Tongue-tied, astounded, blown away—however you want to say it (and we shall try to say it many ways) it’s not easy to unite the crowd in silence. From powerhouse vocals, to mystifying melodies, we have rounded up 6 Sofar performances that leave us speechless. Turns out we do have some words…
1. AMY FITZ DOYLEY- HUMAN | SOFAR LEIPZIG
There is power to be found in the lone voice. In 2016, Amy Fitz Doyley clutched the crowd with her raw sound. There is intimacy in the silence behind her voice, and a unique bond between the eyes staring back in awe. Amy keeps herself grounded with one hit of a bell, and that’s enough to hypnotize the crowd.
2. CROOQ – WAY.VL1 | SOFAR GLASGOW
This five-piece hip-hop band delivered an honest groove over spoken word that you wouldn’t want to miss. It’s a stream of consciousness that we were lucky enough to witness.
3. KERENSA – SUNFLOWER | SOFAR BRISTOL
In July this year, we heard the otherworldly heights of Kerensa in Bristol. Along the same delicate lines of Kate Bush and FKA Twigs, Kerensa isn’t afraid to go where the vocal cords take her. As she takes off from the line “I will be your sunflower”, we can only watch with enchantment. A speechless state to say the least.
4. BASI VIBE – SUPER RICH RIDS (COVER) | SAN FRANCISCO
A Frank Ocean favorite that Basi really brings his own Vibe to (pardon the pun). There is effortless fluidity in his voice that really does leave us superbly tongue-tied. Basi claims a sense of ownership over the song that he confirms with his sassy clicks and flawless pitching. It’s a Basi Vibe.
5. MADISON MCFERRIN – NO TIME TO LOSE | SOFAR CHICAGO
This 2017 performance from Sofar alumni Madison McFerrin is just one of those moments that confirms a talent. There is something to be said for creating an entire band with only the range of your voice and the tap of your feet. With every step in her socks, we are able to witness Madison’s creative process from start to finish.
6. THUNDERSTORM ARTIS – WHEN MY TIME COMES AROUND | SOFAR HONOLULU
Our final Sofar is the lullaby of our list, taking us to Honolulu in Hawaii. Here you may be surprised that we struggle to find the words, but will let Thunderstorm Artis speak for himself. The performance is filled with intimacy and informality, which is why it feels so easy to be absorbed by Artis’ sound. His lyrics unfold with positivity yet his voice is heavy with emotion. It’s the golden hour of sunset after a busy day.
Words by Maeve Hannigan
Photo credit: Kerensa performing Sofar London, photo by Mohammed Khan
Looking for more performances to take your breath away? Check Sofar’s video page for the newly released videos.
