MØ and Duckwrth @ Metro Theatre May 8
Photography Sophia Downes
Los Angeles-based singer, rapper and graphic designer, Jared Lee AKA Duckwrth, opened the stage for Danish singer and electronic artist MØ immediately prior to the release of his EP The Falling Man, the first since his 2017 release An XXTRA UUGLY Mixtape. Duckwrth treated the audience an exclusive taste of his smooth new song Nobody Falls, featuring Kiana Ledé, Terrace Martin and Medasin.
The multi-talented hip hop, soul and funk artist started gaining traction in 2017 for his killer track MICHUUL and has become a unique and positive force in the worlds of music, art and clothing design, and claims to have even more good stuff up his sleeve. At the Metro, he graced us in a bold, orange, Tokyo-styled romper paired with an iconic golden hoop. His fashion line is all-inclusive and aims to “Appreciate male and female energy alike, we believe that flowers should never be gender specific, and neither should our garments.”
When performing, Duckwrth lit the stage with the crazy energy he imbues in all of his pursuits and was animated with a fever that made you want to funk it up. He paired his Michal Jackson + Beyonce-esque dance moves with incredible and diverse vocals, having started in the church choir before discovering his love for hip hop and rap. His diversity in music experience means that he’s picked up on a variety of vocal styles that vary the pacing of each song. Whether that means varying the speed at which he raps, or switching from a dreamy vocal tone to a nasal whining or throaty scream. All in one song. The unpredictability kept us on our toes and really highlighted the performance art in music.
Next up was Karen Marie Ørsted, AKA MØ, who also made the stage her own. The Danish pop sensation’s magnetic energy and faith in the crowd astounded us, and she really made the audience part of her show. At one point, she hopped off the stage, passing through the thick crowd with a wine glass in hand, to then sing on a step at the back and dramatically crush the plastic glass at a song’s climax.
MØ first built an audience as a featured vocalist on tracks by the likes of Snakehips (Don’t Leave), Cashmere Cat, SOPHIE, Noah Cyrus, Justin Bieber (Cold Water) and Diplo. Today, however, MØ’s artistry stands alone and her track Final Song continues to rack up the hits on Spotify.
Her universal dance music got the crowd sweaty and exhilarated, and showcased her talents as a performing artist while continuing to sing throughout.
The inclusion of both artists invited different crowds to the intimate Metro show, but at the end of the day, everyone came together as one in the name of hip hop, funk, pop and just good live music. Audience members left feeling energised and inspired.
