RY X at Hammersmith Apollo
Where to begin reviewing an artist like RY X? The Australian-born, California-based singer returns to London as part of his world tour, 18 months after playing a candlelit show at St Paul’s Cathedral. This parallel image helps set the scene, as there is something serene and almost spiritual about this Friday night at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo. Accompanied by a string selection from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and dim-lit, smoky silhouettes alongside a simple draped cloth background, less is more as the performer manages to translate an intimate sound into a packed, 5,000+ room on a Friday night. For the most part, it may not be typically energetic, but there is a different kind of glowy atmosphere here.
In addition to the saxophone-playing support act Laura Misch, there is another tour warm-up act in the form of a pre-show meditation session led by the artist himself, should fans be fortunate enough to purchase a ticket. Unsurprisingly, then, the same presence and stillness is the backbone of the performance itself and much of the set is deeply mellow…almost hypnotic. Calming songs like Sweat and Salt help introduce the tone, but there’s instant crowd reaction at YaYaYa and, later on, eerie silence during a captivating falsetto-filled Berlin. There is something about the almost-haunting live performance and production that elevates every track from record to room.
Every few songs, a recognisable guitar riff leads to a crowd eruption of cheers. There’s an opportunity for new music too, which the singer describes as “vulnerable”. Before launching into the recently-released Tell Me, he explains that “new songs are like the sharing of a diary”. And even without much audience conversation, pretty much every track on the setlist seems to feel deeply personal. There’s also a notable water-themed section with blue lights and wavy projections accompanying Oceans, Shortline and The Water. The latter is a particularly immersive live experience with a droplet drumbeat and further electric drop. It’s here, towards the end of the night, that the band successfully switches gears into a trancelike dance set, complete with cascading synths and loops, flashing lights and swaying dance before hitting a powerful reset and stripping it right back to a quiet, acoustic conclusion culminating with fan-favourite Only.
Above all, with the synth production, live band and stunning orchestral strings, it’s a masterclass in musical layering. Repetitive minimalism is magnetic and lush, layered soundscapes take hold alongside the soulful, ethereal vocals. “Thank you for the trust and love I feel from you,” the singer-songwriter tells the audience. Judging by the reception, it’d be easy to say that the feeling is mutual.
Bev Lung
Photos: Guifre de Peray
For further information and future events visit RY X’s website here.
Watch the video for the single You here:
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