KEXP at Iceland Airwaves, Day 2: LoneLady

The middle set of today's broadcast live from Kex Hostel at Iceland Airwaves is British pop artist Lonelady. The pseudonym for british pop artist Julie Campbell, LoneLady combines funky guitar riffs with fun, dancy synths and beats, and influences the likes of “That’s Us/Wild Combination”-era Arthur Campbell. Hailing from Manchester, she cites long walks in the industrial landscape of her hometown as a major influence on her sound. She released Hinterland (Warp Records) earlier this year to much acclaim in her native Britain. Hinterland is a more refined effort than her 2010 debut Nerve Up, with richer arrangements and a more defined style showing that Campbell is really coming into her own.

There crowd at Kex was buzzing with anticipation for their early-evening dance party courtesy of LoneLady. "Into the Cave" dove right in with a funk-heavy bassline and thumping beats, getting the crowd grooving right away. High, strumming guitars carried the funk influence even further, accented with percussive "ah ahs" from Campbell. "Silvering" started with a punchy driving drum beat and funky guitars, with spacey synths trickling in. Campbell keeps a foot firmly planted both in electro and in funk.

Lofty, frosty synths are a constant in the background of "Fear Colours," lending a spacey vibe to the steadily upbeat song. LoneLady closed her set with "Hinterland," the title track from her record. The song was a bit slower, though without losing its dancy undertone. Campbell's voice was really able to shine, sounding soulful over heavy synth and a mellow funky beat, going big with a distorted guitar solo.

Up next at 11:30 AM PST/2:30 PM EST is Icelandic rapper Emmsjé Gauti. Tune in live here!