For an artist who is apt to wake up in the early hours trawling the internet and sometimes discovering bad reviews of her music, you would not associate the sleepless nights with Emma-Jean Thackray, who gave a positive and perfect homecoming performance at the Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds.

The nominated Mercury Music Prize artist released her second album, Weirdo, earlier this year to critical acclaim. The album was written during a dark time for Thackray; “Music was my medicine, and making the album saved my life,” the artist attested to the Leeds audience.

Wearing a Leeds United football shirt, Thackray and her three-piece band displayed all that is best about her music; while the subject matter of her songs might not be buoyant, her music has an uplifting quality wrapped up in a pop and, at times, jazzy wrapper that recalls Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder. Her albums are written and produced by her, and all instruments are played by her, though any worries that her tight band would not be able to perfect the complexities of her music were soon diminished – this was a well-oiled machine.

When she started to play the trumpet on Let Me Sleep, it felt like the sun breaking through on a dark autumnal day, such was the intensity and brightness. Her single Wanna Die was Thackray at her best, as the drums provided a somewhat faster pace whilst her guitar chopped away at the punctuating rhythm.

Save Me – the track she performed at the Mercury Music Awards was as good an introduction to her songs as any. Her friendly and bright approach on stage belied the image of her lyrics to her tracks, though on Thank You for the Day – the last song she wrote for the new album – the sentiment remained positive.

Finishing with a remix of Save Me the Night had been a triumph where Thackray and her band would not lose any sleep over this superlative performance.

The tour visits Band on the Wall in Manchester on Thursday 6th November

https://bandonthewall.org/