Born of Pakistani and Norwegian parentage, Whitburn, South Tyneside-based singer/songwriter Nadine Shah possesses a voice, and more importantly, a mystique, that has been oft-described as a blend between PJ Harvey and Nick Cave, but her brooding, intensely atmospheric blend of midnight loner pop and torchy, jazz-kissed indie rock owes nods to Anna Calvi, Richard Hawley, and Antony Hegarty as well. Inspired by jazz and pop as a youth, as well the religious Sufi songs that her father brought into their home, Shah issued a series of evocative singles and a pair of EPs before releasing her debut long-player, 2013's Love Your Dum and Mad. ~ James Christopher Monger