Hyde Park Book Club is a vibrant café, bar and creative hub in Leeds, known for its welcoming atmosphere and eclectic mix of events.
Housed in a cozy corner of Headingley Lane, it hosts live music, comedy, spoken word, art exhibitions and community gatherings. Alongside its packed events calendar, visitors can enjoy great coffee, locally sourced food, and a laid-back vibe that makes it a favourite spot for students, artists and locals alike.
I entered the basement to a crowd of people all sitting cross-legged on the floor, which I thought was unusual but inviting, but goes to show how nice and cosy the venue is. Playing to a crowd of around 60 people, the gig was intimate and the crowd sang along and were engaged the whole way through.
Etta noted that she had played at Hyde Park Book Club before, and was delighted to be back. With vocals reminiscent of Lana Del Rey, Mitski or The Cranberries, I was transfixed on Etta, who sang a range of different songs and demonstrated the band’s versatility. They played songs from their new EP ‘Devour’, which you can presave now, before its release on Halloween.
Etta danced around on stage, jokingly adding “who’s ready to get spooky with me?” Etta and her band mates also lingered around the merch stand post event to meet fans and say hi to them after the show.
Offering versatile sound and having loads of fun on the stage were great incentives for anyone in the crowd who was not already a fan. Her lyrics with metaphorical, raw, honest and introspective, and the whole set sounded like the perfect soundtrack to a coming-of-age movie, with intense synth tracks and gritty sound effects.
Some of my favourite songs included ‘Theatre’ and ‘Slaughterhouse’, with a hauntingly wispy sound and a dark aura that makes her appear reserved and mysterious, yet confident whilst on stage. Etta really filled the room with sultry, strong vocals and a brilliant band. Whilst she isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, it’s nice to hear inspiration drawn from the likes of Mazzy Star and Hozier. I especially like the production of Etta’s music when listening to her album ‘The Death of Summer & Other Promises’, with the creative and thoughtful choice of instrumentation and sound effects. choice of instrumentation and sound effects.
If you’re looking for a fresh up-and-coming artist with thoughtful, sorrowful lyrics to add to your sad-girl playlist, I’d definitely suggest giving Etta Marcus a listen. She’s still in the infancy of her career, and I look forward to seeing her blossom as an artist.
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Photography by Holly Hemingway.
