Cherished and fleeting as the April sun, Purple Ferdinand graced the stage of The Courtyard in Hoxton on April 14 to share her art. With a sound that’s effortlessly ethereal yet touching and lyrics poignantly honest whilst abstract, Purple Ferdinand captures a dreamy soulfulness that translates into a mesmerising mood.
Having released her second EP, Love Bound, in March, there was a tangible buzz amongst those gathered in anticipation for the show. And beginning affairs was “In My Dreams“, the vibe kicked off by the band before Purple Ferdinand floated from behind a screen to add her powerful yet subtle presence. Smooth jazziness blended with bluesy vocal melodies immediately captivated in attendance; a few could be seen loyally mumbling along but most stood transfixed, soaking in the essence of the song. And continuing the head bopping was “Through Your Eyes“, spacey rock elements mixing with analogue sounds to create a new age R&B sound that’ll have some heralding Purple Ferdinand as FKA Twigs’ heir apparent.
“Left To Fight” saw the introduction of tropical sounds, synth pads and mellow bass gently bubbling as Purple Ferdinand shared her story of seeking truth amidst a confusing world. Next we were blessed with some new material, “Empty Space” a dark and mystical R&B track beautifully accentuated by enchantingly reverberating vocals. Aside from the remixed edition of Love Bound EP, electronic influences are sparse throughout Purple Ferdinand’s music. And she returned to her serene acoustic roots, singing “Birds” and then “Wasn’t Tough To Love” from the Dragonfly EP; the former a meditatively melancholy tune and the latter adding a summery softness to the acoustic ambience.
“Dreamer” turned up the tempo of the show, the band whipping up a break beat flurry, soulful at its core mixed with a rocky twist. And one of the lead singles from Love Bound, “Drawn To Your Light” provided an ambient percusiveness enhanced by jazzy breaks, the crowd obediently bouncing along to the music. Sadly the show was soon coming to a close but not before the familiar chords of “Loving The Hate” kicked in.
Blues and soul elements form the basis of the tune and along with its lusciously meshed melodies, “Loving The Hate” captures a compelling mood that’ll make fans of more who hear it. And suitably so, Purple Ferdinand gave all, the encore they craved before disappearing back behind the screen as suddenly as she’d appeared.Truly a blessing to witness and experience live, Purple Ferdinand is a quiet star whose ascent is assured so vibe out to her music below and stay locked to more live dates throughout this Summer.
Keep Tabs on Purple Ferdinand: Facebook // Twitter
Words by Ranako Daley
