Naïka took the Somerset House stage with the force of a body-rolling angel, dressed in a floaty white mini-skirt and bralet set, draped in a floor-length cloak, and paired with matching Jimmy Choo knee-high boots. From the first moment, she was an intoxicating vision.
“I’m so happy to be here,” she gushed, though for the early part of her set, the audience remained observers of her world. The opening track from her debut album ‘ECLESIA’, ‘Welcome to Eclesia’, set the tone: she strutted, dropped to her knees, and flicked her hair with the honed instincts of a natural-born performer.
Flawless Vocals and Bilingual Brilliance
Naïka delivered glistening, pitch-perfect vocals from start to finish. ‘Soleil’ – sung entirely in French before seamlessly blending into ‘Killing Me Softly’ – showcased the warmth and glistening richness of her voice. The crowd, predominantly female and noticeably diverse, hung on her every word.
But it was later, when she sat on a stool at the front of the stage to speak directly to the audience, that the polish gave way to something more open-hearted. “I’ve always felt like an outsider and considered myself an in-betweener,” she said. She then leaned into a gorgeous acoustic version of her song ‘Layers’, which explores the complexities of her identity as a Haitian woman with Middle Eastern heritage.
Identity and Connection
“This was written at the height of my identity crisis,” she told the audience. Suddenly, it felt as though she was one of their friends. Naïka’s music resonates with anyone who has ever felt caught between cultures, countries, or unsure of where they belong. Hearing it sung live made it feel as though it came straight from her soul.
A saxophonist and band provided backup, adding a soulful, easy-breezy flavour to the evening. Fittingly, the sun began to set as ‘What a Day’ – a song comparing minor human issues like breaking a nail to global tragedies – blared out in all its anthemic glory. It was a moment of serendipity that captured the venue's magic.
Party Mode and Heartfelt Farewell
Things dialed up into party mode. ‘1+1’ got the audience dancing as one, while her biggest hit, ‘One Track Mind’, was greeted with squeals and cheers. Naïka formed a heart with her hands as she sang a soulful rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ as a parting gift. In response, hundreds of fans mirrored the gesture in unison. She had cracked herself open for them – and they loved her for it.
