Narc. Magazine Online
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Erin Jones witnesses two artists breathing fresh life into Northern neo-soul
Image: Nyah Grace by Victoria Wai
Newgate Social: the only live music destination in town where club lamps become sentient, and theatrical jazz, soul and confessional R’n’B are shaken into a delightful cocktail of two delicious rising stars in the world of neo-soul.
Rivkala is our aperitif; serving up a serious sight to behold in her cabaret-inspired drag, coolly sipping straights on stage in between her biting, brutally honest and toe-curling commentary concerning the advances of a certain gentleman sleaze, and the thrilling tease of friskier, more stirring hits to follow in the wake of her debut EP.
Our self- proclaimed ‘showgirl, storyteller, spinster’ promises drama, and drama she certainly dishes up. From cabaret to burlesque; Rivkala peels back her oversized suit jacket to deliver a flamboyant performance of both classy and ruthless lyrical genius.
Rivkala doesn’t just sing; she becomes the very music soundtracking her twisted world of the Crushed Velvet cabaret bar. With every smooth, smoky trumpet flutter to each feathering drum pulse, she sways with elegance, and jives with a bold attitude accompanying her sharp wit and charming playfulness.
If Rivkala is our tipple on the rocks, Nyah Grace is our indulgent hot shot of espresso. Shifting the set from spectacle to intimacy, Nyah Grace strips back her set to deliver her bespoke brand of golden-hour, Lauren Hill-esque, mellow R’n’B.
For this Newcastle newcomer, Back of the Cab is an instant crowd pleaser; a timeless sound with a modern edge providing the perfect tempo to lay back, unwind and devour every drop of these honey-sweet, sun-soaked vocals late into the night.
Where Rivkala ravishes the glitz and glamour of 1930s cabaret, Nyah Grace enchants with the golden age of swinging sixties soul. An ageless rendition of Daydreaming pays homage to the late great Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, and we are dazzled by the purity, passion and power rooted in Nyah’s raw melodies.
A night of reminiscing the relics of a bygone era, while celebrating two fresh artists taking ascent in a new era of northern neo-soul; Newgate Social’s Independent Venue Week gig marked the perfect ending to a week of championing vibrant and diverse voices.
