The South London singer Jessie Ware is a devout realist making the most of her pop-star dreams. Her commitment to both sides of that equation is what turns her debut album into a uniquely soulful masterclass. The one-time theater kid started out as a backup singer before nearly giving up her musical aspirations to be a journalist. But then she ended up singing lead on melodic bass producer SBTRKT's 2010 single "Nervous", which led to a solo label deal, which led to Ware being forced to take the spotlight. Devotion, a testament to both her talent and budding songwriting skills, marries her natural gifts with throbbing instrumentation that breathes life into every single turn of phrase or sensitive vocal embellishment.