Wed 21 May 2014 | 8pm | £12 (£10)

Eska is the most talked about, revered, internationally known singer you’ve never heard of. Prepare to be let in on one of music’s best kept secrets.
Possessing one of the best and most memorable voices in the UK right now, Eska weaves together diverse musical elements – hints of folk, soul, psychedelica and electronica can all be heard on her latest album Gatekeeper – and pairs them with stirring lyrics, born from burning passion, which traverse scenes from church stories and rituals. With her debut release, Eska has created something pure and timeless which echoes past traditions while at the same time managing to surprise with its stunning originality.

Eska’s music is already creating a buzz; receiving strong radio support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, who made the EP’s title song his track of the week on his BBC 6 Music show. Lauren Laverne was quoted on her 6 Music show, after playing the lead single that she ‘loved it’. Jamie Cullum, from BBC Radio 2 described Gatekeeper as ‘an unbelievable track, that will be hard to beat in 2013’ and BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms recently featured a sensational live performance of She’s in the Flowers.

Having built an inimitable reputation as a writer and performer through collaborations with such legends of the game as Grace Jones, Cinematic Orchestra, Zero 7 and Bobby McFerrin together with performances in some of the world’s most famous venues and festivals, it’s time to discover ESKA’s own unique sound in full force on her new EP. With co-production from David Okumu and on two tracks coming from electronic star Matthew Herbert, who has previously remixed tracks for Björk, R.E.M. and Yoko Ono, Gatekeeper is sure to be unlike anything heard all year.

‘…Eska has undoubtably a unique vocal style, but what truly distinguishes her as one to watch in 2014 is her approach to lyrical writing that is a breath of fresh sincerity in the Industry today.’

THE MANCUNION

‘Eska is Nina Simone as she might be if she was reincarnated to here, now, with a voice of pure liquid… even those who had never seen her before knew they were witnessing something and somebody very special. She raised the roof.’

THE ARTS DESK

BUY TICKETS: http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/eska/