Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter VÉRITÉ (born Kelsey Byrne) helped cure the Monday blues and start the week off right with her Somewhere in Between Chicago tour stop. Playing to a sizable crowd at Lincoln Hall (also so happens to be my favorite music venue in the city), VÉRITÉ‘s soft yet soulful and intense vocals took over the night.

Alt pop? Alt rock? Not totally sure where I’d put her on the genre spectrum but to be frank some of the best artists are those who don’t necessarily identify with a particular genre. Singing from her debut album, a few of my personal favorites that she performed were ‘Need Nothing,’ ‘Bout You‘ and ‘Better.’ Pausing in between a few songs to chat with the crowd, something a fellow show goer mentioned was different this time around–mind you he had seen her a handful of times already, VÉRITÉ connected with the Monday night crowd. “I don’t know how it happened, but I managed to cut my lip with that last song so hopefully there’s no blood on my face,” she said as she laughed at one point during her set.

It’s no surprise she’s accumulated more than 95+ million streams on Spotify (to date) because it seems like her fans are pretty willing to catch her anytime she’s in their neck of the woods. Loyal listeners indeed. After chatting with a couple of them, I quickly realized you don’t just see VÉRITÉ once. All of them had one thing in common, this wasn’t their first time seeing her,“This is my fifth time seeing her” or “Yea this is like my third time seeing her.”

I have this little music rule of mine: Don’t repeat artists (I’ve made exceptions…) and I’m finding it harder and harder to stick to it…I definitely wouldn’t mind catching her next time she’s in town.

Check out VÉRITÉ‘s Soundcloud, and catch her at one of her upcoming shows:

September 1   Seattle, WA @ Barboza
September 2   Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
September 3   Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
September 5   San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
September 10  Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Music and Arts Festival
September 12  Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
September 15  Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Jr.
September 16  Dallas, TX @ Three Links
September 17  Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)
September 19  Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
September 20  Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
September 21  Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
September 22  Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg