Industry Insider: Elle Varner Returns To The Stage Like She Never Left
Written By: Samantha Cee
“Nemas Boom Boom Room has once again lit the fuse for NYC nightlife!” Says Lucky Church (Partner & PR Director for NBBR). “Nema Kamar has always focused on quality vocalists and performers when it comes to booking artists for her shows. Talent has always been the main ingredient which is why her show has been around for ten years, and stars are born on her stage.”
If back like I never left was a person, it would be Elle Varner. After a brief hiatus from the stage, Elle returned to her throne on October 19th, 2020 like a prizefighter in her prime ready for battle. The stage was hers, and she owned it completely. With her mic in hand, Elle danced across the stage singing “I Only Wanna Give It To You,” her hit record with J. Cole. Her fans instantly jumped to their feet with their hands in the air and filled in the rap verse with Elle, who dropped bars like a pro. You could feel the crowd embrace her as they sang every lyric back to her. Elle also performed some of her new music, and the crowd loved the songs just as much as her classic hit records. She even had an intimate moment where she sang acapella and melted the audience with her vocal acrobatics as she teased them, knowing what they were waiting for! Elle whispered into the mic, “Does anyone need a Refill” and the crowd went wild! Everyone put their glasses in the air as Elle belted out her signature vocals to her hit single “Refill.” She proved that she is still a vocal juggernaut and delivered effortless vocals that reminded us why we fell in love with Elle Varner from day one.
The show opener was Ziemia, and she set the mood for a truly unforgettable show. She opened her set with a cover of H.E.R.’s hit song “Damage” with sultry velvet vocals that felt like watching chocolate being drizzled over fresh strawberries. The song choice was perfect for her voice, and she followed up with an original song called “Clown,” which was instantly a crowd favorite due to the relatable lyrics and easy singalong melody. She's an artist worthy of being on the radar of anyone who is a lover of music.
Sometimes the best way to say hello is by saying goodbye, and that's just what the second act Bria Lee did. Her powerful cover of Post Malone’s hit record “Goodbyes” featuring Young Thug captured the audience from her first breath. This tiny giant had the crowd eating from the palm of her hand, and she was just getting started. For her second song, Bria sat at her piano and began to sing from the depths of her heart and soul while the audience danced on the edge of every word as she sang her original song, “Lonely Hearts.” The room was electrified as everyone lifted their phones to capture Bria as if they knew they were watching history unfold. As she left the stage, she belted the lyrics to her song “You Better Not Forget Me” with the passion of a thousand broken hearts and who could because she was a phenomenal vocalist who bared her soul on stage. The standing ovation was deserved. Fat Joe and Pitbull knew what they were doing when they collaborated with this young Queen.
One of the night's highlights has become the Verzuz battle between the hosts Jonathan Martin and Nick Storm. This week Jonathan and Nick chose Beyonce vs Mary J Blige, and the crowd loved it. Power 105.1’s DJ Will played monster hits from each artist as the hosts battled over who had the best records and let the crowd choose their favorites through the night. Celebrity photographer Johnny Nunez was spotted along with actor Amir Arison of NBC’s hit series “The Blacklist,” and Cappie Pondexter (WNBA).
