When it comes to discovering new music, A Colors Show hosted by ColorsxStudios is a good place to start. Similar to Tiny Desk Concerts, which portrays artists in their most authentic stripped-down version, the flagship series invites musicians to perform in a minimalist room covered from floor to ceiling in a single color that is chosen to evoke the essence of the song, genre, and the artist as a whole.
ColorsxStudios is heavily focused on promoting the most distinctive new artists and original sounds in the context of an extremely fragmented and saturated scene. The studio offers a minimalist approach to music, calmly spotlighting the artist and giving them the opportunity to present their music with essentially no distractions in sight.
Since the upload of its first video in 2016, the music platform has handed over the colorful mic to a diverse spectrum of artists, providing music lovers with some unforgettable performances. From Quavo and Takeoff’s Hotel Lobby, J.I.D’s Workin Out, and Little Simz’ Venom to Lianne La Havas’s ethereal Bittersweet, A Colors Show is a gift that keeps on giving. Read on for some of our favorite COLORS performances this year.
Yussef Dayes
Hailing from South London, Youssef Dayes is a modern day jazz visionary and a prominent force in the UK’s contemporary jazz scene. After putting out one of the best albums of the year (in our humble opinion) Black Classical Music, the producer, composer, and drummer decided to grace the COLORS stage with a masterful rendition of Chasing the Drum, one of the many highlights of his debut solo album. The performance was an amalgamation of lively rhythms layered atop one another to create a seamless, cohesive flow that was further heightened by the addition of rich and emotive jazz saxophone melodies.
Zowie Kengocha
New Jersey-born, Nairobi-raised Zowie Kenocha is a singer and songwriter whose music is an amalgamation of R&B with a hint of indie-pop. Last month, the artist delivered a buttery smooth performance of her latest single Project, making her one of six Kenyan R&B artists to perform on the ColorsxStudios stage. She set the atmosphere with a moody soundscape that emphasized her sultry and soothing vocals, transcending the track even further. And can we please talk about those background vocals?
Kerchak
Hailing from the Bois-Colombes suburb in Paris, Kerchak is the definition of “sophisticated gangsterism,” as Erykah Badu would put it. The French rapper developed a distinctive sound, carving out his own niche in the French hip-hop scene with a unique take on Jersey drill. For his enigmatic October performance, Kerchak delivered a grimy rendition of his new single Roule un autre.
Chester Watson
Atlanta-based surrealist artist and curator Chester Watson is both introspective and experimental. Watson took to the ColorsxStudios stage to present his signature psychedelic rap in a medley of Chasing Clouds and Summer Blues, two singles from his forthcoming studio album. The beats are minimal, but they set the stage for his eloquent storytelling and compelling lyricism.
J Hus
This performance will immediately transport you to East London. The British rapper gave us his signature afro swing drill with a performance of Massacre, one of the highlights from his third studio album Beautiful and Brutal Yard. With clever instrumentation of soothing guitar lines and a subtle beat setting the perfect backdrop of his sleek and wavy delivery, it was one of the best COLORS performances seen in recent times.
Nada El Shazly
Egyptian vocalist Nada El Shazly graced the COLORS stage back in May, delivering both a unique sound and performance. With haunting vocals, Shazly performed her single Bānit, combining traditional Arab sounds matched with hints of contemporary electronic melodies.
