Nico Play Serenades Montreal at La Sotterranea

Last Thursday, bilingual singer-songwriter Nico Play played a short and sweet set at La Sotterranea. The intimate setting of the venue paired beautifully with the serene sounds of the artist’s music, where he performed on stage solo with an acoustic guitar. Not only did this make the show more personal and raw, but it emphasized his honeyed vocals and vulnerable lyrics. 

I discovered Nico Play while scrolling on TikTok. I stumbled upon a video in which he recorded himself playing his hit song “La Ciruela” in his room with his guitar. I rarely engage with musicians on the platform, but between his lyrics and his voice, I was put in a trance. Although I am not a Spanish speaker, Play conveys the emotion behind his lyrics in a way that makes them relatable universally. This proved to be especially true in the middle of his Thursday set when he professed his love for Montreal In his heartbreak ballad “Discoteca”. Nico stated that the song was inspired by a venue in the city that truly marked him. 

This show had a huge turnout for Montreal’s Latinx community, creating a sense of belonging and companionship. The ambience was warm, welcoming, and most of all harmonious. Many audience members knew every lyric to his relatively small discography, singing along, slow dancing to his ballads, and going as far as helping him when he forgot a line in one of his songs. However, Nico Play’s sound can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. His strumming patterns, passionate tone & delicate lyrics have a way of expressing love, heartbreak & the human experience personably.