As the lights dimmed, the shadow of a long-haired silhouette bounced onto the stage illuminated by a kaleidoscopic ‘Room 25’ neon sign. The room filled with a subtle excitement which exploded into a roar as the band burst into the mellow & aromatic sounds of ‘Self’. Kicking off the second of two headline shows, Chi-town native Fatimah Warner, better known by her stage name Noname (formerly Noname Gypsy), made her arrival at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire.
With her endearing charm and smooth flow, Noname conducted the crowd through what felt like a guided tour of her self-released LP. Her contagious excitement enticed the crowd into reciprocity. Accompanied by the smooth, sharp sounds of her live band, the rapper blazed through songs such as ‘Ace’ and ‘Montego Bae’ whilst weaving in elements of her 2016 Mixtape ‘Telefone’ with the infectious heartfelt single ‘Diddy Bop’.
Throughout the night, the Chicago-born MC worked to re-create the intimacy reflected in the soft and intricate sounds of her music, pulling each member of the audience into her world. Flawless delivery of each song made for a performance almost indistinguishable from the studio album.
It’s no surprise she can command not 1 but 2 sold-out live shows in London, and it’s highly likely that the next time she hits these shores again, it’ll be to bigger and bigger crowds.
