LIVE: Tamaryn @ Moth Club

London's Moth Club plays an undeniable part in every performance inside its walls. From the glittering, golden ceiling to the gold tinsel stage backdrop and the couched ensconces. The room oozes glitzy squalor in the very best way. Artists can either embrace the unique qualities of the Moth Club or not. Acts can roughen up their sound and remove any studio polish, or subvert all expectations. Tamaryn and support act Some Ember both lean into these options for their performances.

The kind of venue where acts simply take to the stage, with no fanfare and launch right in. That first massive hit of Some Embers' bass came so abruptly for the unprepared that many jumped in fright. Some Ember’s’ Dylan Travis’ appearance onstage could be compared to that of a mad scientist – a long white lab coat hung from his shoulders, paired with black latex gloves, his hair slicked back, only stray strands coated his forehead. Travis complimented his appearance with a stage presence like a character in a gothic theatrical production, fists clenching making every moment imbued with drama. The perfect foil for his intense bass – off-kilter drum lines and synth chords anchor the songs so the vocals could cut through the sound. The high point was the bands' latest release Rift, a solid production able to support the jagged edges of the performance comfortably.

For Tamaryn’s performance, Some Ember’s Dylan Travis ditched the lab coat and grabbed a guitar, with Tamaryn moving between an upstage keyboard and a downstage microphone to float her soaring vocals over the tracks. Watching Tamaryn perform, there’s some kind of ridiculous genre crossover not just in the music but in the performance. If synth-gaze-goth-pop exists, this is it.

It was unfortunate that it was difficult at times for Tamaryn's vocal performance to cut through. Attempts at bringing more power and intention into the performance often struggled but resulted in a performance with extreme amounts of heft. When Tamaryn looks into the crowd, wherever she looks, she manages to look every single person in the eye at once. Such a strong connection with the crowd nullifies the need for any talking. It’s the songs that matter, and with them, Tamaryn erases the need to say anything else.