Making strong and steady waves in the UK since her early collaboration with AK Paul, there’s no flash-in-the-pan hype about NAO, whose neo-soul jams draw on the best from pop, electronica and R&B. It’s a punch-drunk recipe, full of flavour on singles ‘Girlfriend’ and ‘Bad Blood’ (no, not that one); brewed to idiosyncratic perfection on her critically-adored debut album, ‘For All We Know’. The seasons might be getting colder, but NAO is a welcome shot of summer, rich with good vibes, soulful flourishes, and untamed synths. Her live shows are a potent draw in their own right, so snatch up a ticket to see this rich Soulquarian talent before she gets even bigger.

Sun 30 Oct, O2 Academy, 16 Horsefair, Bristol Street, Birmingham B1 1DB,7pm, £20 www.academymusicgroup.com