Alice Phoebe Lou at the Vogue Theatre

Alice Phoebe Lou stepped out on stage, alone, illuminated by a single spotlight. Her presence pulled the audience in. Greeting the crowd with a soft but cheerful "Hello", the singer-songwriter set the stage for an intimate evening. It took no time to charm the room with her down-to-earth personality. She said she might be a little delirious, as this was the last stop on her tour. When she donned an acoustic guitar, her angelic voice echoed through the theatre, creating a hush over the crowd. Each soul was compelled to hear every beautiful note and lyric coming from the stage.

Lou was born in South Africa, but gained notoriety in Berlin as a street performer, a city she now calls home. Her sound is a melancholic blend of indie bedroom pop, blues, and soul, highlighted by her soft, distinct vocals and raw, emotional lyrics.

Lou, an independent artist, self-funded her six studio albums. “10 to 15 years ago, labels were the only way to get your music heard. That’s not true anymore,” Lou mentioned in an Off Key interview. She played many songs off her newest album Oblivion, one standout being “Old Shadows”. The quiet setting highlighted her vulnerable lyrics:

“Don't you worry when I come with daggers out,

I'm fighting old battles,

It's not you that it's about,

It's those old shadows that haunt my waking self,

They've been taking up the space inside my dreams,

Be patient with me love,

I'm still learning that I am worth it,

That I deserve it.”

Lou shared in a Reddit AMA, “A lot of my songs are a kind of stream of consciousness therapy for getting over a lot of the difficulties that come along with that. […] I try to tap into how I am feeling even if it's embarrassing." The audience showed their admiration throughout the night, shouting “We love you!” between songs, which she received with genuine appreciation. Lou shared how meaningful this tour was. Performing solo, after years with a full band, helped her connect with audiences and let the songs breathe in a new light.

Midway through the show, she said, “This is the time I usually play a cover. So, I’ve chosen a 400-year-old Scottish song for you, The Water is Wide.” Her tender, atmospheric touch made the rendition unique to that moment in time.

Later, Lou was joined on stage by her best friend, Dave and opening act, John Andrews, who added backing guitars and keyboards to the performance. Lou showed off her own multi-instrumental prowess as she played a synthesizer between each line of her song “Only When I” off her 2021 album Glow. She moved to the soft notes of a keyboard for “Lately”, “Open My Door,” and “Angel” off her 2021 album Shelter.

She closed the night with an acoustic rendition of "Witches," her most well-known song. It was an incredible finale to an awe-inspiring night.