Last year, my friend sent me a 30 second video during her trip to SXSW of a singer with an incredible howl. It was the sound of Mackenzie Scott, better known as Torres, and even from such a short clip out of context, it embraced the singer’s unique spirit wholly. The other day, my friend found the video and yup, it’s still pure magic. Thankfully, Torres’ live show still holds that unique spirit and instant awe.

Ancient Ocean shared the night with Torres, offering some ambient sounds. He tapped a variety of pedals while gently walking up and down his guitar. Although soothing, it was ultimately confusing to me. There was a point where I realized that he was not warming up, it was a part of the set. To be real, I think I need a guitar expert here. If there is someone out there who knows their stuff, help is needed!

Torres took stage to settle into a full-set trance. The power of her live show falls on the conviction in Scott’s low tones and the world that she creates for herself in order to share it all. Her world opened wider and never felt more tangible than with the last song of her set, “November Baby”, which details how Scott envisions the perspective of her maternal mother whom gave her up for adoption. It was difficult to tame the bar in the back of the house that night, but with the chanting of, “Oh, my November baby,” the air grew closer to a hum.

Approached with the same tenderness, “Honey” translated into something much bigger than the recording. The warm chords individually plucked, and those “oohs” and “aahs” make for a closer connection to the textured feelings of longing and anger that hold the root of the song.

Sprinter, Torres’ latest album, shows a gritty strength not only channeled by the push of Scott’s voice and lyrics, but also through heavier instrumentals. As a result, some of the most distinguished pieces of the show derived from songs like “Sprinter”, where Scott pounced around stage, flipped her guitar perpendicular from herself, and laid down a smoldering riff. The diversity, both instrumentally and emotionally, proves Torres to be an artist whom evolves only with stronger integrity and mastery.