Gig Review: WYWY at The Fridge

I knew from the get go that it was going to be a different, immersive experience on the 8th of October.

The visuals on the backscreen were an invitation for the audience to dive into another realm. The ethereal, other worldly trip that the opening act Serge Volant (@sergenasr_) took us through with live mixed sounds and visuals. During Serge's performance it was like I was on a roadtrip, or walk in the forest, or a kayak downstream but always with no map, no directions, no idea of destination, just following the sounds being produced with absolutely no bounds. If this was the opener then what came next was even more celestial.

WYWY (@wywy.music) were absolutely phenomenal. The reverberating vocals, in parallel with the sustained crunch of the guitar echoed through the hall creating a landscape of otherworldly like sounds. It was a dance, literally, as WYWY were joined by a dancer, who portrayed, with absolute expression, through dance, the pain and condemnation we all currently share witnessing the violent attacks on Palestine, Lebanon & others in conflict.

Unnoticeably WYWY would at multiple times leave the stage to the dancer, only to return with a complete change of attire from white to black. A message was displayed on a blacked out screen and venue, to show solidarity with all those suffering.

The lighting, stage props, smoke and the dancing combined to create a complete theatrical display. Where words and feelings cant reach, music does. And at a show like this it truly hits you in ways you don't expect.

I believe music is becoming a torch for us at this time. In the time of darkness, pain, confusion & exhaustion, music is the oasis where we run to. We fetch from its water, to quench our thirst for love, for hope, for peace and for good.

WYWY's delivery and passion through each sound, each movement, each breath was so true and deep that it is clear that they have worked hard to hone in and create their sound & style. With that level of dedication, I hope and imagine for them to one day be on even bigger stages and captivate even larger audiences in the UAE and worldwide.