On a brisk autumn Sunday evening, more than 750 people filled the intimate sanctuary of the historic St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church to hear the vocal stylings of NAO. The acclaimed singer/songwriter from East London has released several projects including And Then Life Was Beautiful and For All We Know, Saturn, just to name a few. Blending pop, soul, funk, R&B, and electronic, NAO has built a large and devoted following with her musicianship that she has described as “wonky funk.”

As fans took their seats in the wooden pews on the sanctuary floor and on the balcony, excitement filled the atmosphere. Everyone waited with great anticipation for NAO’s arrival and she did not disappoint.

In a building that was first erected in 1847, the acoustics in the space were magnificent, giving NAO, and her extremely tight backing band, sonic freedom to deliver a captivating performance.

Instead of beginning the show on stage in the front of the space, NAO opened her set with “Another Lifetime” by appearing on the balcony, much to the pleasure of the energetic crowd who sang along with every word.

From the balcony, she made her way down to the middle of the aisle for a soulful rendition of “If You Ever” which had everyone in the place dancing to the infectious groove.

As she made it to the pulpit that was transformed into the main stage, she took time to thank everyone for coming out and showing her so much love.

Speaking to the capacity crowd, NAO joked that everyone there had to "go to work in the morning” and she shared her journey to return to the stage after a lengthy hiatus.

“We haven’t toured in about five years because, you know, a lot of things happened. Babies were had,” she said to roaring applause and thunderous cheers.

“To be back here in this venue, with all you amazing fans, I just wanted to do something really special for you all,” she continued.

NAO’s next song choice was “Make It Out Alive” another crowd favorite before  transitioning into electro-funk of “Fool to Love” and “Yellow of the Sun.”

During a brief break, NAO shared with the crowd that she’s putting the finishing touches on her first album since 2021.

“I can’t wait for you all to hear what I’ve been working on. I think you're going to love it,” she said to the cheering crowd.

For her next round of selections, NAO sang one of her new songs from her forthcoming album the euphoric “Wildflowers” which was produced by Coffee and Detonate. Then she turned the audience into a chorus as everyone sang in three-part harmony on “Elevate.”

One of the standout moments of the show was NAO’s tribute to D’Angelo who she described as her favorite singer. She then announced that the next song would be “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” one of his signature songs.

Covering a D’Angelo song is a tall task but NAO pulled it off effortlessly with her soul-stirring version of the classic song. After she was done, the audience gave their approval with a thunderous standing ovation.

As NAO has evolved, she remains on the cutting edge as a vocalist and performer. She seamlessly segued from uptempo tracks to seductive slow jams to heartbreak anthems that took the crowd on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Without question, they loved every minute of it.

It was quite fitting that the live performance was held in a church because those in the audience were moved by the spirit of the Gospel of NAO. Her incomparable style, impeccable range, and infectious personality were a real treat for all the music lovers. The organic chemistry of the band was undeniable. 

NAO transcends genre and any other limitations that the music industry attempts to put on her. With all of her accomplishments, it’s safe to say that NAO is back and she’s just getting started.