It is already known that in the night barracks of Sónar, instead of soldiers, what abounds are lovers of rhythm, like the one who dominates its main track, the SonarClub, in which the British-Canadian Richie Hawtin, pioneer, had a special place reserved techno legend and a festival regular who has starred in great evenings, either under his name or under the pseudonym Plastikman. On this occasion he came to premiere his new ‘live show’ called “DEX EFX XOX”, an immersive sound and lighting experience, more of a club than a concert, that allows him to explore improvisation. This show has only been seen at the Movement festival in Detroit, last May, and now at Sónar. Based on concepts from his “Decks, EFX & 909” compilation series, he focuses on an almost zen-like minimalism that pushes the crowd into a state of pure ecstasy.
But the first night of Sónar had other attractions, such as the Londoner Jessie Ware, a singer and songwriter who came to present her fifth album “That! Feels Good!”, a compendium of sophisticated pop with clear influences from disco and funk. Although more than a revival of her, her music has a contemporary halo, which winks at ‘Italo disco’ and baroque soul, although avoiding being turned into a new Adele. Its melodies and choruses are bomb-proof and are also served by a powerful voice and a group that includes two musicians, two backup singers and two dancers. Become a 21st century disco music diva who avoids clichés, many of her devoted followers are part of the LGBTQ+ community, so it is not surprising that her celebrated anthem “Pearls” has been remixed by the Brazilian Pabllo Vittar and that in The stage is also surrounded by other drag queens, helping her to highlight the awareness anthem “Beautiful people” and also the grand finale of the concert with “Free yourself.” And to finish making herself loved by the large audience on the SonarPub stage, she performed with a version of the famous “Believe” by Cher. It is clear that having opened for Harry Styles gave her enough confidence to become the convincing artist she is today, in full maturity at 40 years old, capable of shining at an electronic music festival, of serving as a jury in ‘ talent shows’ or serving as a UNICEF ambassador. And her next date is at Glastonbury, the festival of festivals
Kaytrada, with their third album Timeless
Another expected performance was that of Kaytranada, Canadian producer, rapper, singer and DJ of Haitian origin, real name Louis Kevin Celestin. He came to present his brand new third album “Timeless”, released just last week, a sophisticated compendium of soul, R&B, hip hop and electronica, in which he surrounds himself with a select and large list of collaborators, including R&B stars such as Tinashe and Ravyn Lenae, Canadian colleagues Charlotte Day Wilson and Rochelle Jordan and other female voices such as Dawn Richards and PinkPantheress. The male cast of ‘featurings’ is not far behind with big names like Thundercat, Childish Gambino, Anderson .Paak, Don Tolwer or Channel Tres. None of them were physically present, but their voices did sound canned in a show in which they served as DJ, surrounded by an impressive show of projections and lights, in a session that began very techno, with bass that hit the body of merciless manner. Little by little the performance became more melodic, without leaving aside the electronic accent, but incorporating silky female voices in R&B and soul key, hip hop phrasings and the most varied ‘break beats’, in a ‘show’ that It was a collage of abstract sounds and also a sample of groove, in a dazzling and synchronized audiovisual montage in which six screens in the shape of rectangular cubes stood out, which were illuminated in a thousand ways, whether converted into rooms, an exhibition of paintings or butterflies. fluttering, helping to give truth to the title “Timeless” of the album.
The performance by La Goony Chonga, the stage name of Kasey Rose Avalos, a Cuban-American singer from Miami who came to present her latest album “Goonyverso” on the charming SonarCar stage, was very fun, accompanied by a DJ and a sextet of body dancers. little normative. From the initial “Excuse me (hello)” he already makes it clear that his thing is perreo, although he not only lives off reggaeton, since he also strays into trap and other more techno-tinged rhythms, all served with walk-through choreographies. house and colorful protections, in a hilarious show in which she plays at being a ‘bad bitch’, in risqué lyrics like “Que te gusta”, in which she repeats “tell me what you like/I’ll do it to you” . It is, in short, and as other titles say, “The download” and “The pachanga” from someone from “Another planet”: the “Chongalicious Goonyverse”.
Maricel Chavarria
