Multi-talented – Soul-Pop/R&B singer-songwriter Jon Poppii kicked off the day’s events on the Birdcage stage, opening for Stevie Wonder at BST Hyde Park. The London based artist had quite the challenge on his hands with the gates only having opened less than an hour before his set. At this point, there were just a few of us waiting to see him which was completely out of his control given the timings. However, we were thrilled that halfway through his first song new light, the crowd progressed rather quickly. The song was absolutely stunning live and blended with his soul-stirring, velvety vocals, it was hardly surprising that he attracted more people.

Performing solo on the keys, Poppii continued with the song Don’t Belong and although just two songs in, we were addicted to his sound. Breathtaking beautiful melodies which are sweetly harmonious and deeply emotional, you couldn’t help but let each note whisk you away from the real world. On to the guitar for a song which I believe is called Clementine We were in awe of Poppii’s artistry – he truly is quite remarkable.

It pained me to have to leave after the this song for a scheduled interview as I was completely captivated and almost lost track of time. I really hope I get the opportunity to see him again. His songwriting is wonderfully relatable and so profoundly moving and this short introduction to his music has found me listening to him since. Although he currently has just a handful of tracks out, they are all exceptional. love someone for example is beautifully cinematic and a massively impactful and emotional musical masterpiece. At the time of this performance, the track had only been out for a day. new light has been in my head since he performed it and has become a favourite on my current playlist. That is a testament to his performance though – I was there for just three songs and he inspired and moved me enough to feel that he more than deserved a review even if just for half of his set.

If there is an artist to watch and start supporting in the early days of his career, then it’s Jon Poppii.