Baby Queen treated New York to an epic sold-out show at one of two U.S. stops for her “Quarter Life Crisis” tour.
No introduction was needed when the pastel pink-haired Arabella Latham, known professionally as Baby Queen, appeared. She kicked off the show with the title track of her debut studio album “Quarter Life Crisis,” which was released in November. Dedicated fans packed Bowery Ballroom shoulder-to-shoulder and sang every honest, cathartic lyric from her discography.
The singer, now 26, has unlocked a new, promising direction with this album and tour. The setlist included all of the new tracks from the album, while also delivering many of her breakthrough songs, best recognized from the popular Netflix romcom series Heartstopper. From the upbeat anthem “kid genius” to the bubblegum hook of “Love Killer”, her fanbase (nicknamed the “Baby Kingdom”) relished in all the infectious melodies and satirical jabs at the world from the pop princess.
Baby Queen’s sincerity and connection with her fans was self-evident during the show. By writing and singing about topics like being a hopeless romantic in this modern era or feeling stuck in life, she attracted a community of internet existentialists and misfits across millennials and Gen-Z to this crowd in New York. DIY-ripped jeans, kids unafraid of their own self-expression and alt-pop concert shirts could be seen in every corner of the intimate venue. Latham had allowed people to be seen and represented in a beautifully artistic way through her music. The concert was a joyful reminder of the sense of belonging and connection that live music could create, and Baby Queen channeled the limitless energy into her performance on stage.
During Latham’s more emotional, nostalgic songs, the singer shined even brighter. She confessed her insecurities, apathies, ambitions and fears of growing up and moving away from home too quickly with “Grow Up” and “Obvious,” perfectly executing heartfelt verses that sounded almost like a stream-of-consciousness spoken word performance. Latham went on to reflect on the personal full-circle moment of it all: she was 18 years old when she moved from South Africa to London to expand her career, and eight years later she would find herself performing at one of New York’s most reputable venues.
Even during the acoustic section of the show, the crowd could appreciate how much Baby Queen didn’t take herself too seriously. She noticed that a group of fans who had seen her shows back in the U.K. joined this tour stop in New York, and then she delivered her promise of taking a tequila shot with them while onstage. Baby Queen showed New York not only that she is a poet of her generation, but also that she can find freedom and confidence in herself as a young artist.
From satirical self-doubt to radical self-acceptance and solace, the singer-songwriter gave her all during the concert and capped off the night with fan favorites. For the encore, the crowd roared the lyrics to “Dover Beach” and “Want Me” from the Heartstopper soundtrack. The most uplifting, exhilarating moment came when Latham donned a pride flag like a cape for the last song, “We Can Be Anything.” The triumphant, colorful closure gave Baby Queen the happy-go-lucky royal exit she deserved for a concert that showcased all her lyrical and musical colors.
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