Nao runs rings around the competition at the O2 Academy Brixton

29 March 2019, 11:55 | Written by Thomas Harvey

(News)

(Kwabs) (Nao)

If you’ve seen R&B/electronic vocalist Nao live before, you’ll know that her voice sounds even better live than it does on record. Last night's show at the O2 Academy Brixton was no exception.

Opening with "Another Lifetime", the first single from her sophomore album Saturn, the crowd went into a frenzy as she appeared on a spot-lit balcony overlooking the audience.

“I want to take you on a journey tonight to another planet” she said, before discussing the meaning behind the album and how the orbit of Saturn signified a change in her adulthood.

As well as performing tracks from last year's album, including "Make It Out Alive" and "If You Ever", she also played tracks from her 2016 debut LP For All We Know, like "Get To Know Ya" and "Inhale/Exhale", all mixed in with a cover of D’Angelo’s "Brown Sugar".

Having once worked as a backing vocalist before pursuing her solo career, she brought that collaborative experience to bear as fellow Londoner Kwabs joined her on stage for a beautiful rendition of her album's eponymous duet, “Saturn”,

Closing with the trembling "Bad Blood", Nao reminded us of what makes the core of a live show; expert musicianship and peerless vocal ability (although the incredible backing dancers certainly didn't go amiss).

Nao will play her next series of shows this summer on 12 July at Somerset House in London, followed by a performance at The Ends Festival on the weekend of 31st May.