Sudan Archives: The BPM is Power!

As I neared Studio TD on Saturday night, slightly dejected by the temperature being minus twenty with the windchill (and reaping the consequence of my mediocre layering), I was met with a glowing sign which displayed “Sudan Archives se soir a 18:00h”. Underneath, a line wrapping around the block of people bundled up, like me, trying to shield themselves from the absurd temperature. However, there was a distinct anticipation and excitement radiating from the groups who waited in line to enter the venue. I was in the right place tonight. The 30% of my mood that told me it was too cold to be outside rapidly shifted as I realized I was in for a ridiculously fun, entertaining, and energetic show. My expectations were, of course, met (no surprise there), though her set far exceeded every single assumption I had made about what a dance music concert could be. 

The lights dimmed, and the crowd quieted in a way that I have never witnessed at a show. Soft nature sounds–--a bird chirping, insects chattering, wind blowing—began to play, and a green panel of lights, which stretched across the back wall of the stage, breathed on and off slowly revealing and concealing a circular platform in the middle of the stage (which an audience member would later be invited to dance on during the song “A BUG’S LIFE”). In the light, the audience could see wires hanging off the equipment onstage, her keyboard, drummachine, and a computer that looked like a decorative piece, used to pay homage to the Y2K retrofuturist aesthetic; later revealed to be a functional part of her setup. Finally, she emerged onstage, slithering like a snake with a look of awe, wonder, and confusion on her face. She was fully in character, and she didn’t waver from it for the entire show. Through her theatrics, she invited the audience to visually experience, revel, and live in the world she’s created in her latest album, THE BPM. A world that perfectly marries nature and modern technology, expressed through her character, who embodies a sort of crossroads between warrior, alien, goddess, and humanoid android.  

She wore white contacts and a green bodycon outfit, with a brown harness that held her bow and violin, which struck me as a nod to Zelda. She was playful with how she shared her ethos with the audience, namely, using a sound bite of a sword slice each time she pulled her bow from its carrier, solidifying the fierce “warrior” vibe she portrayed. She began the set with the track “DEAD,” which is not only the first track of the record but effectively, through the lyrics, bittersweet melody, and high BPM, drew us into her world. As the beat swelled, the crowd began to shout, holler, and most importantly, dance. Her stage presence was captivating. She knew exactly how to move and control the audience despite not speaking much between her songs—save for when she charmingly exclaimed, “I HOPE Y’ALL ARE TURNING UP TONIGHT CAUSE IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY!”--- She was able to create an atmosphere where people felt free to dance, clap, and shout, which seems to be a difficult feat nowadays. I think it was this very lack of interruption that made the audience fully surrender to her performance.

Her violin clung to her body, almost becoming another appendage to aid in her storytelling, and she used it with an ease that made you forget that it is one of the most challenging instruments to master. It was amazing to see a performer rely on their intuition on stage; it showcased her deep understanding of and trust in her artistic vision and led to some very cool modified versions of songs I’ve come to know and love. Most notably for me, “COMPUTER LOVE”. 

My heart fluttered when she played the song “NBPQ (Topless)” off her sophomore album Natural Brown Prom Queen, mostly because that album pretty much ruled my entire year in 2022. She didn’t play many songs from this album, only a few that aligned with the journey she was taking us on. The show was pure fun, with profound intent. The final words she spoke to the audience were, “The BMP is power,” which is the sort of motto for this tour. BPM not only refers to a beating heart, but in the context of this album, which is chock-full of fast dance tracks, is a reminder of what it means to be alive. A reminder that we can hone our power through enjoying ourselves; feeling, laughing, dancing, and embracing the community found through experiencing these human things. As I left the venue, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face; my prior distaste for the cold weather didn’t bother me anymore. 

Zoe is the host of Something For the Mood, on air Wednesdays 2-3 pm