Like many times before in its history our nation’s capital relocated again. To Miami, this time, for one night as ZeyZey played host to an all-encompassing Washington D.C. cultural display.
The event, hosted by Sofar Sounds and Afar Media, represented D.C. through food, drinks, history and musical performances that made one see the city in a different light.
You got a taste of the mambo sauce that D.C. natives rave about, you got a taste of the gin that the performers so passionately loved and most importantly you felt the soul of the city really come through during performances from Cecily and Oh He Dead, two artists native to the area.
Having hundreds of live music experiences under my belt, the performances from the two provided the intimate connection that I’ve always loved about music. There was an honest love for the city that raised her from Cecily that you heard in her performance that featured some of her originals along with some soul classics by artists from the area, while providing context and history into the D.C. music scene. Her performance was infatuating and packed with a side of the city that I was unfamiliar with.
To close out the night we were treated to Oh He Dead bringing a different and energetic side of our capital, captivating the audience with some D.C. style funk and R&B. This performance radiated an energy that I wasn’t aware the R&B scene brought. The band, led by lead singer CJ Johnson, took us on a dive down their discography that will make you dance, cry, sing along and even give them a follow on Spotify because they got “Is It My Love” stuck in your head. The Oh He Dead experience was powerful and emotional, and I greatly appreciated getting to see two distinct sides of D.C from them and Cecily.
The biggest takeaway from DC Sounds in Miami was that taking some time to visit the city itself might be on the agenda for this year, but also that one of the most unique ways to experience a region’s culture is through music from those that are really proud to represent their home. That was the general feeling from those who organized the event, that Washington D.C. is a city with a rich culture that its native are proud to put on display.