What better way to spend a wintery Sunday night than listening to the melancholic lyrics and soothing ambient tones of Art School Girlfriend before you return to the chaotic realm of real-life? What a perfect way to reminisce on the idle weekend soon to be gone, before returning to a life of the library.
Walking down into the basement, known as the ‘Soup Kitchen’, I was a little apprehensive about the pretty-much empty state of the room. With support act, Roch moving onto the stage, the overwhelming silence somehow only seemed to grow. Nevertheless, the London artist soon overcame what seemed like an impossible challenge to fill the vacant space. Despite a constant struggle with several broken mic stands, Roch sent the crowd into reverie ready for the mesmerizing electropop wave that was soon to follow.
Support act complete, the venue began to fill slowly. The deep reverberated sounds of the 2018 single ‘Distance’ occupied the space as the ensemble decanted onto the stage. Absorbed by growing anticipation, singer Polly Mackey (Art School Girlfriend) lures the crowd in. She meticulously progresses through her setlist of soft, melancholic tracks – all radiating the Margate-musician’s ethereal presence.
Concluding the evening with one of her sprightlier and poignant songs ‘Moon’, Art School Girlfriend’s performance let your mind wander into a blissful sonic chasm. The silence was filled, and so were our heads.
Listen to Art School Girlfriend on Spotify and Apple Music. Get the latest edition of our print magazine HERE. Photos taken by Lucy Tibbs, you can find her Instagram HERE.
