At Xanadu in Brooklyn– roller rink by day and music venue by night– Okay Kaya performed ahead of her latest album release Oh My God – That’s So Me. The show was filled with exciting sneak peeks into new songs, as well as the tried and true fan favorites.
Opening for Okay Kaya was Brooklyn-based The Nebulous Quartet, a string ensemble who use improvisation and the members’ varying backgrounds to create an innovative and unique sound. Made up of Claudius Agrippa and Fabienne Jean both on violin, Noah Leong on viola, and Kely Pinheiro on cello, each brings their own personal touch. The group has not released music yet, but mentioned plans of an EP as something to look forward to.
Kaya emerged, carrying a wind chime that she placed on the stage and rang to mark the beginning of her set. She encouraged a fan in the front row to reach out and ring the chime before she began. She welcomed The Nebulous Quartet back on stage to join her for “Undulation Days,” the second single released on the album. Her soft yet powerful voice blended seamlessly with the quartet’s gorgeous string arrangements. She continued to play unreleased songs, including “Picture This,” about the myth of Sisyphus “from the perspective of the rock.”
When it was time to sing the classics, the crowd was eager to join in. As she performed “Psych Ward” from the 2020 album Watch This Liquid Pour Itself, fans echoed back the lines “in the psych ward” which Kaya said warmed her heart. Her happiness was palpable, as she smiled and giggled through most of her songs. She was especially giggly during songs like “Dance Like U” with lyrics “Do you dance like you fuck? Or do you dance like you make love?” as she danced around the stage.
She shared a couple of covers with us, including a synthy version of “Believe” by Cher. She also did an electric guitar rendition of “Space Girl” by folk artist Shirley Collins who, according to Kaya, “does NOT like electric guitars.”
She closed out the set with a lively rendition of classic “Mother Nature’s Bitch,” having fun with the voice effects on her microphone. Despite incessant cheering from the crowd, she did not return for an encore– leaving us wanting so much more.