In the third floor apartment of a building located in Chinatown. Around fifty people gather to experience a night of music organized by Sofar Sounds Boston. The apartment has dim lighting and there are multiple tapestries on the floor where the audience sits. At the back of the apartment, a small space with a couple of white lamps hanging on top of it has been designated as the stage. Guests bring their own drinks and snacks and enjoy them as they wait for the show to begin.
Sofar Sounds is well known around the world for their secret and intimate shows. The mission of this organization is to connect up-and-coming artists with new fans through live music. This movement was founded in the year 2009 in the United Kingdom and through the years has reached around 400 cities around the world, Boston being one of them. All Sofar shows are headlined by three acts; no openers, only main acts.
The mystery and secrecy surrounding the concerts hosted by Sofar is one of the main reasons why people are so drawn to this experience. Not only are you notified about the location thirty-six hours before the concert, but you also walk into the venue without knowing which artists you are about to watch perform. It feels a little like opening one of those chocolate eggs with a surprise inside, and just hoping you get something good.
The night I attended Sofar Boston, the three acts performing were, Ultramarine Hour, Trinity Mei, and Fifteen0eight. Ultramarine Hour opens the night with their soulful, alternative melodies. Between songs, the artist shares with the crowd the origin and thought process behind some of his songs. During his last songs, the artist brings his friend Alex Lorraine to share the stage with him.
Next in line is Trinity Mei, the singer/songwriter who is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. The relatable lyrics in her songs as well as the indie/pop sound make her songs stand out. The singer also surprises us with an acoustic version of the song “Baby” by “Justin Bieber” at the end of her set. Trinity Mei is accompanied on the stage by Sho Humphries, on the ukulele, and James Fall, on the guitar.
The last act is composed by Tomer Oron and Daphne Eleftheriadou. They named the duo after the studio in which they wrote and recorded most of their songs together, Fifteen0eight. During their performance, they utilized a looper to create the base sound for their songs. Additionally, the duo invited their friend Keef Erglenshaw to complement some of the songs with his cello. Fifteen0eight presented us with an emotional performance that pushes the barriers of music genres. These two Berklee students are on a mission to make music that makes people feel something.
In between performances there are ten to fifteen-minute intermissions. During this time, the crowd has the opportunity to chat with the artists that are headlining the night and get to know a little more about their stories. As the night came to an end, the MC for the night thanked everyone for attending. Guests are encouraged to follow up with the artists through social media and to check out the shows that Sofar has in store for the next months.
In a time where music exploration happens mostly online, being surprised by new music from within our own community is a very refreshing experience. These shows are a great way to redirect our attention to the art that is closest to us. If you are a student of music or have plans to pursue music as a career, Sofar is also a good place to start. The living room set up allows new artists to feel a sense of comfortability as they transition to bigger stages. As always, music serves us as a catalyst for connection and forming community. Sofar understands this and has created spaces that enhance this experience.
CATCH THE NEXT SOFAR TOUR HERE!
