Eleri Ward is Enchanting at the Sultan Room

Eleri Ward gave a dazzling and intimate performance at the historic Sultan Room in Brooklyn, New York, on February 10th. The New York City artist is known for her ethereal yodeling and unique covers of the Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim. The Boston-based indie-pop artist Beccs opened for Ward. Her evocative lyrics and heartfelt voice, which was smooth as honey, had the audience mesmerized.

Ward opened with “Stepping Through” from her debut album Internal Rituals. The soothing hums from the songstress felt like she was casting a spell on the crowd, setting the tone perfectly for the night by the self-proclaimed siren herself.

The singer-songwriter’s set list followed the order of Internal Rituals, engrossing the crowd with her hypnotic sound, spiritual introspections, and effortless high notes.

During the midpoint of her show, she paused for a moment to dedicate “Float” to her husband, who was present in the audience. Her theatricality shone especially during the song about trusting and surrendering oneself to a loved one. Ward was not afraid to express her music entirely through her body. Her arms bent gently and gracefully, and she swayed to her melodies like a willow in the wind. The soprano’s raw voice is equal parts powerful and delicate, with impeccable clarity and control. 

A highlight of the night was Ward unveiling a new song, “Will I be the Sun,” which was a cherry on top for fans who had been looking forward to hearing her latest work. She closed out with the atmospheric “Venusian Light”, representing Ward’s growth as an artist and transcendence to her newer celestial and meditative sound.
For the encore, Ward brought out her guitar to perform sentimental covers, including “Johanna (Reprise)” and “Moss.” The acoustic covers put extra emphasis on her impressive vocals, which captivated listeners until the very last note.