by Alexis Burke 

Artists to Watch: Yellow Days w/MorMor at the Sinclair 

Yellow Days, you ask? You may have heard his distinctive croon on WRBB radio, a bedroom pop Spotify playlist, or most notably featured in the trailer for FX’s Atlanta: Robbin’ Season. This artist to watch has garnered attention for his soulful voice and raw emotional lyrics. It’s easy at first listen to hear his influences, Ray Charles and Howlin’ Wolf, in his sound. His tendency towards ‘psychedelic jazz’ and lo-fi visuals, inspired by his synesthesia, creates a magnetic feel and aesthetic that is all his own.

George van den Broek, aka Yellow Days, is a 19-year-old indie R&B artist from Surrey, England. Currently on tour for his album Is Everything OK in Your World, he performed in Boston for the first time Friday. Kicking off a smooth and laid-back set, Yellow Days had the crowd jumping with anticipation as he stepped on stage to open with “The Way Things Change.”

As much as his lyrics speak to the weight of depression, anxiety, and adolescent heartache, Yellow Days didn’t seem to take himself too seriously. Dressed in a thrifted moving and storage company jumpsuit, Van den Broek acknowledged the absurdity and with ease moved right into “A Little While,” a track that speaks to the pain of love lost. His performance of “Gap in the Clouds” mesmerized the audience with its hopeful story of emerging from a dark place and learning to love again.

Yellow Days has proven he is an artist comfortable wading through waves of melancholy, and his lyrics show his process through these emotions. He showcased this with an Etta James, “I’d Rather Go Blind” cover. The singer put down his trademark Vox teardrop guitar and serenaded the audience with his raspy rendition of the blues classic.

After an almost 70 minute set, Yellow Days came back on stage for the encore. He shrugged and said, “I ain’t got shit to do,” and wrapped up with “I’ve Been Thinking Too Hard.” Fans didn’t want him to leave but were satisfied experiencing Yellow Days’ world, even if just for the night.