There was a hush over the crowd as Tamino and his bandmates took the stage in preparation for Friday’s Free at Noon concert. Without even uttering a word, Tamino had captivated the crowd, thanks in part to his striking height, but, more importantly, thanks to his quiet charm and down-to-earth nature.
Tamino’s songs were equally commanding as his vocals flowed seamlessly from soaring high notes to deep whispers, with elaborate vocal runs sprinkled throughout. There was something almost cinematic about his songs, spurred on by his emotive cello accompaniment. His introspective lyrics captured the beauty and pain of love, moving through swelling ballads to more rhythmic tracks, ensuring the entire audience was swaying along. It’s hard to encompass Tamino’s songs in a singular genre, but there’s a distinctive Egyptian influence that can be heard throughout, creating a sound that feels both unique and deeply resonant.
Tamino is no stranger to the XPN stage. His debut Free at Noon show was back in 2022, along with a spellbinding set at XPoNential Music Festival later the same year. On Friday, he had some new treats up his brown cardigan sleeves – the first half of his set featured unreleased songs from his upcoming album, Every Dawn’s a Mountain. He also recounted the last time he played Free at Noon, when he drove himself from New York to Philadelphia. Tamino is surprisingly soft-spoken, especially when considering his vocal range, but he playfully described the terror of driving in the US and having to use miles per hour.
Although the first half of his set consisted of newer material, Tamino made sure to play his top songs from his debut album, Amir. “Indigo Night” and “Habibi” are two songs that manage to sound even better every time I hear them played live, and this was no exception.
Tamino’s third album Every Dawn’s a Mountain is set to release on March 21. He will also be returning to Philly on April 16, when he’ll headline Union Transfer. Head over to XPN’s Concert Calendar for more details.