When south London’s Misty Miller released her debut album five years ago, aged 16, the waif-like blonde girl was among the multitudes of fresh-faced, strumming folkies.

However, she’s since had a metamorphosis like one of David Bowie’s ch-ch-changes. Out have gone the cute locks and acoustic guitar. In have come slick black hair, a nose piercing, tattoos, punky pop and a loud band with a topless, male, tattooed bassist. The transformation is complete when Miller walks on in a tight black skirt and T-shirt reading “Kill your idols”, and unveils the vocals that have seen her land a Radio 1 playlisting and comparisons to Chrissie Hynde.

She certainly has a voice to stop grown adults in their tracks: equal parts glucose, honey, sand and spit, with streaks of vulnerability and sensuality. When she hits the high notes one fears for teenage hearts and nearby decorations.

She playfully rampages through One Direction’s Steal My Girl, then pours vim and vigour into her own songs. One-liners fly thick and fast. “I’ll treat my body like a temple, even though I prefer feeling sore,” she yells at one point. “I’ve been sleeping with your friends” at another. They’re the sort of lyrics to make parental eyebrows rocket. However, delve deeper and songs such and Girlfriend and Best Friend are filled with power, sensitivity and the often dark experiences of a young woman in the music industry and delivered with the tuneful energy of vintage Blondie and Pretenders singles.

“Imagine this room is an ice rink and you’re all holding hands and singing along,” she hollers. It’s a small audience on a windy Tuesday night and nobody embraces yet, but as the crowd enthusiastically clap the beat of Next to You and cheer her back for more, she has every chance.