October 30, 2020

Deva Mahal at the Tuning Fork, Auckland 30 October 2020

Larger-than-live Deva Mahal and little sister Zoe Moon rocked the Tuning Fork last night. Rachel Moidart files this commentary with some killer photos from Rachel Webb.

I first met Deva Mahal in Wellington many years ago. Zoe Moon was just a kid back then. Their brother Iman Starr was the first of the Mahal clan to arrive in Wellington from Hawaii. I met him on a tour bus coming back from the Gathering in the year 200. I knew his Wife Vorry from the Wellington Hip Hop scene, as a B girl being mentored by the iconic Cosmo from the Foot Souljahs. Our kids ended up growing up together.

Deva Mahal always looked amazing, she had style. She arrived on the Wellington music scene and owned her name as a Deva. Back then the Wellington music scene was evolving its own musical style. Deva Mahal and Imon Starr contributed to the music scene.

Deva’s soulful R&B, indie sound and Imon’s experimental hip hop, came together along with Fat Freddy’s Drop and Olmelcha Supreme to create an eclectic, dubby, Wellington sound.

I was more into hip hop scene than R&B. I also liked punk, ska and dancehall music. The hip hop scene in Wellington saw the likes of P money and Scribe, Ladi 6 and the Foot Souljahs. Deva carved out her own niche, with influence from her father the legendary Taj Mahal, her soulful style became very popular as I watched her career unfold. We were from two different musical tribes but Wellington was a close-knit scene and a small world where a particular music fusion occurred.

Gushing reviews and TV interviews followed. Wellington had claimed Deva as their own and as New Zealand claimed her, Deva claimed New Zealand as her new home. After coming home to New Zealand from being in the states and her home turf, Hawaii, the Tuning Fork was the first venue for Deva Mahal and her sister Zoe Moon to play this year, 2020. Due to the Corona Virus many musicians have had to cancel gigs and it is only now that the alert level has dropped to level 1 that we are able to congregate.

Zoe Moon

Zoe Moon was the first on stage. Her voice was really impressive, with a great range with beautiful deep tones. She has really grown up and is an artist in her own right now. While she has a way to go to fully mature her vocal style, she shows great promise and has the support of her musical family. I loved her song ‘Consent’ which was unfortunately cut short by the microphone cutting out. I would have loved to hear more of it as it had a powerful message, delivered with heart ‘they don’t have to love you’.

When the microphone was eventually fixed, Deva was welcomed onto the stage and immediately her stage presence and sense of style dominated, from the bespoke coat to the tall tan hat that was mirrored by golden plaid platform boots, Deva was larger than life. Her voice took a little while to warm up however and was most impressive in harmony with Zoe Moon. The song they co-wrote about their late older sister was moving and I’m sure she was listening while the sisters sang as loud as they could.

The night ended with an encore and Deva came back with two more songs. As a whole I enjoyed the night and appreciated the musicians who came together, finally after the long covid lockdown to play for us.

The raunchy, powerful female vocalists were complimented by a guest vocalist called Zane, a female bass player with socks that said ‘suck my dick’, a keys player, guitar and drums.

The only thing missing was perhaps an edge, a dissonance which could resonate with the powerful emotions that are there in the music. It is clear that their fans enjoy the music and connect with the powerful messages of female empowerment, and feel an emotional connection. The narrative of sorrow and grief which leads to healing draws on deep emotions, love and pain.

The transformative power to create a bubble as Zoe foretells in her lyrics, ahead of Covid 19 or to grow a garden as Deva visualizes; is a theme within the lyrics as the sisters navigate deep emotional waters. This space is one where everyone is accepted regardless of skin colour or sexual preference etc. Deva and Zoe Mahal have created their own bubble and a place to grow outside of the shadow of Taj Mahal. This is also a coming of age for Zoe Moon who, while being supported by a strong stage family is coming into her own as a performer. I hope to see more of her and the beautiful garden that Deva is growing for us.

~Rachel Moidart

Click any image to view a full size gallery from each artist. All photos by Rachel Webb.