Review and Photography by Alain Cruz
“A mix of Emma Chamberlain’s energy with a songwriter’s heart” is how she was described to me, but I’d describe her as a blend of Laufey and Magdalena Bay. I was lucky enough to see Laufey very early on, before she blew up, and I got that exact same feeling watching Em. There’s just something so captivating and charming about her that immediately pulls you in. She has the wit, personality, and that raw realness that makes a room feel smaller, like she’s performing just for you. For that reason, this was one of the most whimsical concerts I’ve ever been to. Every song, story, and interaction felt like a page torn from a diary, very fitting for a tour called “Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter.”
Before getting into the set itself, I have to talk about the fans. This was one of the most passionate crowds I’ve seen in quite some time. There was a good mix of all ages, though the audience definitely skewed younger.
At one point, I found myself near a girl who honestly made the experience even better. She was completely overflowing with excitement, jumping up and down during the biggest moments of the show and singing along to every word. Watching her experience the concert with that kind of pure joy was genuinely heartwarming, and a reminder of how much music can mean to people. During the concert, everyone held up different colored pieces of paper throughout the venue, turning the crowd into a shifting sea of color. It happened during “When I Found U,” and Em even paused to comment on it, saying the crowd looked like Christmas lights from the stage. It was one of those small but special moments that showed just how naturally she connects with her audience.
Now for the actual concert. The opener was solid, not really my style, but still a strong performance that warmed the crowd up well. Then Em took the stage, and from that point on it was clear her recorded music doesn’t fully capture what she does live. She’s one of those artists you really have to see in person.
She moved effortlessly between the keyboard and just singing, never breaking momentum. There’s a level of ease to her performance that makes it almost easy to forget how difficult what she’s doing actually is. At one point she joked about something she “couldn’t live without” and held up a bottle of medicine, setting the tone with humor before diving right back into the music. A standout moment came during a song where she asks, “Do I sing this part higher?” and then immediately proves she can by jumping a full octave up. It’s a small moment, but it perfectly captures her range and confidence. Across the setlist, she kept highlighting just how strong her songwriting is. “Lottery” especially stood out, which I had already scribbled in my notes as incredibly well written before she even finished the song. Live, it hit even harder. She also leaned into variety, from a beautiful cover of “Us” by Regina Spektor to a creative moment involving an old phone playing a voice note. “Unicorn” was another highlight for me, full of high energy and bounce that completely shifted the room.
Throughout the night, Em was dealing with issues in her in-ears, but it never disrupted the performance. If anything, it made the whole thing more impressive. She adapted in real time and kept everything locked in without losing momentum or energy. By the end of it, it was easily one of the best concerts I’ve been to (or at least the most whimsical). I didn’t want it to end.
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