two years later I'm an artist here", she tells us, before bursting into the modestly titled Ur Highness.
Asss$ is next, getting the crowd jumping and highlighting those velvety vocals with a dash of dagger.
Then comes that unmistakable synth note trio of her breakthrough song Shade, at which point she jumps off stage and into the crowd - an ill-judged move as she is swamped by excited fans and the song has to stop for her to admonish them: "If you don't want me to pass out I need space!"
After losing momentum somewhat, the beat starts again and everyone chants the lyrics but only the crowd directly around her can actually see her, with the rest left looking at an empty stage.
Tracks from her new material include the mellow Urban Jazz, where, showcasing her Angolan-Portuguese heritage, she raps briefly in the language, Woke Up To Flexxx, the man-maligning Sweg and honeyed R'n'B cut Give Me Something.
The laid-back melodies and those melting chocolate vocals hit the spot alright but the flimsy, repetitive lyrics need more legs - a lot more.
It's also hard for all but the most ardent of fans to distinguish between songs.
It's a case of more swagger than substance for IAMDDB right now but the proof will be in the pudding of her imminent debut.
Review: James Blake at O2 Victoria Warehouse
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