Diary of Soul Search: Day Two

So I let two weeks slip by, unintentionally of course. However, Remedy at Oh! Bar is still fresh in my mind.

Situated in a cozy bar in between Camden and Chalk Farm, when I arrived the air was ready for an evening of lyrical creativity and blissful beats. The mood was set as red and orange lights dusted the walls and an array of mahogany tables and sofas were scattered around the room. A live band chimed in the background setting the scene for the night to come, while a small crowd of scarf-wearers and lock-sporters alike milled about in anticipation. Already I was pleased with the atmosphere – one that seemed ready to rep UK soul.

My friend and I sat at a small table awaiting the first act. The main show would not start till 9pm, but the band was there to entertain until then. There was a young sax player to the left of the stage with long curly hair tied up in a ponytail. He reminded me of a video clip I saw a few weeks earlier of a solo saxophonist performing on an American late-night chat show. Man, was he good! He had so much charisma and talent that he left me, as well as his audience, in complete and utter awe. I hoped that the sax player tonight would get a chance to take a solo spot and leave us with the same amount of reverence.

Slowly more people arrived, making their way to the front of the humble stage at the back of the bar. There were Remedy t-shirts displayed on the walls, and smiling promoters left their flyers representing other soul-filled nights at each table.

I’m always pleasantly surprised at the family-feel of events such as these. We are, after all, here to share a common passion, yet the amount of smiles and hellos always catch me off-guard. Everyone held a warm and welcoming attitude appearing truly happy to be amongst like-minded individuals.

After an hour or so, the room was sufficiently filled and the young sax player took centre stage to present the night. First up was a petite white girl by the name of Melody. Her music was a little different to the typical soul tune. Slightly scatty and funky, her sound had more bite than the previous slow vibe of the band, which was a refreshing start. I continually question why ‘soul’ seems to hold the convention of slow, lazy music. As time progresses shouldn’t our music follow suit? Why is it that hip-hop can evolve and incorporate usual sounds yet be just as substantial as lyricism-focused rap was in the ‘90s? Take Lupe Fiasco, deemed ‘hip-hop’s Generation Next vanguard’ by music journalist Henry Adaso. His creative lyricism combined with unique beats makes for an invigorating direction for hip-hop to take. Therefore, shouldn’t soul music be allowed to take on an alternative form and still garner the same respect and devotion from dedicated lovers? My answer is yes, soul should. Heck, if John Legend can change up his style then that proves soul music is in need of a fresh stance.

As the crowd stood to watch Melody, some routinely bobbing their heads, others still as statues, I slowly became aware that this was not so much a showcase of Melody’s lyrical talents, but rather an extended ‘jam session’. Okay, I thought, so we get to see her vibe – that’s cool. A good icebreaker to the evening. Looking forward to hearing some creative context from the following performer. That is, after all, what I’m here for.

Next up was Sarinah Leah, decked out in scarf and all. She was laid-back with her performance – sweet, all smiles and light and breezy, with an air of quiet confidence about her. When she spoke to introduce each song her calm and collected demeanor reminded me of Natalie ‘The Floacist’ Stewart from UK’s own Floetry. Her music was smooth and mellow, and got a good response from the audience. One song that stood out to me was called ‘Time Will Tell’. More thought provoking than the others; it was her only song that had meaning within its lyrics.

Following Sarinah was an energetic songstress called Kaana Ellie. With heavy elements of up-tempo jazz she woke the crowd and stunned us with her lively performance. I immediately liked her swagger. She had passion. Fire. But lyrics that didn’t really mean anything. Rather, sentences repeated over and over again, with varying degrees of pitch and expressionism. Entertaining but safe.

Overall the night was enjoyable, yet I couldn’t stop from feeling a little disappointed by the lack of lyrical substance each performance had to offer. Yes, they could all sing. And yes, the music was playful and melodic. But I didn’t feel as though they had very much to say, and I’m searching for music with content, something that sits a little out of the comfort of conventional soul music. Of course I commend the talent that performed, and am pleased to have such artists repping UK soul. However, it is evident that my search for ‘soul’ is just at the beginning, but I’m sure with a little deeper digging I’ll be sure to find London’s own vanguards to soul’s Generation Next.