Arabella Lucia hasn’t even released her upcoming EP yet, and she’s already drawing a dedicated crowd of fans eager to catch her live. In the heart of Soho last Thursday evening, she invited a select audience to an intimate, invite-only acoustic gig at Yungblud’s B.R.A.T cave, previewing tracks from the forthcoming collection alongside her latest single, ‘Steal My Shimmer’. It felt like the beginning of something truly exciting.
An Armenian-Canadian songwriter, Lucia welcomed us into her ‘Rockstar Princess’ world: a style that blends punchy, guitar-driven songs with a rebellious punk attitude and a distinctly feminine flair. Naturally, the aesthetic is just as important, with tiaras taking centre stage - several audience members arrived wearing them, too. When fans are already showing up dressed in your signature style, singing along to your lyrics, and queuing for photos and autographs afterwards, you must be doing something right.
Beneath the sparkle, however, Lucia tackles some hard-hitting subjects. Each song tells a story of its own, delivered with a fearless edge. From her striking debut track, ‘Hostage Calls You Baby’, written after reading about a woman’s experience of domestic abuse, to a rock’n’roll reimagining of the ‘90’s classic ‘Unpretty’, her songwriting shows plenty of range. A personal favourite, ‘Armenian Girl’, pays tribute to her heritage, with Lucia inviting a friend onstage to accompany her on the flute.
Whether encouraging the audience to sing along or commanding the room with raw energy and enthusiasm, Lucia proves herself an undeniable performer with unwavering confidence. The result is an endlessly entertaining set. B.R.A.T provided the perfect backdrop: a sweaty, rock’n’roll basement with just enough glamour to give the performance an extra-special sheen. She even gave a shout-out to the Yungblud fans in the audience before launching into a rendition of the star’s hit ballad ‘Zombie’, filling the room with her haunting, powerful, growling vocals.
While her sound calls to mind Olivia Rodrigo and pop-rock trailblazers like Avril Lavigne, Arabella Lucia occupies that same musical space while carving out an identity entirely her own. She refuses to shrink herself, as she makes clear in her glittering new single, ‘Steal My Shimmer’, which she excitedly announced was dropping that very night. Inspired by an encounter with a male musician who questioned whether her guitar was even her own, the track takes aim at those threatened by others’ success, while encouraging fellow female artists not to let anyone dim their light.
Intimate, fun, and everything you could want from a secret rock’n’roll show, Arabella Lucia feels poised to take London and beyond by storm. Her highly anticipated EP is due out on November 13th, with a release party featuring her full band at Islington’s Slim Jim’s on November 12th. If this performance is anything to go by, she’s one to watch.
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Photo credit: Lewis Marchant
