Scattered within my various daytime, autumn, and study playlists lies the artist Sarah Kinsley. Although I recognized her titles, could hum her melodies by heart, and admired her singles’ elegant artwork, I had never listened to Kinsley’s entire discography until recently. That is until the release of her first full album: Escaper. The alt pop artist mixes classical orchestration, imaginative anecdotes, and passionate vocals to create a rich musical experience. Upon announcement of the album’s tour, I just knew I had to attend.
When I arrived at The Troubadour, a venue that I have become quite familiar with over this last year, I made my way through a line of eager fans wrapped around the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard. At 7 p.m., the venue doors opened to a stream of teens and young adults flooding into the intimate space, determined to score the best view.
After approximately an hour of standing my ground near the front of the stage, Alix Page, the night’s opener, emerged as the lights dimmed. I immediately recognized her short, wispy haircut. While a few years older than me, I actually attended the same arts high school as Page, which felt like a true full circle moment for me as I watched her stand before the crowd! With a studio-strong and clear, yet soft tone reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers, Page’s voice filled the room. She sang relatable narratives and alternated between chord base notes and gentle strumming. Musician, Andrew Pham (also from my high school), slid along the electric guitar behind her. Well known songs such as “Radiohead” and “25” became crowd singalongs, and to those who were unfamiliar, new favorites. As Page closed her set, she left everyone wanting more.
Not long after, the drums boomed to “Lovegod” as Sarah Kinsley descended the side stage stairs with purple lights illuminating her charcoal dress and wide grin. With her enchanting presence, the audience was captivated at first glance. Her whimsical serenading and graceful twirls resulted in a memorable opening to what would become a magical concert experience.
My personal favorite song, “Karma,” was fourth in the set and hearing it live surely did not disappoint. Following was “Glint,” a song filled with conversational recollections and intricate instrumentation. With melodic piano lines, an underscore of strings, smooth drums, and affectionate lyrics, I easily visualized a montage scene in a coming of age film to the song.
Throughout the night, Kinsley’s vocals were crisp and almost identical to her studio recordings, but elevated by a sense of live excitement. During held-out notes, her voice fluttered, bringing warmth to the seemingly sad tunes. Considering the range of her music and how vocally challenging hits such as “Escaper” can be, her vocal consistency and strength were truly astounding. After revealing that she is a producer herself, her artistry became even more impressive. Following turns on both the electric guitar and keys, Kinsley brought her beloved contact mic, what appears as a small voice filter, to her mouth. During instrumental breaks, she would use the mic to serenade the audience, leaving siren-like echoes to majestically travel throughout the room.
The stark contrast between her legato sways to hair-flipping turns embodied her lovable persona. Just like the images on her album covers, Kinsley danced like nobody’s watching, like a free spirit. As she reached out to the crowd and floated about the space, her theatrical performance perfectly suited the music. With movement so inviting, the crowd quickly joined in. Not only is Sarah Kinsley a beautifully talented musician, she is clearly a performer at heart.
Kinsley’s performance noticeably stood out from past shows I’ve attended for her endearing personality in addition to obvious talent. Her gentle, sweet voice created a peaceful and trusting bond between her and the tightly packed crowd. As she shared anecdotes from her process of learning production, her first album, and wishing to marry a friend, her musical journey was both relatable and inspiring. I observed a genuine level of mutual respect between the artist and audience, demonstrated by her tradeoff for a fanmade bracelet.
Reflecting the themes of fate and destiny present in her EP Cypress, Sarah Kinsley proclaimed that “fate will be in your hands” as she allowed the audience to vote on the next song of the night. While there was an abundance of passion for each option, the crowd enthusiastically settled on “Hills of Fire,” followed by “Sublime,” and an ethereal cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries.
As the encore approached, an instantly identifiable circle of keys rang through the air. Excitement built as the popular song, “The King” blessed our ears. Promptly after, “Oh No Darling!” closed out the night with a thunderous applause and roaring cheers from each and every spectator. As Kinsley grabbed her band’s hands and bowed graciously, an overwhelming sense of fulfillment was shared between both the stage and floor. The acclaim didn’t end there; as I squeezed my way out of the tiny theater and back onto Santa Monica Boulevard to await my Uber, I overheard several compliments from each person that passed. Clearly, I was not alone in my unforgettable night with Sarah Kinsley.
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