3 Reasons You Should See Kiri T Live


Kiri T is an electro-soul-pop artist I discovered very recently – like in the past few months – and after checking out a few of her songs, and loving what I heard, I wanted to see her live.

I have a thing for really good electro-soul-pop. Musically, it can go in any number of different directions, and I was interested in seeing where Kiri T takes the genre.

Two weeks ago she had a show at the penthouse of The Standard Hotel in the LES, and I left that show with an appreciation for Kiri T, and her music. Want to know why? Check out my three reasons you should see Kiri T live.

1. She can create a wide variety of vibes

Even with just a half hour set, Kiri T managed to span an impressive musical gamut.

Starting slow, with some ballads and covers – and showing proficiency using multiple instruments, including a keyboard, and guitar – she gradually picked up the pace, first moving to a more downtempo vibe with an original song (I think the title was “Strangers”) that could easily fit into any playlist that features Portishead, and then going into her electro-soul-pop singles “Rearview Mirror” and “Better.”

Tempo-wise it was almost like she was a driver gradually putting her foot down on the gas pedal until reaching her top speed. She then took her foot off the gas, and slowed it back down to bring everyone home with another original song, “Rolling Deep in the Fields.”

2. She covers her influences

Kiri T doesn’t cover songs simply because she thinks she’ll sound good singing them. She covers songs because she has respect for the artist, and counts them as an influence (and she’ll sound good singing their songs).

She reminded us of her influences when covering two of SZA’s songs, noting that SZA is one of her favorite artists at the moment.

She also covered Lorde’s “Writer in the Dark” (as an aside, the whole “bet you rue the day you kissed a writer in the dark” is a killer lyric, but it certainly isn’t going to do any wonders for my love life).

3. You’ll be getting in on the ground floor

This show was at a penthouse venue, but when it comes to Kiri T, if you see her now you’ll be getting in on the ground floor of what will undoubtedly be an exciting career.

This was only her second show since arriving in the city – her journey has taken her from Hong Kong, to Boston (Berklee College of Music), to Nashville, to NYC – so check her out now, and when she ends up all over Top 40 radio you’ll be able to say you knew about her first.

Hey, bragging rights are fun!


To find out when, and where, Kiri T will be performing next, check out her Facebook page for show dates.

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