“When one door closes, a window opens.” This familiar proverb promises new opportunities, but what about the uncertain transition period in between, the liminal space? mxmtoon’s new record explores that in-between cosmos, as the former New Yorker finds her footing in Nashville. On April 2, the audience at Boston’s Roadrunner joined her on that journey, stepping into the in-between right alongside her.
Singer-songwriter Katherine Li was the first to take the stage in her purple satin mini-dress. As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, her set was all about falling in love. Her thoughtful lyrics and pop sound, showcased in songs like “So Embarrasing,” were a natural lead in to mxmtoon’s introspective set.
For her 19-song set, mxmtoon invited the crowd into her own liminal world, setting the scene with a dreamy backdrop of glowing stars, floating windows, and a lone door that opened to a screen that played symbolic visuals throughout the night.
“A lot of the songs I wrote for my third record were all songs I wanted to sing on stage in front of people. It means so much to me that you showed up for this tour. I’m maybe the most proud of my live show I’ve ever been in my life,” mxmtoon shared of the songs and space she had curated.
mxmtoon also opened up about the intentionality behind the making of her album, including her decision to work exclusively with women. That choice was sparked during the creation of the record’s first track, “Elevator.”
“I was really happy about it when I wrote that song because it was also the first session that I walked into in my life, where I had gone in with the intention of being like, I just want to work with women…”Elevator” was one of the first songs where I felt like I got to walk in, say what I was thinking and not filter it for who I was talking to. And it was because I was working with women that I knew would understand exactly,” mxmtoon said.
That intention extended to the tour itself, with openers like Luna Li, Juliet Ivy, and Katherine Li all handpicked by mxmtoon. “It’s been very fun to me to be able to tell my story on stage and also get to hear other women who are incredibly talented tell their story on stage as well. It’s very, very cool,” mxmtoon shared.
One of the most moving moments came during her performance of “Seasonal Depression.” As she reached the lyric “To bask in my tiny bit of the light / To warm the cold that I feel inside,” the crowd quietly raised their phone lights in unison, a heartwarming surprise that left mxmtoon speechless. “Not only did everyone have to wait for the bridge, but then you all put your lights up. Thank you so much to whoever organized it,” she said, visibly moved.
By the end of the night, that “liminal space,” which once seemed so uncertain, was filled with so much understanding, appreciation, and what mxmtoon described as “real life fairy dust”
“Thank you for holding my stories with so much love and care. I’m really grateful,” mxmtoon told the crowd with enough gratitude to fill the expansive liminal space.
For tickets to “The Liminal Space Tour,” visit https://www.mxmtoon.com/shows
