Village Underground, LondonThe
California trio pause to catch their breath in an emotional show that finds euphoria in shared misery
‘If you don’t mind, I’m just gonna take a breath,” Muna’s lead singer Katie Gavin tells a packed Village Underground. The Californian three-piece’s last major tour was as support for Harry Styles, playing to crowds that dwarf those of east London’s dank clubs. Their second album – the winkingly titled Saves the World – deals in part with the disconnect between spending months soaking up the adrenaline of stage life and returning to “normalcy” in between, over euphoric synths and thumping great melodies.
This is their first live show since the album was released just three days earlier. If they’re nervous about getting back to life in the limelight and baring their souls on stage, the breathing breaks are the only sign. As the whole room takes two deep breaths in near silence, Gavin adds: “Actually, do you guys wanna just breathe?” “Yeah,” bandmate Naomi McPherson quips. “Music is cool but have you tried breathing?”