Live – at Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL – June 21, 2019
By: Jenafur Schlangen
If you’ve read anything I have written over the years, you’d know how much I like to focus on the underdogs. It is not that headlining bands aren’t amazing or awesome. I mean, after all, it is for them why we buy the tickets. But, we all know what to expect from them. Hell….we already know most, if not all, of their song lyrics and can likely predict what song(s) will be played next. That’s all fine and dandy but how about something that’s brand-spankin’ new to our ear/eye-holes? I know, I know….new is scary sometimes. lol. But, you must admit, when you have a random encounter of something new and that “something new” completely blows you away, it is beyond fucking awesome. In that, please allow me to introduce you to a little something new: I Ya Toyah.
I Ya Toyah is a self-described one-woman army. And, after watching, listening, and speaking with her, she is also a force to be reckoned with, most definitely. Her music falls into the category of industrial/electronica and it is a perfect blend of chaos, mixed with an enormous amount of passion and industrial familiarity. Her cutting edge live performance is a testament to her zeal and most certainly does not go unnoticed. Having only entered the live music scene in Chicago just over a year ago, it is completely apparent that she intends to make an impact upon not only the live music scene in Chicago but throughout the entire universe. And, after speaking with her after her performance at Reggie’s, I not only believe her…I also believe IN her.
There are number of things I Ya Toyah is passionate about that strongly resonates within her music. First and foremost being suicide awareness. Having lost an immediate family member to suicide six years ago, she has melded this issue within her writing as well as within her message when performing live. It is no surprise that such an incredibly unfortunate experience would take center stage and also reinforce the underlying talent of this young woman. And, what better arena than a backdrop of sounds filled with dark industrial vibrations.
While her set was brief, being the first performer of the night, it was crammed full of visuals and vigorous vocals. Her music, 100% written, recorded, and performed, includes keyboards, guitars, and beats that make it impossible to sit still. I picked up on a level of excitability and aggression within her performance, making it obvious that she has a message of great importance. Her way of relaying that message to the audience was more of a command, rather than an option for them to consider.
I Ya Toyah is currently promoting a remix of song, “Flashback” off of her debut album Code Blue, mixed by Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly), who has described the track as, ‘a sadness on the dance floor.’ The entire Code Blue album is definitely worth checking into, while you wait to catch a live show. Also, if you are fortunate enough to run into I Ya Toyah prior or after her show, do not be shy! She is most definitely approachable and probably the sweetest artist I have spoken with in a long time. And, now that I have “introduced” you, there is no reason not to say, “hello.”
Set List:
Motion
Code Blue
Give Me More Lies
Flashback
Farewell- Mirrors Don’t Lie
Puppet
Glass Eyes
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