Tamino Enchants MTELUS

Perfect, just perfect. That’s the only word I can use to describe a Tamino concert experience. Seeing the Belgian-Egyptian singer live at MTelus brought me a moment of solace during a busy and stressful finals period. Tamino performed on April 9, right in the middle of the last week of classes. Although it may not have been ideal, I could never complain about seeing one of my favourite artists live.  

This was my second time seeing the 28-year-old artist live. I still remember that concert at Corona Theatre as if it were yesterday. It’s a heartwarming moment seeing one of my favourite artists grow from one venue to a bigger one.  Despite it being the second time, it was even more special than the first time. He returned to Montreal after two years for the tour of his new album Every Dawn’s a Mountain, which reflects loss, change, and growth. 

Excited to see him, I arrived at 6:30 p.m. right when the doors opened. After a two and a half hour wait, it was finally time to experience Tamino. The moment he entered on stage, it felt like all my problems faded away, and all I could hear was Tamino’s oud – an Arabic lute – serenading us with the first track on EDAM, “My Heroine.”

This time around, he brought a band with him. The addition of the base, drums, and cello to the concert added an extra intensity, which I loved and welcomed. 

For those who have never heard Tamino’s music, he blends Middle Eastern and Western influences to create his own indie/alternative rock, but I don’t think a single label can truly describe his style. 

Tamino’s lyrics are poetic and moving. His music is quiet, slow, soothing, contemplative, and melancholic. His voice hypnotizes and captivates all who hear it. I believe his newest album perfectly reflects who he is as an artist. 

When playing “Sanctuary,” a song he collaborated with Mitski, I was somewhat delusional to the fact that she would make a surprise appearance (a girl can dream). 

Then, he unexpectedly said that he was going to play an old song, meaning from his debut album, Amir. 

“Persephone!” someone in the audience screamed. 

And he abided. 

There’s an air of mystery to the artist. Despite the few interactions he had with the audience about poutine and how he loved Montreal, he didn’t say much. He didn’t need to. His songs spoke for him, it was enough to connect him and the audience together for the entirety of his performance.  

My best friend (who I went to the last concert with) was convinced that since he moved to a bigger venue, he wouldn’t play a surprise unreleased track. She thought wrong. He told the crowd not to record the next song, to enjoy it, as this would be a moment that we shared with him. It was a moment that I was fully immersed in. Seeing no phones recording in my line of sight felt somewhat surreal (maybe everything is because of those damn phones). It was one of those moments where I felt truly present, a moment I could call “mine.” I had no thoughts, just Tamino and the sound of his voice.  

He finished his set with an encore of two of my favourite songs. The penultimate performance was the last song on EDAM, “Amsterdam.” Despite being the least listened to track on the album, it’s my personal favourite. I also think that it’s literally the perfect way to end an album and a performance, as the last line of lyrics are “I know now how it ends / We know now how it ends.” Poetic mastermind. 

Obviously, a Tamino concert couldn’t finish without him playing classic and fan favourite “Habibi” for which a fan wished for, very loudly, multiple times. 

Tamino is one of those artists that I truly believe is meant to be heard live. There’s something raw and authentic about his performances that can’t be replicated in a recording. Even rewatching the clips I have of the concert doesn’t capture the essence. It’s an unforgettable performance that I think every fan should be able to experience at least once in their lives.