– Sofia Portanet – in session at Club Gretchen, Berlin – December 2, 2020 – DW –
Sofia Portanet to kick off what might be a strange week. Recorded live and in quarantine at Club Gretchen on December 2, 2020.
It would have been nice to hear Sofia Portanet play to an audience, even a masked one. No – this one was done with no audience and probably a tenth of her much-written about intensity. But any performance by Sofia Portanet is one that should be checked out, no matter what the circumstances. She’s been getting a lot of press lately, and has been likened, in various circles, to a splendid blend of Nina Hagen and Siouxsie Sioux. Sofia Portanet’s voice has an unmistakeable Operatic quality which, remembering hearing about Nina Hagen’s earlier incarnation as an opera singer in Berlin lends some credence to that similarity. Her band’s sound borrows from 80’s Post-punk without sounding like a tribute; it’s their stepping off point and stands on its own two feet.
This particular performance, restricting though it sadly is, comes as part of the bigger picture; the release of her debut album, Freier Geist, which is a showcase/calling card to her talents and her seamless transition from singing in deep-dark German to lyric French to out-and-out English – all done effortlessly.
It’s a nice introduction and a invitation to check out more. Since the current climate of social distancing and masking is relaxing, and clubs and concert venues are opening up again, it’s hoped Sofia Portanet hits the road over this year and makes her presence known on a larger scale. Fingers crossed she hits America at some point, but I’m not holding my breath at the moment.
Still, dive into this sample and stay tuned for more.
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