At first glance, a small affair at an exclusive Manhattan location with a tall talented blonde in platform boots could have been mistaken for a Fashion Week event.
But this event, hosted by Republic Records, was a celebration of Dagny’s new EP Ultraviolet, released earlier this month. Ultraviolet is an exceptionally fun, well crafted pop party which was reflected in live form during the short show at the mysterious Ludlow House on September 14.
In a venue that looked less like a house and more like a living room, Dagny shared some tunes from this recently released EP. Her vocals featured both a high pitched, yet well managed squeal and punctuated with a perfect Lady Gaga growl. It took a moment to get into the groove but by the time she hit “Fool’s Gold,” it was golden, dancing into the crowd and clapping along. By the time she launched into “Backbeat,” all the attendees had her back, moving and grooving, and ready to share a cocktail with her after the show. Speaking of having her back, Dagny’s back was all men, including a full band, and two guys who acted as manual curtain operators.
Among concert goers that were nodding heads, sipping wine, and tapping Converses, you couldn’t help but notice the air of awkwardness you might find at a middle school dance: A huge space between the stage the crowd (eventually addressed by Dagny through an invitation to come closer); the inner eagerness to dance but no one fully moving (eventually addressed by Dagny inviting people to dance), the music being just a little bit too loud and an invitation to check out filters on Snapchat.
But among it all, there seemed to be a mutual understanding: If Dagny can perform like this just 10 feet away from audience members in a mock living room, imagine what she can do with more.
