Jewelia’s debut at the Sunflower Lounge was as colourful and magnetic as it was blissfully refreshing. On this memorably hot summer night, her fluttery vocals and 80s-inspired synth pop sound washed over the crowd like a cool breeze. Shining in a hot pink outfit and a matching bright smile, Jewelia certainly lived up to her sparkly stage name.
Though her performance rested steadily on a mountain of talent, Jewelia remains a heart-warmingly humble artist. Her earnest nature was easily the most endearing facet of her performance, while her need to connect to the crowd spoke to her relatability and soft humanity. Her bandmates were thoroughly supportive — they had the crowd singing back the lyrics to “Extra” in no time, reeling off Jewelia’s infectious energy.
Out of all the tracks Jewelia played from her impressively self-produced album “Little Wins”, her song “Second Best” has stuck with me the most. In defense of self-deprecation, Jewelia boldly reassures that it is perfectly okay to be average. We don’t need to be the absolute best at everything — we can enjoy our hobbies, enjoy living. Jewelia lives by the sentiment that we are doing the best we can in the current moment, as average people without a heap of resources at our disposal. As an ardent perfectionist, this was tough to hear, but I ultimately agree. We’re all simply doing the best we can with what we have. After a sweet, beguiling performance and an extraordinary showcase of raw talent, however, it is clear Jewelia is far from mediocrity.