19 Feb 2022 at The Mill
Review by Emma Knights
“Where the mind goes, the body will follow”
Mindfulness is described as being present and of being aware of your feelings and thoughts without judgement. Someday – A Mindful Cabaret provides an opportunity for all of this whilst also bringing you a sense of peace and stillness in an overactive world. Set in the intimate space of The Mill, the balance between the band and vocals was excellent and Jennifer Trijo’s selection of original songs, written or co-written, wrap you up into a hug over the hour performance.
The audience immediately felt at ease with Trijo’s warm and nurturing vocals and meditations. Added to Trijo’s voice were thoughtfully created accompaniments with guitar, electric cello, cajon and flowing sounds from the Nord keyboard. Amber Fibrosi, on keyboard, added some golden harmonies over Trijo’s melodies and the three musicians, Trijo, Fibrosi and Jakub Gaudasinski, in almost matching outfits, swapped seats and instruments throughout the show, subtly showcasing the high calibre of musicians we were observing.
I love this original music cabaret concert performance format which adds another layer, like honey on a crumpet, to the original music it presents. Around the songs, Trijo weaves meditations and neuroscience research addressing the universal idea of “Someday”. Trijo provides insight, as an accomplished performer, into what it can take for a creative to step in making someday today. The final and title song of the show “Someday” shares this in such a poignant way and its catchy melody will burrow into your mind for the rest of the day.
Someday – A Mindful Cabaret leaves you feeling connected. Connected to the stories of the songs, the strangers in the audience and the musicians on stage. As Trijo says, “We are the company we keep”. Influences of folk, music theatre, country and classical music are evident across the performance with lyrics peppered with intelligent rhymes, imperfect rhymes and assonances. These are carefully constructed songs. The cabaret is worth seeing for the song “Real” alone. A truly beautiful song.
For a meditative show, some songs would have benefited from a slightly longer sustain of the final chord to give the appreciative audience an extra moment to enjoy what they had just heard and the second song, following a meditation from Trijo, might be better placed elsewhere in the show as it jolted me from the trance the spoken words had created.
Someday – A Mindful Cabaret, is not just an afternoon of entertainment and calmness, it is a reminder to step forward towards your dreams. A delve into the self-doubt we all feel and to know we all contain the courage needed if we are fearless. Trijo quotes Alain de Botton, “With no attempt, there can be no failure and with no failure no humiliation. So our self-esteem in this world depends entirely on what we back ourselves to be and do.” I am glad Trijo has backed herself to present this show and gifted it to a world that needs it.
4.5 stars
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