Sega Bodega’s Ethereal Sound World Captivates Los Angeles
- Jomel Fragante
- Oct 12, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 4, 2024
Sega Bodega is the name behind the enigmatic London-based producer Salvador Navarrete. Los Angeles was his 5th stop on his North American tour to support his new album, Dennis. The show, much like his music, felt like a journey through fragmented, glitchy soundscapes that reference genres like IDM, UK bass, glitch, ambient noise, and hyperpop. His work aligns with other experimental artists like Arca, Eartheater, and Doon Kanda—pushing creative boundaries to soundtrack your cold, sleepless nights.
The stage was set with Sega at the center, surrounded by LED panels that pulsed rapidly in sync with the music, amplifying the intensity of the performance. He opened with several tracks from Dennis: “Adulter8,” “Effeminacy,” “Elk Skin,” and “Dirt.” These songs not only set the mood but capture Sega’s current sound—jagged yet intimate, disorienting yet ethereal—each track layered with distorted beats and eerie vocal modulations. Sega collaborates with many alternative and hyperpop artists with large queer followings, so it was no surprise when someone in the audience screamed, “Sega daddy!”
He brought a friend on stage to join him for a cover of Britney Spears’ “Sometimes.” This performance showcased Sega’s use of autotune and distortion to push the human voice into a synthetic, otherworldly, almost alien terrain. Halfway through the set, Sega gently pulled the audience out of the hypnotic trance, dedicating a song to the late Sophie—the visionary producer who undoubtedly influenced many in the hyperpop scene. Everyone in the house knew Sophie, and most likely discovered Sega through her.
Sega’s music is heavy on texture, so hearing it live, amplified by high-quality speakers, elevated the sonic elements of his unique production style. You start to notice the small, unpredictable details, sounding purposefully unpolished, which aligns with the raw, strained, and emotionally fragile themes in his writing. The show closed with the fan favorite, “Kepko,” a mind-bending, club-ready track that reverberated through the venue. It’s not easy listening, but that’s exactly what makes this music so compelling.
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