Photos and article by Lillian Hammer
Jadu Heart, an English musical duo composed of Diva Jeffrey and Alex Headford, took their “Post Heaven” tour to The Bottleneck about a week into their trip around North America.
I became familiar with the band a few months before their latest album came out, adding a few songs to my playlist but never going out of my way to become a fan. Not long after, I had the pleasure of seeing them open for Fontaines D.C. in Dallas, Texas just two weeks after Post Heaven came out. I instantly became obsessed with the duo and began praying for them to tour. My prayers were answered shortly after as they announced their tour following the album release, and six months later I was photographing their headlining performance in my favorite local venue.
I was lucky enough to hangout with the band before the show and snap a few portraits of them. I tend to get nervous ahead of working with bands I’m truly a fan of, there’s always a possibility that the interaction could turn into a testament to why “don’t meet your idols” is such a popular warning in the music world. Luckily, Alex and Diva were more than kind. I felt guilty for imagining them as possibly being anything but that, Alex even inviting me up to their greenroom while Diva finished her makeup.
Their live show was one of my favorite performances I’ve ever seen. Their setup is simple, no elaborate decor or backdrop, just the band. The lighting created an ambience that paired perfectly with their sound, and the crowd was one of the best I’ve seen at The Bottleneck. Diva even took a break from playing to explain in length how the show “felt like a family.” Alex followed with “of divorce,” in reference to him and Diva’s nine year romantic relationship that came to an end not long before Post Heaven was released. The duo’s breakup is directly reflected in the album, which added a deeper layer of emotion to their performance. Their chemistry on stage, along with their touring members Nina and Theo’s, was fantastic and such a joy to watch in such an intimate space. This is definitely a band I’d urge everyone to see live if you ever have the chance.
