For years, the British Yola tried to break through in her own country. Her big break came when she left for country Mecca Nashville, where Dan Auerbach (frontman of The Black Keys) took her under his wing. On 26 August, the country and soul singer will be at the LantarenVenster with her solo debut Walk Through Fire!

Yola is just 35 years old, but after hearing her life story you’d think she was at least 60 years old. She grew up in poverty, became homeless when she was older, and had vocal problems because of all the stress caused by her turbulent life. Even when she was the frontwoman of the relatively successful band Phantom Limb, she always felt as if her male band members didn’t take her seriously.

A better title than Walk Through Fire could hardly be found for her first solo record. The album is filled with break-up songs that aren’t just addressed to her violent ex, but also to her younger self. “A traditional, rootsy pop album that sounds immaculate. A little country, a little soul: Yola appears to have found her voice thanks to Dan Auerbach,” music journalist Gijsbert Kamer wrote in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant. It’s clear that Yola has risen from the ashes like a true phoenix!