There’s no introduction that really does justice to Neo Joshua, who now performs under the pseudonym Nao. The British born R&B (formally trained jazz) artist has played backup singer to the likes of Jarvis Cocker, penned songs for Ariana Grande and Stormzy, and recorded tracks with 6lack, Mura Masa, and Disclosure. Some may argue she’s been flying under the radar, but by the looks of her sold-out shows (including New York’s Terminal 5 on Saturday night), things have quickly changed in the past 4 years. Here are 5 reasons not to miss Nao live:

1)  Nao’s voice is one thing recorded, but in person, it’s beyond captivating

If the screams of fans alone don’t send chills down your spine, Nao will. There’s something inescapable about her timbre, it crawls under your skin and stays with you for the rest of the night. Simply put, her voice is hauntingly beautiful.

2) Her stage presence is all-encompassing.

From singing in the crowd to sitting on the edge of the stage, eye level with the audience, Nao connects with her fans on a very emotional and real level. Between songs her charming banter makes it feel like she’s having a one-on-one conversation with everyone in the room.

3) Her fans are something alone to be witnessed

A half hour into the opening act people can still be spotted lining up for tickets to a sold-out show, pleading with will call in a last ditch effort for them to somehow materialize extra tickets. “Die hard” is an understatement. There’s infectiousness to the fan’s loyalty that creates an aura and energy of extreme anticipation.

4) Her light and stage design 

Though simple, seductively play into the general atmosphere of the show. It’s easy to get lost in each song as you’re transported to another plane entirely.

5) The setlist plays out like a perfect ballad

Filled with top tracks off of her acclaimed freshman album For All We Know(RCA, 2016) and her recent release Saturn(RCA, 2018), it’s easy to understand how Nao has been awarded so many accolades (from the Brit Awards to BBC Sound, from Pitchfork to Billboard).

Be sure to check out Nao at thisnao.com and on iTunes.