KIESZA - LIVE AT THE SOCIAL
“Welcome to your after party,” Dancer Jaylen Brown yells into the crowd of the Kiesza show thispast Thursday night. That’s exactly what this night felt like, a secret haven for us to dance and let loose, a personal after-party just for those who knew. Dance-Pop icon, Kiesza, took over The Social in Orlando, FL, last week and created the perfect pre-weekend party. This was a show that made you want to get up and dance, with elaborate choreography and various props; this wasn’t the type of concert to sit down at. This was only the second stop of the tour, with the opening night in Atlanta, GA, the day before.
As the show began, I am instantly amazed by Kiesza's vocal talents. I realized pretty early on that this would be a performance that set itself apart from others. The sheer talent of Kiesza’s singing and stage presence is met with the interactive and quirky choreography of backup dancer Jaylen Brown. This duo instantly drew me in and left me so enthralled that it was hard not to take pictures of every second of the show. There were feather boas, outfit changes, spinning, and a fluffy dress that drew resemblance to the iconic Cyndi Lauper gown from the cover of She’s So Unusual. What more could you ask for on a
Thursday night in Orlando, FL? As we make our way through the setlist, we are met with songs new and old, with many being featured on Kiesza’s newest release, Dancing and Crying: Vol 3, released earlier this month. To me, my favorite thing about a live show is hearing the newest installments to one's discography. Hearing new music live completely changes how I visualise the songs. Now I truly understand the sentiment behind dancing and crying and how these two things go hand in hand. One moment, the room is dancing and singing to the 2014 hit Hideaway, and the next, we are under the rain with Kiesza and Jayden as they hold an umbrella up to sing the sugar-coated heartbroken song Raining. Kiesza sings the lyrics “Running from our love, going mad. Running from our pain, eating at my heart,“ on this track. It’s songs like this one that capture what it means to be crying in the club; it’s happy music with a secret, sad twist that’s only unveiled when looking into what’s being said.
As the night continued, it began to feel more like a large gathering of friends dancing together at a party. Kiesza jumps into the crowd multiple times to dance around with the fans gathered on the floor, even once making her way to the bar area in the back to serve vocals on the staircase. I made sure to look at each person's face throughout the crowd to see how they were feeling about the show, and I noticed every single person was smiling. There wasn’t one resting face within the crowd; everyone had a full grin.
It’s hard not to feel happy in these sorts of situations. It’s almost like there's an energy looming in the room that makes you feel the joy of pop music. As the show came to a close, we ended the night with opener Rye Rye on stage alongside Dancer Jaylen Brown and Kiesza, who has now taken to the DJ stand in the corner, really setting in the after-party aspect of the show.
The show came to a close after a special song dedicated to a fan in the crowd was sung. As everyone left the room, many stayed behind to purchase merch and talk amongst themselves. It truly felt like I had stumbled upon a close-knit community of dance-pop lovers. I had such a fantastic time at the show that even I had stayed behind trying to keep the night’s energy going. Kiesza has truly proved to me that she is a pop diva ready for royalty status. From excellent dancing to excellent vocals, Kiesza is the pop vocalist we’ve all been waiting for. Kiesza’s tour continues until mid-June, hitting cities in the US and Europe. Her latest release, Crying and Dancing: Vol 3, is available on all streaming platforms.
