Japanese Breakfast captivate Miami at their debut show

Japanese Breakfast, the solo project of Korean-American musician, Michelle Zauner, played their first Miami show in the Wynwood Arts District.

Canadian act Long Beard, which opened the show, was a perfect complement to ease guests into the night. Their brand of atmospheric lo-fi, which is not too different from Japanese Breakfast’s, captivated the audience, which warmly embraced them.

And the bar’s outdoor stage was the perfect venue for Zauner and her band, the dreamy melancholy effect of their tunes enhanced by its nostalgic twisting disco ball and vividly colored lights.

“It’s like a tiki wedding,” said Zauner, compliment the intimate and tropical vibe of the bar, the stage adorned with palm leaf thatch.

The band played a wide set of dreamy tunes from her records, Psychopomp and Soft Sounds From Another Planet, as well as their beloved cover of The Cranberries’ classic tune, “Dreams.”

The mild air of the February Miami weather had showgoers swaying and relishing to the glossy guitars and swirling synths of songs like “In Heaven,” “Diving Woman” and “Boyish.”

Zauner’s genius shone through the night, her singing and impeccable guitar skills revealing both her musicianship and the depth of her lyrics. In an interview with Consequence of Sound, Zauner revealed that songwriting for her is a therapeutic outlet for her to process her personal trauma and grief.

“Psychopomp was written literally only months after my mom died, and I think this new record [Soft Sounds From Another Planet] explores a lot of the same feelings with a year-and-a-half of perspective in between about how death affects you a lot differently over time,” she shared.

By unveiling the beauty behind facing one’s demons, Zauner’s authenticity and vulnerability resonated with the crowd on a profoundly personal level, each song in the show’s set showing her more wrapped up in their details and hidden meanings.

But among all the sadness that may live in her writing, there is an unmistakable beauty radiating from it that can only be perceived as a sign of hope in a world of chaos. For Zauner, this beauty is writing music. For the crowd, it was experiencing it.

Image Courtesy of Google Images.



Coverage by Patricia Cárdenas

For upcoming events and artists features, follow SoundBite Magazine on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. If you would like to be feature your event, art, music, or company on SoundBite Magazine, please contact soundbitemag@gmail.com for features and promotional inquiries.