Vera Blue - Lady Powers Live At The Forum (2018)

Australia's Celia Pavey (aka Vera Blue) is a lyrical singer/songwriter who combines her love of folk music with moody electronica. Born in Forbes, Australia in 1994, Pavey grew up listening to classic folk and pop music of the '60s and '70s while spending time surrounded by nature in her horticulturalist father's nursery. By her teens, she was a gifted performer who could sing, and play guitar and violin. In 2013, she auditioned for and won a spot on The Voice Australia with her emotive rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle." A fan favorite, she ultimately finished in second place on the talent competition show, after which she released debut full-length album, This Music, on Universal. The album was well-received and peaked at number 14 on the ARIA charts. An EP, Bodies, followed a year later.

Despite her initial success, Pavey was restless to try something different and incorporate other influences into her sound. After meeting sibling-producers Andy and Thom Mak, she began writing new material and experimenting with mixing her folk style with atmospheric beats and electronics. To mark the change in her approach, she adopted the stage name Vera Blue and in 2016 released the EP Fingertips. A year later, she delivered a full-length album, Perennial, which featured the singles "Private," "Mended," and "Regular Touch." The album reached number six on the ARIA Albums Chart. ~ Matt Collar