Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Skinshape is the studio project of British multi-instrumentalist and producer Will Dorey. Inspired by his love for 1960s music, he layers his sound with elements of funk, reggae, psychedelic rock, folk, and African rhythms. His short European spring tour has just begun, featuring three sold-out shows in the Netherlands, with tonight’s performance at the Melkweg in Amsterdam marking the final one in the Netherlands.
Joining him on tour as the support act is Brazilian musician Pedro Mizutani. With nothing more than a simple barstool and an acoustic guitar, he kept things minimal—but that was all he needed. Even though I couldn’t understand the lyrics, as they were in Portuguese, his emotions came through effortlessly. Judging by the audience’s reaction, some were already familiar with his music, and the warm applause he received reflected that. His rich, warm voice held the crowd’s attention for most of the set, though after a while, the chatter in the room grew louder. Thankfully, other audience members quickly stepped in to quiet the talkers, restoring the intimate atmosphere. It was a delicate yet captivating performance from the young artist—a perfect warm-up for what was to come.
After Mizutani’s set, the band took the stage and opened with “Summer”. It didn’t take long before the crowd turned into a sea of nodding heads and swaying bodies—a feeling that lasted throughout the entire show. Skinshape’s music isn’t loud or extravagant, but standing still is nearly impossible. Just a few songs in, an early highlight emerged as the band played “I Won’t Be There” from Life & Love, greeted by loud cheers from the audience.
Though Skinshape started as a solo project, the live performance is a full-band experience. Throughout the night, it was clear how well the musicians were in sync, and the chemistry between them was undeniable. Will Dorey himself doesn’t seek the spotlight; instead, he repeatedly took moments to highlight his bandmates, prompting applause for them—a rare kind of humility in today’s music scene.
After “Left With A Gun”, Pedro Mizutani was invited back on stage for “Chorar Na Beira Do Mar”, a collaboration between him and Skinshape. The atmosphere turned dreamlike as “The Ocean” was played, with the venue bathed in blue light. Moments later, we were brought back to shore with “Fish & Chips”, where the sound of waves lingered in the background. The setlist covered multiple albums, but noticeably, none of the tracks from Skinshape’s latest release, Another Side of Skinshape (from last year), made it onto the set. Whether that mattered is debatable—judging by the crowd’s energy, people weren’t there just for the newest material. Every song was met with equal enthusiasm.
Another standout moment came when the guitarist took over vocals for “The Longest Shadow”, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. For the encore, the band played “Take My Time” before closing the night with the beautifully dreamy “I Didn’t Know”.
Pedro Mizutani
Instagram
Skinshape
Facebook | Instagram | X
Setlist
Summer
Tomorrow
Amnesia
The Bay
Watching From the Shadows
I Won’t Be There
Left With a Gun
Chorar Na Beira Do Mar
The Ocean
Fish & Chips
The Moment
The Longest Shadow
Detroit
Oracolo
Don’t Call My Name
Mandala
Take My Time
I Didn’t Know
Show date 21/2/2025
