Okay Kaya Performs Songs From Tender New Album in Los Angeles
By Greg Poblete
September 13, 2024 — To celebrate the release of the incredibly moving new album, Oh My God - That’s So Me, Norwegian-American singer/songwriter Okay Kaya held a beautiful, intimate concert in Los Angeles. On the night of Friday the 13th, Kaya Wilkins, known as Okay Kaya, brought her whimsical and delicate songs to life from her fourth album. The album, written in a season of solitude on an island off the coast of Oslo, highlights Wilkins’ witty and reflective songwriting demonstrating why she has such a dedicated fanbase.
While her writing is incredibly sharp and personal, Okay Kaya’s music strikes deep with audiences who connect with her specific observations of the world and the contradictions of being a human. Wilkins tackles topics about romantic relationships, self-doubt, existentialism, and much more with humor and poise. On Oh My God - That’s So Me, Kaya realizes truths about herself that seem surprising but expected such as wanting to bed at a reasonable time.
Although simplistic in its approach, Kaya’s performance at the Teragram Ballroom was complex through its astute lyricism and fierce but gentle vocals. The setlist featured a majority of tracks from Oh My God - That’s So Me like “Oh Minutiae,” “Check Your Face,” and “The Wannabe.” Compared to previous records, OMGTSM is more stripped back with tracks having minimal instrumentation. While instrumentally condensed, each song packs a punch through bold lyrical themes. For example, the song “Undulation Days” ends with the erratic lines, “And will I weep for babies? And will life eat itself like food?”
With one musician sharing the stage, playing guitar/keyboard with Kaya, there was only so much to focus on from the audience’s perspective. The occasional drum machine would serve as the backbone to certain tracks, but usually, each song’s vibe was simple, consisting of one instrument and Kaya’s vocals. This worked out in Kaya’s favor though. During the show, the crowd was respectful, gazing in awe at Kaya’s beauty and digesting each lyric as it passed through the venue speakers.
In contrast, there were also moments during the show where the crowd mildly swayed and belted Kaya’s lyrics back at her like on “Comic Sans” and “Psych Ward.” Both are fun, easy-breezy songs with clever wordplay and infectious melodies. A few times, Kaya would be embarrassed by some of her older lyrics and hide her face in her hands or smile brightly through each word. Lines like “Do you dance like you fuck?” or “Would you come with me to get an IUD?” were a struggle to get through without blushing, but the crowd cheered her on as she powered through.
The last song of the night was the groovy, dance track “Mother Nature’s Bitch” from the album Watch This Liquid Pour Itself. Although there was no encore, this was the perfect song to end the night as the instrumental lingered, creating the most wholesome nightclub in Los Angeles. Everyone who left the Teragram Ballroom on this Friday the 13th was earnestly smiling from ear to ear all thanks to Kaya’s music.
From having a timid, rather demure stage presence and vulnerable approach to songwriting, Okay Kaya is an artist who has no other choice but to present her boundless art in its rawest form. She may try to hide from her lyrics from time to time but ultimately understands that there is no hiding from telling her story. And we as an audience are unequivocally lucky to listen in and connect, expressing, “That’s so me.”
Listen to Okay Kaya’s new album, On Oh My God - That’s So Me, available on all streaming platforms and check out her website to see upcoming tour dates and other news.
