Photos and words by Carlo De Dios
Isabel LaRosa, with her evocative blend of dark pop, trance, electronic music and rock, is definitely one of the most unique artists on the rise right now. She has a very distinct style that has already attracted a very dedicated and loyal fanbase. Her live show last week at The Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C continues to demonstrate why fans have a growing obsession with her music.
Like most timeless pop artists, Isabel’s sense of visual world-building is very distinct and identifiable—dark, bold, moody, and cinematic. And it matches perfectly with her ethereal vocals and big haunting choruses. She has a unique vibe and dramatic style that really stands out and she proves it during each show.
Her set showcased most of her tracks from her debut album, Raven, including her latest single “Cry for You,” which was definitely an early show highlight. LaRosa’s pristine vocal delivery, as well as Thomas LaRosa’s (her brother and creative collaborator) confident abilities on guitar really brought these songs to life on stage. Not to mention Rhys Hastings’ tight drumming that possessed a hypnotic presence and infectious energy that was nonstop throughout the night. One of my personal favorite moments was when she changed the pace a bit during the ballad “Destroy Myself For You.” This chorus, with its tragic sense of yearning and desire, really hits deep and captivated the audience with its emotion.
One aspect that made the night feel really unique was how her hardcore stans reciprocated their adoration and support for her by debuting a DYI group fan project. During the song “Home,” the entire crowd coordinated together and held up signs for LaRosa to see that read “You Made It Home,” which was a heartfelt response to the song’s chorus “Don’t think I’ll ever go home.” They also held up another sign during “I’m Yours” that said “Look at You Now.” Seeing her music connect so deeply with fans by manifesting in different fan projects is always a beautiful thing to witness. Fans bonding together in these ways gives me a lot of hope for the current state of music. Isabel LaRosa is a part of the new generation of unique pop stars who try to chart their own map.
Catch Isabel LaRosa on the rest of her tour here!
Listen to Isabel LaRosa here!
Keep up with Mylifeinsound:
