Live Review: imbi the girl is on a roll with new single ‘our room’ & news of their November tour
Sydney-based neo-soul artist and poet IMBI THE GIRL has followed up their recent single ‘i used to', feat. Perth's SUPEREGO, with the hypnotic ‘our room'.
Sydney-based neo-soul artist and poet IMBI THE GIRL has followed up their recent single ‘i used to', featuring Perth's SUPEREGO, with the hypnotic ‘our room', as well as announcing two headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne this November.
Pairing supple chords with their signature melodic rap and soulful flow, 'our room' presents a further refinement of sounds that imbi has been drilling down on this past year. The understated production and cathartic nature of their tender poetry is a winning combination. Lyrically, the song touches on childhood trauma, and using TV as a refuge from the seemingly constant chaos of a family in and out of collapse.
It's been particularly satisfying to hear imbi grow more confident as a writer. In 'our room,' they manage to name-drop Elmo, recount familial hardship, and then provide a way forward ("love was my basis, straight from the womb"), all within a mere three minutes. Amongst yet another New Music Friday littered with post-ironic bet-hedging, 'our room' is a definite shot of heartfelt tonic.
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The harmonies are richer than ever, and 'our room' finishes with samples of many voices reading poetic fragments. "Maybe we're all evolving to become something greater"; "maybe in this life, love is the only truth"; "maybe lust will no longer be the decider of love, and love will not be tainted by the desire for lust."
Maybe, maybe, maybe - it's a speculative note to end on, especially as imbi cuts the song off with a playfully defiant "Or maybe I'll just..." Just what? Well, that's for imbi to decide, and that's exactly the point. imbi's very clearly situating themselves at the centre of their own narrative here, not so much in control per se, but genuinely invested in understanding what's happened and why, and where to go from here.
Even if you don't take these new tracks into account, it's certain that imbi has been on a roll this year, having only just performed their first headline shows last month, selling out both Melbourne’s Workers Club and The Lansdowne in Sydney.
This time around, they’ll be joined on tour by fellow Sydney-sider Phil Fresh, and Perth’s Jamilla. They've also recently been announced as a showcase act at the annual BIGSOUND festival and conference, taking place in Brisbane in September.
IMBI THE GIRL 'OUR ROOM' TOUR
Thursday 7 November
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Tickets: Official Website
Saturday 9 November
Red Rattler Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: Official Website
Photo by Seamus Platt
Words by MICHAEL STRATFORD HUTCH
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