We Are Undeserving of Miya Folick

Oct 24, 2023

I don’t think I have experienced such levels of immense, unbridled joy in a long, long time as I did singing and dancing along with Miya Folick.

Miya Folick is one of the most talented musicians available to our ears right now, and it is my duty to convince you to stop everything and hop on the Miya Folick train before it’s too late (it will never be too late). Miya finished out their 2023 headline “The Roach Tour” in Nashville, Tennessee earlier this month, and I am still thinking about that show nearly two weeks later.

I should make note that I may be a bit of a biased reviewer of Miya Folick, I have been following their music for several years now, Premonitions being one of my all-time favorite albums. Miya Folick is always in heavy rotations, they made an appearance at number 3 in my Spotify Wrapped last year, and I shove their music down the throat of anyone who gives me the chance. All of this to say, I knew I would love Miya Folick going into this night, but goddamn did she blow any expectations I had out of the water.

Photos: @lucykjoness

I first saw Miya Folick live earlier this year when they opened for Aly + AJ with a much more paired-down set with them and one other bandmate. This time Miya has a full band and a packed setlist of old and new songs. One particularly exciting track was the unreleased song “Gumby,” which I can tell you now that the second it gets released for streaming I will be playing it on a loop for the rest of my silly little life. My personal favorite song off of Miya’s 2018 Premonitions album is “Freak Out” which I still can’t believe I got to hear live and jump around to it in the back of The Blue Room like an absolute maniac. This rendition of “Freak Out” felt just a bit twangy and it took me far too long to recognize it as “Freak Out.” Hearing Miya Folick live is such a different experience than simply just streaming her available discography. With the various stripped-down songs, to the just bass + vocals rendition of “Stop Talking,” Miya kept the crowd on their two unsure of what glorious new version of beloved songs was going to come out of the artist’s mouth.

Miya Folick has one of the most dynamic and masterfully varied voices I have ever heard. She can be light and smooth, deep and gritty, soulful and commanding; it's not just her voice, but also her poetically crafted lyrics, ever unfurling as she navigates different emotions and themes. Witty and charming, even in the talking bits between songs, Miya wrapped the entire room around her finger, pulling everyone into her orbit.

Photos: @lucykjoness

Miya Folick's music will forever hold a special place in my heart, for the space their song grans to be unapologetically myself and to feel my emotions as wholly as they come. I don’t think I have experienced such levels of immense, unbridled joy in a long, long time as I did singing and dancing along with Miya Folick.

You Gotta Listen: Deadbody, Get Out of My House, Stop Talking

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