Wall at Hoxton Hall

Wall (real name Lyla Foy) is a London-based female singer-songwriter, signed with the Black Cab Sessions record label, BCS Records. She creates mesmerising, minimalist pop music. Her particular approach is a subtle but powerful singing style, which creates the signature sound for her flavour of this genre of music.

Wall walked on stage to a smattering of applause. Following a quiet welcome, the sound of a guitar reverberating filled the room as she set up the sample sequence to put a back-beat to her music; a simple synth loop filled the hall. The venue, Hoxton Hall, is well known and a favourite among the locals. The auditorium itself is church-like with its wonderful acoustics and solid wood pews with only a small cushion for comfort.

As Wall began to play, the deep bass-driven drone of the instruments filled the room completely, and nothing was heard except for the band on stage. Then she began to sing, and you had to sit in awe of the sound being created in front of you. Her seemingly nervous stage presence was utterly shattered as soon as she opened her mouth. An amazingly powerful voice emitted from her small frame as she belted out her tunes – incredible that such a small woman can make such an intoxicating sound. The nuances of her voice brought out an innate shyness coupled with a passion for her music that combine to create what Wall is all about: an ideal amalgamation of catchy pop riffs delivered with show-stopping presence.

The audience, silent while the band played, erupted in rapturous applause between tracks. Hoxton Hall is not enormous in capacity, but with the combination of the acoustics of the room and the people filling it, the noise of the applause was staggering.

There is something magical about sitting in a 200-year-old room, built exactly for this purpose, and seeing it used to its utmost. Wall’s music is a breath-taking blend of a huge pure-synth sound, united with a stunning, intense vocalist, who persuades us she has everything it takes to “make it”.

Verdict: •••••

Andrew Collins

Photos: Dwaine Field-Pellew

 

For further information about Wall and upcoming events, click here.

Watch a video of Wall – Black Cab Sessions here