Jessie Ware left us in aweat Islington Assembly Hall in London last night in the second of four intimate concerts.

Dressedall in black, the 'Wildest Moments' singer used the evening as a chance to introduce fans to some of the material on her new album'Glasshouse'and also perform some of the classics that made us all fall in love with her in the first place.

The series of gigs is Jessie's first since announcing 'Glasshouse' and becoming a mother. Speaking with the Evening Standard recently Jessie said:“I’m scared I’m gonna cry or just talk on stage about all the gory birth details that no one needs to hear.”

While this would have been more than welcome, it's safe to say that Jessie was in firm control all evening.

Motherhood often has a brilliant effect on popstars. From the likes of Madonna with 'Ray of Light' to Beyoncé with 'BEYONCÉ', it often forcespopstarsto consider what really matters to them and in doing so become more confident in themselves and theart that they make. Motherhood has had an amazing effect on Jessie. Not only did she seemmore at ease on stage but her new materialhintedat a more confident Jessie. The songs are granderand their lyrics are more confessional than ever before.

Jessie opened the setwith 'Tough Love' -enrapturingthe audience with her silky smooth voice. She then flitted betweensongs from her first two albums and playedsome great new material. Classics like 'Sweet Talker' and 'Champagne Kisses' blended effortlessly with'Glasshouse' tracks like'Your Domino' and 'Selfish Love'. With radio attention, 'Selfish Love' could take off.

Plus hearing the 'Benny and the Jets' esque chorus of 'Midnight' live with Jessie's own vocal adlibs was a real moment.

However, it wasn't onlyJessie's voice or her material that made the evening so special. In between songs her personality was front and centre, working through the pain of a faulty earring, doing an impression of her mother and even telling a diehard fan that they should put their phone down and just enjoy the musicbecause they don't need any more pictures of her. It's this that makes Jessie so appealing- her personality is so brash andendearing that it brings an inimitablewarmth to her performances and her music. Her songs are polished to the point of perfection but they are never cold because Jessie is so present in them.

Case in point is one of her new songs 'Thinking About You'. The track is a love ballad that she dedicated to her daughter. With its massive chorus and upliftng lyrics,it could sound disingenuous in any other artist's hands. It has the type of melody that's destined to be murdered by talent show contestants for years to come. However, in Jessie's hands it is nothing but sublime.

Jessie drewthe set to a close with her two most popularsingles: 'Wildest Moments' and 'Say You Love Me'. It's safe to say that all of Jessie's tracks are worthy of praise but these two standout;both are tear-jerkers that take on universal themes of love in unflinchingly honest ways. After the rapturous applause and sing-alongs that both songs received, Jessie announced that she was going to end the night with a new song called 'Sam'. Near absent of production, Jessie started to sing about her fears for motherhood and her happiness in finding a decent man and father to her daughter in her husband Sam. "I hope I'm as brave as my mother, wondering what kind of mother will I be/ I hope she knows that I've found a man far from my father/ Sam, my baby, and me." 'Sam' is Jessie's most confessional songto date. It feels like a progression from 'Wildest Moments' and 'Say You Love Me' and it's strikingly reminiscent of Kelly Clarkson's hit single'Piece By Piece' in its subject matter and candour.

In an interview with The Fader, Jessie said "The year that I was pregnant, I was writing really s**t music because I had this fear like: must provide, must make a hit for my unborn child." She then goes on to explain that she began making music that she's proud of as soon as she stopped trying to make a hit. Judging by the standing ovation that 'Sam' received and the fact that there was not a single dry eye in the house after she finished performingit, Jessie may have a hit on her hands after all.

'Jessie Ware's new singles 'Midnight' and 'Selfish Love' are available now. Glasshouse will be out late in October.'

Words: Sam Prance