Monday nights aren’t particularly known for their excitement, but at Baby’s All Right the crowd that gathered for a secret performance by Sarah Kinsley was buzzing with it.
Braving one of November’s first truly cold evenings, fans were lined up early. Following the release of new single “Fleeting,” IT’S ONLY FLEETING: THE SECRET SHOWS were announced a few weeks ago, so fans were excited to hear her new song live.
Little did they know that Sarah Kinsley had a little more than one new song up her sleeve: she had five. The secret show’s purpose wasn’t just to celebrate the release of “Fleeting,” but also to share the news of her upcoming EP of the same name. Along with exclusive first listens of each of the songs, Sarah also treated fans to background about each one, delving into her inspirations, visual references, and writing process.
Energy Levels
Dotted with patterned Sarah Kinsley bandanas and cradling exclusive limited-edition secret show posters, the energy was buzzy and steady. With DJ sets by MESA and DENNIS FREE before Sarah took to the stage, the fans that had filled the intimate Brooklyn venue front to back were dancing and mingling.
Once Sarah took the stage, donning a flowy white dress accented in red ribbon, audiences matched her energy song for song. On higher notes, like “Lovegod” or “The King,” fans were moving and twirling along. For others, like the somber “Realms” or the newer release “Reverie,” fans were quieter, allowing the emotion of the songs to take center stage.
Standout Performances
The show had Kinsley perform five new songs, giving fans a deep dive into her new EP.
Lonely Touch – Lonely Touch was born from the scene in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer that saw the two main characters take ayahuasca and hallucinate their hands moving through each other’s bodies. Kinsley was struck by such a physical display of intimacy, and it inspired this rhythmic, building track. There’s a rawness to it, as it ends with Kinsley lamenting “I want to feel it all/All the edges of your soul,” as if it’s not just about love and intimacy but about yearning to be so close to someone you’re almost part of them.
Truth of Pursuit – While most of the set had Kinsley lit in shades of blues and purples, “Truth of Pursuit” stood out with bold reds. A different direction for Kinsley, this track was inspired by the British new wave band, New Order. Synth pop melodies meet strong bass and percussion as Kinsley sings over it in a Cranberries-esque lilting vocal style. It felt fresh for her, a branch beyond indie pop that would still keep her fans satisfied.
Reverie – A soft piano ballad, backlit by Baby’s All Right’s iconic light wall, that added the perfect level of ethereal glow. Forlorn, the song is about the dangers of imagination and fantasy, all of the different maps your mind can lead you through. The dreamy production and airy vocals add to this imaginative quality, the exact kind of song you need to look out a train window and picture yourself in a movie. The song builds in intensity towards the end, like a wakeup call. But like with any dangerous fantasy, the bubble popping is a necessary part of the song that ties the entire experience together.
After All – Also performed on the piano, “After All” is an “homage to love,” as Kinsley puts it; a “love song in conflicting ways.” A fair description, as the deep, melancholic track doesn’t immediately scream “romantic.” The rhythm is waltz-like, a careful dance reminiscent of two lovers, yet the chorus “After all/Love is not enough/After all/Love is just a man I used to call” is sung boldly over it, not taking part in the dance at all. Perhaps it is an homage to all aspects of love: the highs and the lows.
Fleeting – Upbeat and fun, this was a much needed boost after two consecutive piano tracks. However, it doesn’t ignore the songs that came before it. With lyrics like “It’s not forever/it’s just a feeling/It’s not forever/It’s only fleeting,” the song feels like a genuine reflection on all the emotions explored in the four other songs off the EP. Fleeting is often associated with unseriousness – a fleeting fancy, a passing crush. But the position of the song in the set makes it feel like a reminder that even the heavier feelings; the sorrow, the heartbreak, the loneliness, the love, it can all pass too. As Kinsely sings: “It’s not forever/It’s just for now.”
High Notes
Usually when small venues are referred to as “intimate,” it’s a gentle way of saying it’s cramped. And in fairness, Baby’s All Right – despite its Brooklyn icon status – is definitely a tight squeeze. But in this case, intimate was a truly apt description for Sarah’s show.
Concerts often feel like there’s a barrier between artist and crowd – an invisible line that makes a performance something to be watched, not felt. This show didn’t feel that way.
Her easy banter with fans felt personal. She made eye contact with fans, reaching out to them and smiling for phone cameras. She gave fans a peek into her creative process, walking them through what inspired her newest tracks and chatting about movies and music.
The show truly felt special, like a secret Sarah was telling 200 of her closest friends.
Verdict
Having seen Sarah Kinsley perform live a few times before, I figured I knew what to expect.
But she was electric on stage for this show. The upcoming songs are strong, emotive, and heartfelt, and Sarah performs them in earnest. If fans weren’t already excited to hear more from her, they certainly left feeling that way.
Sarah Kinsley’s newest single “Fleeting” is out now. For more updates, check out her Instagram and YouTube.
For more recaps, check out our review of indie-pop artist hannah bahng in NYC here.
