Californian singer-songwriter and dancer Gavin Turek’s show on Friday, 5th July, was as sparkly as her silver tassel dress and diamante boots. The show at Hoxton Square venue Colours was Turek’s first headline show in London.
It was her first visit to perform in the capital city since she last visited with Tuxedo (the Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One’s retro-funk project) around six years ago. During this time, she released her debut album, Madame Gold.
Turek put on a highly energetic performance from the moment she stepped on stage; her song “Don’t Fight It” moved the audience swiftly into all kinds of dance moves. Turek initially trained to be a dancer before dedicating her artistic talents to music.
It shows in the performance as she twirls and high-kicks over every inch of the Hoxton Square stage. The show feels like a celebration of being free; audience members appear to do their best to match the high energy of Turek’s performance. Many seemed to barely pause between songs, hips swaying to each soulful and enticing disco music bar.
Turek has dedicated her life to music. Indeed, she joyfully professes to have been making music in the womb and since the “hair was hairing.” The high spirits give way to some real moments of vulnerability during the hour long set. Early in the show, she shares how she had not been enjoying music and the pressure of making music in 2019.
And while her songs often feel full of life, she hears sadness when she listens back to some of the music she wrote during that time. It was a poignant moment in the show and was greeted with whoops of encouragement from the audience.
However, her forthcoming album, Diva of the People, helped her rekindle her love of music – and it shows in some of the early singles. Disco Boots is a triumphantly colourful disco record, throughout which Turek high-kicks and spins until her heart is more than content, inspiring and uplifting everyone in attendance.
The audience at Turek’s show, the first of two in Europe, was not just a crowd, but a community. Her performance of “Whitney” had everyone singing along, and by the time she played “It’s The Light,” the back room in Colours had turned into a mini-choir. The London audience singing back her song was a powerful moment, moving Turek to tears. It was a testament to the deep connection she had forged with her fans over the years.
Gavin Turek’s performance was a journey of the ups and downs of sharing your gift with the world. It was a reminder that while doing what you love can be challenging, it is always worth it. The show left a small part of East London feeling “really, really good,” and with a little more love in the air.
Words + Photos by Robert Alleyne
