Yazzy recently released her latest EP Illusion of Love at a sold out launch party that took place at The Pier House in Westward Ho! She was accompanied by the London based Giardino String quartet, her producer Phil Braithwaite (who also plays for UK violinist Vanessa Mae) on guitar and John Bangham on piano. 

Yazzy Chamberlain is a young upcoming star from North Devon, she has a simply sensational voice and an astonishing way with words. She has been performing live since she was 10 years old, and has featured at live events such as the 'Something Else' Tea Tent on the Saturday of the 2016 Watchet Festival. I was at that event, it was simply superb, she fitted right in.  She was also to be found performing live in Bideford at the BBC Music Day in 2016.  

Last summer she led a children’s choir singing 'Happy Birthday' to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.  Yazzy also featured in Sky News coverage of the cancelled Adele concert at Wembley where she rather enterprisingly set up with her guitar and sang Adele covers to cheer up the disappointed fans.

Her debut album Silly Boys Breaking Hearts was released in 2015, when she was just 15 years old and made it to the top of the folk music charts.  Her Illusion of Love EP marks a step up in her confidence, performance and music writing ability.  It also charts quite beautifully the painful learning curve that is falling in and out of love as a teenager, finding her inspiration in her own experiences of heartbreak and love,   Illusion of Love is a compelling piece of work. It is beautifully performed and the musical arrangements are breathtaking and was recorded under the watchful eye of sound Engineer Neil Tucker.  Yazzy tells us that she sees the likes of Adele and Sam Smith as her role models, her voice is certainly a match for them in every respect; powerful, crystal clear, syrupy & emotional, she sings every track simply beautifully.

The stand out track is "Heal Me", it's a real cry from the heart in the midst of a crisis of confidence, regretting past mistakes & paying for them.

“It’s not a broken heart, it’s a broken me, I’m trying to find a purpose, a reason to just breathe.”.........“I wish I could just live in the moment without the fear of it ending, I don't want to live a life where my success is a question pending…...It’s the fear of not being all that I know I can be.”

Yazzy’s pain is tangible and moving and is perfectly complimented by a breathtaking arrangement, combining stunning performances of the Giardino String Quartet and
guitarist Phil Braithwaite. There is much truth in the old proverb “that which does not kill you, makes you stronger,”  if Yazzy is able carry on singing and writing like this, the world is certainly at her feet.

Yazzy tells us that the title track, "Illusion of Love" was written about “not knowing if the new love you find yourself in is the same for the other person or if you’re just imagining it.”
Illusion of Love cleverly observes the fragile beginnings of love and the fear of getting it right.

"Predict the Last Time" cleverly captures the stand-off between lovers for whom the flame of love is dying, with the knowledge that it will end, but neither wanting to be the one responsible for making the final decision.  Yazzy has insight and wisdom beyond her years.

The release of Illusion of Love was celebrated with a launch party on the 5th
of January. The EP is available to stream/download right now and you can see her perform each track on Youtube.

You can find more on Yazzy at her website and all the usual social media channels.

Review by Pete Yeomans