Boys World at Gotta Have It, Venice online

Boys World start the night with a simple Q&A. This is a creative way to up the runtime, especially when one considers their EP While You Were Out only has five tracks. They answer common questions about the creative process behind their recordings and chat about their experiences prior to releasing music, such as how they came together as a group. This portion of the night involves games as entertainment for their fans, while giving new listeners a feel for their personalities. In a 45-minute show, the actual concert begins at around the 23-minute mark.

Their EP cover was shot at a vintage store, which is fitting because this first live performance of the material does the same. And it’s just as well because their whisper-like vocals work in the setting: it’s intimate and adds layers of secrecy to the night. True to their current aesthetic, the backdrop is a mess of clothes, shoes and mannequins. There’s a mirror to the side, and bright purple lights cutting through the warm cinematic filter. They’re dressed in shiny pearls and glitter, with shimmering make-up, all customised to their own unique tastes as individuals. 

Girlfriend opens, a soft, acoustic rendition of the usually upbeat pop song. The ad-libs are initially quite random, but ease in comfortably as the night goes on. Wingman follows, implementing camera angles that change and zoom into each member. These are filtered with a purple haze and grain, adding more texture and dimension to the already cinematic feel of the performance. One of the highlights of the night is Tiptoe. The group’s vocals feel more complete from this point onwards; Olivia starts with an isolated solo, before it transitions down the line to Elana, then Makhyli. Lillian’s chorus is powered up by the soft harmonies layered underneath her high notes.

The only ballad on the EP, Relapse is dominated by piano. Queenie’s vocals fall just a little flat for her verse, but she picks it up by holding onto her last note and transitioning smoothly into the chorus with the rest of the girls. Touched by an Angel is slow compared with its studio version, but remains consistent and steady. The girls freestyle an extended version of the track as a closer, and the night ends with a sneak preview of their upcoming music video for Relapse – a well-strategised announcement indeed.

Mae Trumata

For further information and future events visit Boys World’s Twitter feed here.

Watch the video for the single Tiptoe here: