There’s something special about the way our conceptualization of time and space seems to get lost inside of a venue. When I stepped into the Velvet Underground on Friday shortly after doors, it was sunny and clear, a touch grey with a brisk breeze. When I stepped outside following the show, it was pouring rain and pitch black.

For just a brief moment in time, I – and the roughly 300 other people in the room – was not in a concert venue, nor even Toronto, to witness the time passing and the weather changing. quinnie built an intimate world during her eighth show on the “paper doll tour,” leaving us feeling like we were sitting around in a back garden with all of our closest neighbours and an abundance of good songs.

quinnie can accurately be described as a “one-of-a-kind” artist. Fans of Daffo’s vocals, Wednesday or Mehro’s sonic makeup, or storytelling and lyricism in the likes of dodie and Carol Ades will find a home in quinnie’s music. I was personally blown away by the strength and uniqueness of her vocals – between her incredible voice and her talented 5-piece band, the set captured all the magic of a live performance while simultaneously nearly identically replicating produced versions of songs. A multi-talented artist, quinnie bounced between singing, playing guitar, and sitting at a keyboard – as did her band, with several members picking up different instruments throughout.

quinnie put together a well rounded setlist, featuring songs off of her first projects as well as close to every song on her newest album, paper doll. A blend of softer, more vulnerable songs left the audience feeling all of the feels, while higher energy songs and hits like viral song “touch tank” had nearly everyone singing along. I got to hear my own personal favourite song, “absence of,” which was nothing short of a magical experience. She closed her set with one of her earliest singles, “man,” and I’m not sure that it can be put into words how it felt to be in that room while “no amount of nail polish could paint you a good man” echoed back towards us.

I’ve been to a number of shows at the Velvet Underground, and this is without question one of the louder crowds I’ve experienced there. It was evident through the energy in the room that each and every person was delighted to be there – there were no “begrudging boyfriends,” as the concert stereotype goes. An enthusiastic welcome was followed promptly by excited reactions to favourite songs, old and new, being played. In tune with previous enthusiasm, the request for an encore was remarkable – I swear you could feel it in the floors and walls.

Regardless of where you were in the venue, the vibes were immaculate. No question about it, you don’t go to the “paper doll tour” if you want to be lonely – a quinnie show is one where you make a friend. There was no shortage of sweet moments to make my heart swell.

After the show I was greeted by the scent of rain and the fuzzy feeling that only comes from those kinds of special moments of deep connection. There is something truly magical about shows that take you into a whole other dimension, even if just for an hour or two. quinnie’s music and live show put us back in touch with the vulnerabilities of being human.

With just over half of her U.S. shows still remaining, as well as two overseas – you can find dates and tickets here – there are still plenty of chances to catch quinnie live, and if I were you, I wouldn’t want to miss out!

find quinnie on streaming:
BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | TIDAL | SPOTIFY | AMAZON MUSIC
find quinnie on socials:
WEBSITE | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK