Bilingual British-Spanish indie-rock singer-songwriter Nadia Sheikh returned to London’s Water Rats for a headline show to launch her new single ‘Fade Away‘. Playing to a packed room, with fans from all over the world, Nadia made the iconic venue feel like a second home, and brought some special guests to boot.
Nadia Sheikh at The Water Rats – Photo by Keira Anee 
Nadia Sheikh at The Water Rats – Photo by Keira Anee 
Nadia Sheikh at The Water Rats – Photo by Keira Anee 
Nadia Sheikh at The Water Rats – Photo by Keira Anee 
Nadia Sheikh at The Water Rats – Photo by Keira Anee 
Nadia Sheikh at The Water Rats – Photo by Keira Anee
Opening with stadium-worthy stomper ‘Dying To Be Alive’ made the audience (ahem!) come alive. Backed throughout by Rowan Davies pulsating bass and George Gardiner’s epic drums, matching Nadia’s sublime vocals and melodic guitar playing.
‘Waiting’ and ‘Rearrange’ followed, with Nadia gently reminding us that she’d played ‘Rearrange’ in the same venue back in February’s headline show. ‘Love Is Undefined’ came next, beautiful emotionally-honest ballad which Nadia revealed had been written about someone she had met at The Water Rats, a lovely full-circle moment.
The night was peppered with new songs. including ‘Future Me’ which she introduced as her inner child song and then brought on special guest, Will Farquarson of Bastille to the stage to play it with her. With just the two of them onstage it allowed Nadia’s effortless vocals to blend beautifully with the solitary guitar, bringing out the aching uncertainty of the lyrics.
Will stayed on for ‘What Will Be’ and recently released ‘Fade Away’ which also featured Will on the record. Nadia says she wrote it about wanting to switch off — the noise, the misinformation, the comparison, and that’s exactly what the whole room did singing along to the ridiculously catchy chorus.
An acoustic ‘Get Away’ slowed things down, before heavy rocker ‘Wonderwhy’ cranked them back up with a big audience sing-along to its ‘How Does It Feel’ refrain. ‘Memories’ showed off Nadia’s upper range beautifully, before a stripped back ‘Just A Shadow’, with its lyrics,
Pick me up I’m just a shadow / Let’s not leave it till tomorrow
Chants of ‘one more song!’ brought Nadia and the band back for a closing encore of ‘How To Lose A Friend’. The night wrapped up with a group photo and a shout-out for Nadia (and her mum’s) handmade CDs at the merch table.
DIY indie-rock at it’s finest.
Catch Nadia Sheikh live:
12-14 November, Trovam Festival in Castellón, Spain
Follow Nadia Sheikh: Instagram | YouTube | Website | TikTok