Material: Tey’s music is firmly rooted in the dance-pop genre, and relies on a relatively simple construct of vocals, club beats and minimal arrangements for keyboard and synthesizer. While the material may seem formulaic at times, Tey is a gifted songwriter and vocalist who sets herself apart with a raw sexuality and a palpable soulful influence that lends a melodic quality to her material. Tey’s set was almost entirely composed of original songs centered on themes of love and sex, and a well-chosen cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” is an appropriate song that serves to frame Tey’s fare.
Musicianship: Relying on pre-recorded backing tracks, the only musician onstage was Tey herself, who doesn’t play any instruments. The tracks are solid, however, and an appropriate showcase for Tey’s considerable talent as a singer.
Performance: Tey’s live performance was equal parts cabaret act and live musical performance. It was the live setting that allowed Tey to truly shine. Accompanied by a pair of male dancers decked out in retro garb (think Michael Jackson Thriller-era), and a pair of female dancers whose attire wouldn’t seem out of place in most strip clubs, the emphasis was just as much on the visual as the aural. It was a provocative stage act, to be sure, and definitely intended for an adult audience. Though her live show was more about choreographed dance moves than musical virtuosity, Tey proved herself to be a consummate performer who exuded charm and cheerfully interacted with her audience.
Summary: Far from the run-of-the-mill L.A. club show, Tey’s live act brings club culture to the small stage with tremendous results. She’s carved out a niche for herself in an overcrowded and often unoriginal dance-pop genre; and, one must credit Tey for realizing that good songwriting is important.
Ben Nachman - Music Connection Magazine
(Aug 14, 2006)
