Tayla Parx and Sizzy Rocket Get Intimate at The Peppermint Club

Oct 9

Photos & Word by Asha Moné

Tayla Parx at the Peppermint Club by Asha Moné

Ten minutes from a swanky Beverly Hills neighborhood lies a 250-person capacity, 60s-inspired music lounge called The Peppermint Club. "Transparency" by Willow Smith plays softly through the speakers as people lounge in velvet-tufted booths and pocket Starlight peppermint candies as they surround the oval-shaped bar, waiting for cocktails.

This Friday night is dedicated to Tayla Parx and Sizzy Rocket- 2 halves of the same coin.

Sizzy Rocket, a Las Vegas-born musician with Indie Punk attributes, opens the night with her jet-black hair swinging across her "Sex Icon" T-shirt and fishnet-covered hands that hold her Black Roland AX-Edge Keytar Synthesizer. She is an "Indie Sleaze" to the T.

She captivates the audience with her edgy style, performing songs from her new project, "Grrl," which features a mix of airy ballads, deep house beats, and Euro trance club bops. Her performance of "Tattoos," a girl-meets-girl love story with a Jersey Club imprint, stands out and leaves the crowd wanting more, more, more.

Now on to our pièce de résistance, Tayla Parx.

Parx isn't new to the entertainment circuit. She started her music and acting career before age 9, and at only 31, she holds countless Grammy nominations under her belt. But this time around, this night, she's headlining her solo tour surrounded by musical peers, observant fans, and doting family members.

If you ask the people in the crowd, they would say she's an icon for body positivity, for LGBTQ musicians, and just for those actively expressing themselves without care. To me, an ex-show choir kid with a knack for live music and visual arts, she is a force to be reckoned with and highly underrated by the masses. She gets better and better every time I see her. Songs like "Flowers," "Rich," "Celebration Weight," and "I Don't Talk About Texas" show her musicality and range.

Parx's presence commands attention, filling the air with joy and energy and leaving the audience in awe. Her performance reflects a refreshing take on pop music, showcasing her talent and carving a new pathway for Black musicians in the industry. From her southern twang to her bright and airy Glee-worthy music videos, the music industry hasn't seen an artist of her caliber since Tierra Whack or 2010 Katy Perry.

On my way home, I think about how refreshing it is to hear a project and say, "Now, this is Pop music.” "Many Moons, Many Suns" is just that: vibrant, playful, zesty, dramatic, and spunky. It's what I desire from a disciplined performer who has learned from some of the most incredible talents in her field.

The show was incredible. I can't wait to see what's next for her on her musical journey.