Fresh off the plane and warming up for the Great Escape Festival in Brighton, Isabel LaRosa led the charge at the Courtyard Theatre in Hackney, putting on a stunning performance for her second-ever international date.
Kicking off proceedings was Will Swinton, appropriately donning an ‘I love Isabel Larosa’ t-shirt that set the tone for the rousing set that followed. He quickly established his style of moody, catchy indie-pop and won the hearts of the audience with introspective lyricism and the charm of a rising star. Standout track “Rot” got the crowd moving, followed by fan favourite “Fall” to close out, as the energy was particularly reciprocated by a group of fellow New Zealanders at the centre of the action. Swinton provided the perfect injection of soul, aptly setting the stage for Valencia Grace to show off her sublime vocals.
Beginning with an emotional “Final Dance,” Valencia wasted no time in cementing her powerhouse status, exhibiting exceptional vocals, rich tones, and lyrics full of personality and individual experience. Grace held an emotional mirror to the room as the set progressed, moving through tracks designed to make listeners cry—“Speechless,” in particular, reached deep into the audience’s souls, perfect for lovers of poignant ballads and performers like Calum Scott and Mimi Webb. Fans were treated to several new tracks, which the whole room could look forward to supporting upon release. Grace struck a perfect balance between somber and sensual in her setlist choices, even calling out a couple in the centre of the crowd before her self-proclaimed ‘sexy song,’ capturing the audience’s attention and establishing the atmosphere for the set to come.
By the time Isabel LaRosa hit the stage with an emphatic and charged start, lights intensifying across the crowd and bringing them even closer to the action, fans were hyped to watch their favourite artist playing for the first time in the U.K. LaRosa brought nonstop high energy starting from opener “HAUNTED,” transitioning effortlessly through her ethereal indie-pop catalogue to the delight of those in the front row and beyond. A Maryland native, LaRosa was eager to demonstrate her gratitude for the international audience turnout between tracks, and the crowd was happy to reciprocate the love and spirit, showing up particularly for “more than friends,” as the set picked up in pace and passion. A wildfire followed in the form of an evocative cover of ‘I Kissed A Girl’ by Katy Perry, with the audience hanging on to every word.
Accompanied by her brother Thomas LaRosa on guitar, Isabel put on a show to remember. Her stage presence filled the room with fever, and fans were begging for one more song by the time the pair reached “i’m yours,” easily a highlight track that was also enjoyed by Will Swinton, who stuck around to support his headliner and experience the buzz. After the show, some of those who decided to prolong the evening were lucky enough to run into the three performers in the bar, where they were more than happy to chat to fans about travelling to London, upcoming appearances at The Great Escape and their appreciation for all of the backing received throughout the show. Not only an exceptional performer, Isabel LaRosa also proved herself a humble and sincere star with an attitude that will undoubtedly take her even further into the global industry.
