Soft Rage. Do You Feel It? BINA. thinks You Might.
Written by Alice Lindsell
Introducing the second track on her latest project, Chaos Is Her Name, the South London-based artist offers the self-conceived notion to the audience at Camden’s Koko. “We need to let that pent-up frustration out. Are you guys with me?” The crowd is vocal in agreement. “Okay! I knew I wasn’t the only one that felt like that”.
This is the crescendo of BINA.’s electric opening set for fellow singer-songwriter Hope Tala. As she breaks into ‘Self Assured’, the fully formed, unapologetic energy of an artist that is performing at her creative peak comes through in the lush, layered sound thrumming through the auditorium.
Soft rage has been an overarching theme of this project. Expanding on it on her Instagram BINA. describes the concept as “a blend of jazz, rock and indie…I just use that palette to let it all out. Just be yourself, that’s all I’ve got to say”. This resonates throughout her EP, from the punchy ‘Dopamine’ and tender lyricism of ‘Sleepless’ to the sensual bass underpinning ‘Bossy’. Awash with highly saturated lighting in Koko’s historic Victorian concert hall, BINA. performs these tracks emphatically. She’s ethereally outfitted in a distressed denim set by Liva Majore, completed by a silver spiral necklace her stylist found in a charity shop. From support by DJ Mcthickum to her soulful, expressive vocals and dynamic stage presence, she dips and weaves through alternative R&B, neo-soul, indie, punk rock and jazz – building alongside her audience to a collective catharsis.
Backstage after the show, we speak about the tangible energy of the set, and how it spread incrementally throughout the space. “Yeah, I could feel it. I can’t hear everything, but when I looked into the crowd, I felt it”. The genre-blending artist is recently back from touring with Hope Tala around Europe, and reflects on how nice it is to be performing in her hometown. It’s her first time playing at Koko, and watching her tonight, it feels unlikely to be her last.
Back in the middle of her set, as the opening bars of ‘Self Assured’ start to layer over her words, BINA. smiles. “Are you going soft rage with me, London?”