An Ethereal Evening with Moonchild
- Madison Cozzens
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Review & Photos contributed by Madison Cozzens
Moonchild took The Agora stage in Cleveland on March 19th. The neo-soul band is taking their newest album, Waves, across North America showcasing their musical talents and local action groups.
From Chicago to Cleveland
The opener for the evening was Chicago local, Brittney Carter. The singer, rapper, and songwriter took to stage with her diary-like lyrics and jazzy beats. Armed with only a microphone and a laptop, Carter used her relatability to connect to the audience immediately. Her laid back vibe and introspective songs tap into something that everyone can relate to, using music as a way of getting through the hard times and feeling your way through life. Her latest EP, "blacksheep", touches on those themes and dives deeper with lyrics like, “But that’s just how the game goes. Made plenty errors and I know that Imma make more. But it’s the beauty in it all, the rise and the falls, ups and the downs…” Carter is a real up and coming talent, with her stage presence and approachability she will be one to watch.
Taking a Moment for the Community
Moonchild is passionate about social justice and likes to take action in the communities they visit. The group focuses on highlighting people and organizations that help black and brown communities who often cannot speak up for themselves. During their time in Cleveland, the band chose to feature Project Lift, a local organization that creates a safe space for black men and boys across all ages. The group’s goal is to uplift black men and provide them with resources, training, workshops, and tools to help them thrive. The organization’s founder, LaToya Logan, took the stage for a brief interview discussing their 10 year anniversary, their mission and goals for the year. The crowd was listening intently to the conversation, learning about how they could get involved and/or donate to the cause. Moonchild’s dedication to uplifting local voices and taking action is admirable. Taking a pause from the music to showcase important causes is not something you see everyday, though maybe we could get used to it.
To learn more about Project Lift, get involved or donate you can visit their website https://projectliftservices.org/ or give them a follow on instagram.
Moonchild’s Turn to Take the Stage
Moonchild took the stage at 9:15, arriving one by one, with lead singer Amber Navran making the final entrance. Navran came out in one of her unique outfits, a shiny monochrome blue look that made Navran feel like a bubble personified. The ensemble was fitting, matching her spirited on stage personality and the fun, celestial vibe of their music. Navran’s apparent joy coupled with her unique light and airy vocal performance make her a delight to watch. The group began their set with “Tell Him”, the first track off their Grammy nominated album, Starfruit. You can feel the compelling harmonies, production, and beats across all Moonchild’s discography. Their newest album Waves, takes inspiration from new-wave and synth which can be seen in their stage design art work. The new-wave atmosphere meld perfectly with the R&B and jazz elements of their music, making for a relaxing and soulful evening. Members of the crowd spent the night bobbing their heads to the beat, and feeling the music float through their body.
Moonchild is a unique group blending neo-soul, R&B, jazz, and electronic beats to create a complex sound and memorable experience. The group’s musical prowess could be seen before they even stepped foot on the stage as a clarinet, a flute, and multiple guitars, saxophones, keyboards, and horns adorned the scene. Moonchild consists of three core members; Amber Navran (lead vocals, flute, tenor saxophone, synthesizer, piano, drums), Max Bryk (piano, synthesizer, alto saxophone, clarinet, kalimba, drums), and Andris Mattson (piano, synthesizer, trumpet, flugelhorn, acoustic guitar, ukulele, drums). The three met at USC Thornton School of Music's Jazz Studies program, and started Moonchild in 2011. Their NPR Tiny Desk Concert was what brought them to the mainstream, showcasing their acoustic talents and voice for social justice
Halfway through the show, Navran welcomed Brittney Carter back onto the stage to rap in the song “Nothing to Prove”. Carter is featured on track 13 of Waves, a pleasant surprise for those who were new to the album. Moonchild’s lo-fi beats merge perfectly with Carter’s flow making it a match made in heaven. Mixing even more genres together to create something old school with new school elements. The group also played a surprise song, “Wan’t Me”, the Shaggy hit from 2000. Moonchild’s take on the song was new and refreshing, turning it into something entirely different. The audience grooved to the updated soulful twist of the hip hop classic. The band blends all of their elements together seamlessly, entrancing even those who had never heard of them before that evening. Moonchild showed us that sometimes it’s necessary to slow down and get introspective. Allowing ourselves the time and opportunity to feel ourselves through music.
Comments