Isabel LaRosa live at Heaven.
Isabel LaRosa, Gen Z artist and TikTok darling, played a show at Heaven in London on October 23rd 2024. The room was packed, the crowd was passionate, and it was a real joy to witness.
Photos by Sam Monendo
LaRosa makes pop which will go on to define the trendy sonics of the 2020s, but the vibe of the live arrangements are very different. Thomas LaRosa, Isabel’s brother, is an excellent guitarist who added infinite life and edge to the songs, imbuing them with a more timeless feel than they originally had. Isabel’s live vocals are impressive- she knows how and when to hold a note, and embellishes her songs with belts and runs that I was not expecting to hear from her. This made me think about LaRosa’s future; I hope she enriches her discography with more vocal experimentation on future projects because she has the chops for it!
The Heaven show included a treat for true fans of LaRosa’s: unreleased music. No spoilers, but she did perform two new songs which have yet to be released, and which definitely explore a different side to her artistry. She appears to be leaning into some singer-songwriter sensibility, baring her soul in vulnerable lyrics and soft vocals, all of which were accompanied by acoustic guitar. No doubt, LaRosa knows who she is as an artist, her visuals, fashion choices, and hairstyle all reflect this, but the only thing that’s missing for her fans is a closer look at who she really is deep down. Being more emotionally intimate and open with her fans is a great move for Isabel LaRosa because it provides more depth and narrative for her fans to relate to and recognise themselves in. Ultimately, that is the point of music: catharsis. LaRosa definitely seemed cathartic performing these unreleased songs, and the treat did not go amiss!
Isabel seemed comfortable on stage dancing, talking to her fans, and at one point stopping the show for a medical emergency. There were no blunders or mess-ups- the show was fast-paced, and yet went very smoothly. Isabel deserves credit for her professionalism and natural on-stage charisma; despite being very young, it’s clear she has experience in performing for crowds and putting herself out there.
One thing that immediately stood out to me about this show was LaRosa’s unimaginably passionate and electric fans, who shared a sweet moment singing along to Gigi Perez’s ‘Sailor Song’ before the show started, the video of which went viral on TikTok when Perez reposted the video. They danced, screamed, and held hands all throughout the show, most of them wearing all black, most of them teenagers. It was ly special to witness the unbridled love in that room, and the pride and ownership that the fans take over Isabel’s music.