George Maple shows flashes of stunning pop in Hoxton, London

Following a number of eye-catching collaborations with artists like Flume, it is time for George Maple to go it alone and make a deserved stamp on the mainstream.

Hoxton Square Bar provided the setting for the Aussie’s first show, but you wouldn’t have known it. The room was swarming with interested industry-types and immediately the professionalism and assurance of Maple, the fictional character she assumes as an artist, alongside her band, became very apparent.

Splashes of cymbals and rumbling bass-heavy synths welcome the sultry performer to the stage, looking as chic as the smooth vocal she produces so effortlessly. Indeed, her voice is the most striking feature of the all-too-short set; it swoons between soulful warmth of Jessie Ware, and the soring falsetto of Rhye to offer wonderful versatility.

House beats crept in as well, with the Annie Mac-championed ‘OPST’ providing a highlight, while the quality of both percussion and voice allow her to sing almost acapella without it sounding bare. Closing with ‘Fixed’ really showed what she might be capable of in terms of songwriter, and the aforementioned band alongside her displayed what a wonderful sound can be created around her with the right production in place.

Just as the words in this stand-out track suggests, our eyes are certainly fixed on George Maple for the foreseeable.