By Marisse Cato
This week’s spotlight comes in the form of an event review. Composer, singer-songwriter, poet and dancer Chisara Agor’s (she/they) headline show at Roundhouse was a real treat. The award-winning multidisciplinary artist is philosophically guided, creating poignant works that inspire reflection, conversation, and critical inquiry. Beautifully curated from start to finish with visuals, the show featured an expanded band and dramatic cross-lit spotlights
providing an utterly unique energy to the community in that room.
Preceded by her multipiece band, Chisara enters adorned in cropped suit jacket outfit, decorated with turquoise threads and complemented by the same shade eye shadow. Two pins placed next to the lapel; Buddha and the West African Adinkra Symbol “Gye Nyame” which loosely translates to “Only God”. This meld of influences and reference points set the tone for the misty stage and energised band of guitars, kit, keys, extended percussion and string players. Fluid head flicks interspersed with brief moments of voguing and reggae-style grooving complemented Agor’s quick lyrical flow, guiding us through sonic worlds of questioning and recreation.
Hailing from Peckham, South London, her song “Dream State” is a beautiful meld of meditative finger picking folk style guitar, a smooth Sade X Florence (+ the machine) vocal with magical chords changes and decorative percussion rolls. Starting somewhere earthly, the song moves into a higher place before its afro-jazz style kit patterns enter. Chisara’s vocals echo over eachother and the rhythms of dances danced over and over again move through this envisioned future.
Drawing inspiration from icon of futuristic music, Agor treated us to an incredible cover of the Bowie track “Girl Loves Me” from Black Star. Distorted bass guitar vibrated through bodies and head banged in unison. Chisara’s white heeled boots stomping, and back-lit afro faux-hawk emulated the originator’s silhouette. The psychedelic electro-pop sound rocked the room, seamlessly incorporated into the programme by insistent high-life style cow bell and temple blocks from percussionist Mawulikplimi Dossavi. This afro-futurist versioning extended into the interval. Visuals from Agor’s film project she completed “Nocturnal Sun”
with Britten Pears Arts last year at the Roundhouse combined Igbo mythology and sci-fi, exploring human connection with each other, the cosmos and nature.
Agor’s handle on staple references of genres positions her audience between worlds, that very human condition of inbetweenness. There’s something familiar to latch on to whether it’s a heavy off beat rocksteady guitar sound, quick syncopated bongos, lilting electric guitar, smooth cinematic strings, a musical theatre belt. All of these elements are seamlessly integrated into songs with poetic lyrics and masterful arrangement. It sounds like there’s a lot going on. And there is. But in a way that gives everyone something to guide them through the song’s journey. The whole room is skanking. There isn’t one person left behind.
Check out our “Weekly Picks” playlist on Spotify for Chisara’s music among others. Keep up to date with Chisara’s work on her socials and sign up to her newsletter to ask her questions directly on her website.
Website: www.chisaraagor.com
Instagram: @chisara_
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