Kanii at Mercury Lounge
By Rania Najih
Since 2022, I have always found D.C. alt-pop artist Kanii in my daily playlist. So, you can imagine how excited I was when Kanii posted that he would be going on tour. I checked the dates, and the closest location for the concert was in New York City. At the time, I was unsure about going because I did not know if it would be possible to travel. Finally, I realized, “I need to go for it!” I went back to Ticketmaster, only to find out it had sold out!! I was so disappointed. I should have acted when I had the opportunity.
However, fast forward to a few days before the concert. I suddenly felt an urge to see if I could find a ticket, and amazingly, one was available on Vivid (I literally snagged the last ticket). From there, I booked the Amtrak and basically rushed to New York City.
Kanii’s passion for making music started around the age of 12, while recording in his bedroom. He attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a renowned high school in Washington, D.C. Kanii’s music often blends elements of soft hyperpop, Jersey club, and melodic rap. However, with his new album, #BLUE, he is stepping into a more dynamic style of music that blends multiple genres to create a modern, high-energy, emotive and retro sound.
I arrived at Mercury Lounge a bit too early, and ended up having to wait a little over an hour for the lounge doors to open. While waiting outside, I was randomly interviewed by some of Kanii’s friends, who asked me to send him a message! The cold wind and the drop in temperature made it difficult to stand. New Yorkers are so used to waiting, but even they were shivering.
Once inside, the venue was small but comfortable. There were seats on the side and an open floor. The first 30 minutes were with the DJ Brooke Flecca, who played unique mixes. A smokey purple haze filled the lounge. Then Kanii came on, and the whole room surged with excitement. Kanii first opened with “Sober,” which is an interplay of moody electronic textures and minimal R&B beats, giving it a midnight vibe. The crowd remained enthusiastic and consistently hyped after each number.
At some point, Kanii noticed me struggling because I was behind this guy who kept screaming for Kanii’s water bottle (he never got it), and I shared a brief smile with Kanii. When “Sins,” “I Know” and “Go!” played, I was getting pushed left and right (or maybe I was aggressive), but everyone went crazy! I even saw a group of people getting sturdy. Somehow, I managed to pull up into the front row. I was super close!
It was a small crowd, but it felt like a sense of community, all bonding over his music. Kanii’s vocals were smooth, and he was expressive yet soft. His dancing was natural. When Kanii performs, at times, his sound is reminiscent of classic greats like George Benson and Michael Jackson. Kanii’s uniqueness is that he can shift between different styles, from Jersey trap to heartfelt ballads, so seamlessly. On stage, his presence and sound are very refreshing because it does not feel forced; just effortless.
At the end, Kanii swiftly vanished, filling the venue with curiosity. As I left the concert, it was snowing heavily and felt magical. Overall, it was a great experience. I truly believe if you like Kanii, you have the best music taste.
For clips, check out my Instagram, @radio.girlll, and if you wanna hear amazing artists like Kanii, tune into Radio Girl on Mondays, biweekly, from 4:15–5:15 p.m. on WGMU Radio.
1 comment
LOVE THIS!!