Half Waif, AKA Nandi Rose, singer, songwriter, and producer, performed her entire album on a beautiful night in the open-air Pavilion Theater at PS21 Chathum's world-class stage and sound system. An eight-piece ensemble joined her. It was a moving experience.
Nandi incorporated thoughtful props and movement as metaphors to set the stage, letting the music unfold. The production captured the depths of hardship and grief while delivering a celebratory tone. So distinct was the music’s scaffolding excursion into the cycles of nature where death and rejuvenation act as one. The swirling array of electronic pop and orchestrated music collides with mirroring harmonies and instrumental details to capture the exuberant turmoils and solemn moments.
Although grief is a universal experience, it is a lonely individual process shouldering through the depths of sadness while still living and breathing. Nandi has brought it out of the shadows, striking a moving balance within an emotionally charged topic through her artistry.
The opener was Elori Saxl, an experimental electronic composer stationed at her mothership of synth and inputs while conducting her accompanists on violin and cello with brief head nods. Together, they amplified nature's violent and soothing sounds to create an unworldly noise experience.
