Being a musician is hard. Playing on stage is hard. Having a happy life is even harder, but when Nerina Pallot played on stage at the Institute of Contemporary Art, no one could have noticed any of the abovementioned. At her show, Nerina’s fans, whom she calls “my friends”, were completely immersed in her melodies.

Those at the gig, where she introduced her new album The Graduate, which took shape over the course of two years, would have agreed that she is not just a mainstream artist who creates music for the sake of popularity. Apart from the fact that The Graduate is a different image from Fires, her previous album – it is a lot happier and more joyful – Nerina presented herself in a new way at her show. Compared to Fires, the songs from The Graduate were played with more cheerful and optimistic attitudes that ran through the whole night.

The atmosphere she created on the stage was what gave her “friends” enjoyment, not only her music. Nerina opened her night with a childhood story about her eighth birthday party, which she likened the gig to. Laughter followed. The way she connected with people was witty and light-hearted, and many would immediately fall for her sweet natured humour. This is what should be important at a live gig. There should be an intimate connection and a minimal and almost non-existent space between the artist and the audience. Pallot successfully broke down the natural barrier and built up the instant communication with her friends below the stage.

The way Nerina played with words at the gig reflects highly on her literary background. Nerina finished her degree in English, and books have always been the main inspiration for her melodies and lyrics. On stage, she completely opened herself up and brought to us her honesty in music and literature.

Her personality was also unveiled on stage, where she never restrained herself from being the person she is. There was no pretension. Between songs, Nerina inserted the stories that inspired their making, and therefore presented us with what each song means to her. She gave us the chance to associate songs with her stories.

Near the end, Nerina concluded the night with what she called “a celebration of humanity”. It was a declaration she made about life and her way of dealing with it. The gig was a success for Pallot, getting an enthusiastic response from her “friends”, and she played the music which she created with integrity. This was not just a gig, but a journey, and one that Nerina brought us through with a smile.

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