So Below, Auckland NZ, 2016

So Below
23rd December 2016
REC, Auckland, New Zealand

Review and Photography by Sarah Kidd.

Every so often an artist comes along that you just know from the first track is something special. So Below is just such an artist.

So Below (aka Madeline North) cuts a quiet path to the stage. For this live set she is joined by Jesse Wood of The Naked and Famous and Aaron Short – who along with Sam McCarthy of Kids of 88 and Leroy Clampitt of Taste Nasa produced So Below’s self-titled EP.

Lighting is kept to the absolute bare minimum for the set, instantly setting the mood for the evening. Madeline is dressed in a simple but striking long black blouse, and boots. Her keyboard is turned sideways to face not the audience but across from Aaron Short. As the first notes echo throughout the venue – it is clear to see that anyone in the room who had not heard So Below before are immediately drawn to her. They swiftly move towards the front of the stage and almost as one, begin to move with the music.

‘Far’ with its trippy beats and dark lyrics (be sure to check out the recently released music video) perfectly show cases So Below’s vocal abilities to move easily into a higher register, adding an ethereal overtone to the track which works perfectly with the beautiful synth music. Madeline moves effortlessly between playing the keyboards and singing, often completely immersing herself emotionally in the music. ‘Sleep’ is a haunting track, with the opening lines again sung in a high register. The audience momentarily cease moving as Madeline’s voice mesmerises them, the beat then dropping in and electrically charging them, everyone moving rhythmically in time as the chorus soars out across the room. While the music speaks for itself, the addition of Jesse Woods on the drums gave the rhythm section of the songs that extra intensity required for a live set.

Stand out track of the night was definitely ‘Drift’, the evocative lyrics resonating with anyone in the audience who has ever felt so strongly for someone that every fibre of their being yearns to bear its soul. It is not surprising that the track has already had over 90,000 plays on Soundcloud – as it is one of those songs that will stay with you long after you have heard it.

While the set consisted of only a handful of songs from So Below’s self-titled EP, each and every one easily held its own. So Below is currently working on a full length album and will without a doubt be the act to watch in 2017.

Were you there at REC to witness this amazing show? Or have you seen So Below somewhere else? Tell me about it in the comments below!

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