📍 Radio/East — Jan. 26, 2026
Written by Perrin Boyd / Photos by Drew Doggett
Walking into Radio/East for the first time felt like stepping into one of Austin’s best-kept secrets. Tucked away and unassuming, the venue immediately surprised me with how pristine the sound was and how much space the venue had - clear, warm, and perfectly balanced in a way that made every detail feel intentional. I’ve listened to a couple Sudan Archives songs throughout the years and I’ve always admired her talent but I did not expect what was to come. It turned out to be the ideal setting for an artist whose music lives in the details and bounce. From the first note, it was obvious this was a carefully constructed sonic experience that demanded attention and a little bit of fun.
Sudan Archives took the stage solo, a one-woman orchestra commanding everything from violin to keyboards and loops. Her avant-garde style weaves hypnotic string loops with West African influences, left-field R&B, hip-hop grooves, and experimental electronics into something utterly unique. She draws from every corner of music history, yet it feels fresh and fiercely personal. The messages behind her uplifting and powerful tracks demand self-belief and confidence.
The set opened gracefully and warmed the crowd up with ‘DEAD’, its club-ready thump instantly locking the room in. She played plenty of tracks from her newly released 2025 ablum ‘The BPM.’ Songs such as ‘YEA YEA YEA’ and ‘COME AND FIND YOU’ ramped up the momentum, her sultry, commanding vocals cutting through layered strings and beats. The crowd responded viscerally: more dancing, more nodding, that collective head-bob turning into full-body movement. Her music is empowering at its core, making you feel seen and unstoppable.
New tracks landed like revelations. ‘MY TYPE’ and ‘A BUG'S LIFE’ brought their signature experimental bite with a new club sound, but ‘Come Meh Way’, a song I’ve had on my playlists since 2017, felt spiritual live. Hearing those familiar violin runs soar over the live drums and her seamless layering was electric. The groove was undeniable; the whole venue moved together, feet tapping, shoulders rolling, pure connection.
She closed strong with ‘Selfish Soul’ and ‘Confession’s’, raw emotion wrapped in tight rhythms that left everyone breathless and wanting more. The encore delivered the knockout: ‘THE NATURE OF POWER’ roared with defiant fire, then ‘THE BPM’, the title track from her brilliant new club-forward album, sent us out on a high-octane wave. Those Detroit-inspired kicks paired with her soaring strings had the crowd losing it one last time.
This night was a reminder of why live music hits different. Sudan Archives is a multi-instrumental wizard who makes complexity feel effortless and inviting: empowering, danceable, deeply felt. The upbeat, dancing crowd at Radio/East amplified everything, turning a great show into something unforgettable. First time here, first time seeing her live, and I’m already counting down to the next one.