There is a powerful simplicity in this stripped-down performance of Celeste’s Hear My Voice. Filmed at London’s Union Chapel, the special live performance sees the rising soul artist backed by a pianist and string section as she sings in the otherwise empty church. There is no backing choir, but the young singer makes up for it with the emotion she pours into the words and her crystal delivery. Echoes of Amy Winehouse can be heard as well, especially in the ringing lament of her voice, but Celeste is very much her own artist, with a modern sound. I love how the elements of the video – the chiaroscuro lighting, slow-mo camera moves, and Celeste’s retro look – lull the viewer into an almost trance-like state. This song is the perfect way to bookend a challenging but ultimately hopeful year.
