Yaya Bey: A Night of Soulful Bliss
In a recent moment of musical brilliance, Yaya Bey graced the stage at SOB’s, weaving an enchanting tapestry of R&B, soul, and jazz that left the audience grooving to the rhythm and her rich voice. The venue hummed with anticipation during the first two openers—Exaktly and Rahrah Gabor—as fans eagerly awaited a night of sonic transcendence, and Bey delivered nothing short of a musical odyssey.
Bey’s genre-defying music, a seamless fusion of soulful melodies and evocative lyrics, served as the heartbeat of the night, resonating with a diverse audience hungry for an intimate connection with the artist. She opened with “sorry i unfollowed you” and her lyrics, doused in personal experiences and societal reflections, turned the venue into a home of emotion and contemplation.
“I never been loved before without conditions,” Bey sang out. “I never did learn to trust my intuition.”
Bey, a New York native from Jamaica, Queens, moved to DC at 18 to explore her creative and political self. Her dad, Grand Daddy I.U., was a ’90s rapper, and by age nine, she was writing hooks for her dad’s beats, inspired by Mary J. Blige and JAY-Z. In D.C., Bey found work in museums and libraries and became involved with poetry and protests. Her 2016 debut, The Many Alter – Egos of Trill’eta Brown, received heavy praise and led to more impressive works, like 2020’s Madison Tapes album and the 2021 ‘The Things I Can’t Take With Me EP, appearing in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NPR.
Taking the stage with an air of effortless cool in a bright red dress, Yaya Bey immediately established a profound connection with the audience. She joked and gabbed like we were her friends, making the performance incredibly intimate. Her stage presence was a testament to her confidence and authenticity, mirroring the sincerity of her musical style. The concert unfolded as a journey through the corridors of her soul, with each song revealing a poignant chapter in her evolving narrative.
A standout feature of the evening was Bey’s versatility. She effortlessly navigated between upbeat, groove-inducing tracks like “on the pisces moon” and “meet me in brooklyn” to soul-stirring ballads like “the evidence,” showcasing the full spectrum of her artistry. The audience swayed to the rhythmic beats of tracks like “Sun,” while slower, more introspective moments allowed for collective introspection on the profound themes woven into her music.
What truly set this Yaya Bey concert apart was the artist’s ability to foster an intimate connection with her audience. Between songs, she talked to the audience about her expectations of us. She discussed having a mostly white audience and how, though she may not know why, she expects them to respect her, her music, and her people.
“You will die too,” Bey said while talking about the white population’s role in activism. She advocated for not staying silent and advocating for Black and brown people. This transparency not only deepened the emotional resonance of each song but also created a sense of camaraderie between artist and fan, making the evening feel like an exclusive glimpse into the inner workings of Yaya Bey’s musical universe.
Yaya Bey left the audience with a lingering sense of awe. The concert did not disappoint compared to her records, even further cementing her status as an artist to watch. The echoes of her performance lingered in the air long after the final notes faded away, leaving the audience with a profound appreciation for her artistry—a musical visionary leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of contemporary sound.