Multi-instrumentalist and musician Tash Sultana stops by Houston for their North American 2023 tour with support from sibling band Bailen.
Tash Sultana is the definition of self-made – from being a street performer to selling out shows across the world, Sultana has taken over the world by storm. They released their debut EP called Yin Yang in 2013, followed by their critically-acclaimed EP titled Notion in 2016, which featured tracks like “Synergy” and “Jungle.” Sultana went on to release their debut album Flow State in 2018 via their own label Lonely Lands Records. Their sound was redefined to a more of an R&B tone featuring powerful vocals and enticing instrumentals. The singer also worked with artists like Milky Chance and Matt Corby by serving as a feature on their tracks. In 2021, they released their sophomore album Terra Firma, with another EP (called Sugar) released earlier this year in anticipation for their tour.
The night started off with the soothing sounds of Bailen (pronounced bay-len), a three-piece sibling band from New York City. The band consists of Julia, Daniel and David Bailen, and all of them share the spotlight. The band released their latest album Tired Hearts earlier this year, after seeing much success with their first album Thrilled to be Here. Bailen sang their hit songs like “Your Love is All I Know” and “Call It Like It Is.”
The stage was set up with multiple instruments, a table that featured a cool skull logo smoking a marijuana joint, along with a rug and incense. The lights dimmed and a home video began to play showing Sultana’s evolution, up to the very moment of their Houston performance. They came out with a bass guitar and started the night off with the track “Mystik,” followed by tracks like “Pretty Lady.” Sultana continued to encourage the crowd to cheer and sing as they played along, and the crowd got pretty rowdy throughout the night.
Sultana played a mix of older songs like “Notion” and “Cigarettes,” but their main focus was to show off their newer stuff from the latest EPs. Sultana made the entire show feel like an experience rather than just witnessing a concert, as they were focused on creating the perfect sound blend for everyone in the crowd. The backing visuals made it feel more interactive, and Sultana’s extreme vocals made the entire venue feel as if they were in some kind of trance.
Tash Sultana further proves their musical versatility through a lively stage presence and a beautiful live experience.
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
