Earlier this week, Sorcha Richardson delivered a stunning solo-set in Brooklyn.
There are many ways to describe singer-songwriter Sorcha Richardson. She is Irish but a Brooklyn dweller. She is a seasoned artist (forming her first band at only 10-years-old) although her tracks bear an unparalleled freshness. While she plays quiet, tender music, she bursts with energy in between songs. On Monday night, Richardson’s performance in The Knitting Factory was a testament to all of the above and more, including the artist’s shining talent and natural charisma.
Richardson began her solo-set without warning. Illuminated by blue stage-lights – the hue reminiscent of the cover for her single, “Petrol Station” – the artist walked on-stage, picked up her guitar and started playing. Sharing old and new tracks, Richardson sang of mixed-up emotions, drunken escapades, and travelling cross-country to catch up with old friends. The artist’s accent slipped into her vocals – mingling with her stories of life at home and abroad – distinguishing her songs from those covering familiar experiences of youth in the big city. Playful rhythms and plucky guitar riffs dominated throughout the performance, building a sound similar to Middle Kids or Hazel English.
Between each song, Richardson offered a little backstory to the next track. The narratives ranged from missed shows in Los Angeles and induced guilt-trips (the inspiration behind “Obvious”) to bottles of Captain Morgan and trans-Atlantic flights (a few encounters that resulted in “Ruin Your Night”). Richardson played and joked easily with audience members. She was clearly at home on-stage as she smiled at a few friends in the crowd, teased couples in the front row, and responded to audience members’ shouts of love and praise.
Richardson’s set ended as abruptly as it began. The sound engineer communicated that the artist’s set-time was up as she prepared to play a final track. Cue whines, like those from kids who want more time in the playground, from the audience. Each member chanted the engineer’s name and begged for one more song from Richardson.
This time, the audience did not receive their wish, and after Richardson thanked the crowd for coming out, she removed her guitar and slipped off-stage. The venue buzzed, the sound engineer set up for the next artist, and more than a few crowd members pulled out their phones to type “Sorcha Richardson” into search bars.
Sorcha Richardson’s music is on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp. Stay up-to-date with her new releases and upcoming gigs on her website.