ny oh’s garden of eden
Table 7 | 28.09.23
I got to Shacklewell Arms just as Ny Oh was wrapping up her soundcheck. She lit up when she saw me—so excited I was there to capture her last two shows with the band. There’s something really special about being invited into that space, especially at the tail end of a tour when everything’s a little raw, a little tender.
We ducked into the green room and I introduced myself to everyone. The energy was calm, kind—like stepping into a circle of old friends. Since we had some time before doors opened, we wandered through the neighbourhood and ended up at Mama Vic’s Plantain Parlour, this cozy West African spot not far from the venue. We shared a few dishes, nothing fancy—just good food, good conversation. They talked about the highs and lows of tour life: how beautiful and exhausting it can be to give so much of yourself night after night. You could feel the bond between them. It wasn’t just a band—it was a little chosen family on the road.
Back at the venue, the band started settling in. Ny Oh plucked at a few strings, quiet and focused. And then she was gone—on stage, in her element.
She read a few poems between songs. Her voice—soft, friendly, full of light—floated across the room. It didn’t feel like a performance. It felt like she was inviting us into a quiet part of her world, one where everything is intentional and nothing needs to be louder than it is.
