Contemporary music has benefitted from the world’s all-encompassing interaction with technology. With an increased focus on production and a burgeoning obsession with the limitless manipulations available with audio engineering, more and more people have been able to get involved in the music industry in its ever-expanding territory. In terms of the actual musicians, a new definition of artistic skill has been developed aimed to accommodate this new musical terrain, where groups can be credited for interacting with production in addition to their vocals or instrumentation. While this inclusivity is great, there is something immutably and uniquely resonant about a powerful vocal performance. Vita and the Woolf, Downington, PA native Jen Pague’s glimmering electro-soul project, exemplifies this brand of mesmerizing sonority. Pague’s wistful lyricism and commanding vocals pack a unique punch – drawing obvious connections to foundational soul and rock elements. The pervasive use of an organ-esque electric piano, however, modernize and complicate her songs, bridging the gap between Janis Joplin and Florence Welch, between rock purism and Pague’s peers, layering the classic with the millennial age. You can catch Vita and the Woolf tonight at Johnny Brenda’s with Legs Like Tree Trunks and Aphra. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Blake Oetting
