Recording: Nathan Baya with Eyeda Sophia

Artist: Nathan Baya with Eyeda Sophia

Song: Rise Above It

Recorded at The Music Gallery (X Avant XVI – Night 1), October 14, 2021.

Nathan Baya with Eyeda Sophia - Rise Above It

The Music Gallery's annual X Avant Festival felt like a return and a renewal in all the right ways. Although these weren't the first events presented by new-ish Artistic Director Sanjeet Takhar, they were the first ones in person, with performers and audience sharing space — a long-awaited return from all sides. Each of the nights played off the festival theme "You in Mind", looking for ways to amplify and support the overlapping communities being drawn together. The first night was presented in collaboration with RISE, who also put on their own smashing community-oriented shows at 918 Bathurst.

The night's second set brought some hip-hop energy from Eyeda Sophia and Nathan Baya, both of whom seemed delighted to be spitting fire to a live audience. And while each brought their own material, the set was collaborative all the way with both hyping up the crowd and adding backing vocals to the other's raps. This thematically on-point number from Baya maybe best encapsulated the set's infectious energy.