November 14, 2024

Yola played SOB's


Previewing her upcoming EP, Yola played an intimate, invite-only show at SOB's.

In September, Yola dropped "Future Enemies," her first piece of new music in three years. That wasn't always the plan, but after she got the call for a role on Broadway, she pushed back her upcoming EP to take a chance on a new opportunity. Now, with her Broadway debut under her belt, Yola has returned and is ready to get back on stage to play her own tunes. Dipping into her back catalogue, she warmed things up with her vibrant soul and melodic funk as she slowly unleashed her powerful vocals on a very welcoming audience. "I just flew in from London, so my voice is a shetland pony right now. A little hoarse" she told the crowd to a well-received round of laughter, but there wasn't a soul in the room who would've dared to say that anything about her vocal performance was off or in any way lacking. Belting out note after note and doing so with astounding control, she dazzled the room with her esteemed power and prowess, occasionally strapping on a guitar too as she expanded her technical chops. She commanded attention from the jump and whether she was strumming out a funkified melody or taking us to church, there was never a moment when your eyes weren't glued to her electric performance. Sparkling in a bedazzled jacket and bright pink hair, she herself was a statement piece on top of her own musical gown and she got to her new songs, she leaned in to her rocking sense of funk and mega-pop vocal works. The beats were solid and the synths added some elasticity to her already dynamic sound and shifted her towards new heights where she can really blow things out of the water. New tunes "Symphony," "My Way," and "Ready" were all top-notch and have taken the hype to new levels as we eagerly await this new collection of songs that she first displayed with the rock-leaning "Future Enemies." Taking on the surging pop of '80s power hits and adding her own layer of heavy funk and classic rock has shifted her sound into something even more exciting and uniquely her own. As she continues to build upon her own style and sound, it'll be hard to imagine her not getting the notice she so rightfully deserves and with such power and conviction from the stage, it's clear that Yola is ready for whatever comes her way.

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