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Live: LAUV // O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

Singing along, dancing, laughing, crying, there are no shortage of adverbs to describe what a magical night Lauv created at his sold out show on Wednesday night. 

American pop star Lauv packed out London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire for a night of loud sing-alongs, ‘awkward dancing’ and just all round general fun on Wednesday evening. With queues snaking around the block, the excitement to see him was palpable and as a host of adoring fans packed out the venue, it promised to be an energetic night of unforgettable memories.

Bouncing on with recent single Drugs & The Internet, the electricity was sky-high from the very first note. With Lauv dancing around on stage accompanied by a two-man band, fans sung back every word with just as much gusto as Lauv delivered, and it was evident that the bond shared by artist and fan was something special. As he moved closer to the crowd for Paris In The Rain, it almost felt like there was no one else present as delicate synths provided the accompaniment to the airy falsetto of the chorus, and it was hard to resist swooning over the sun-kissed melody.

“Welcome to night of really awkward dancing on stage” laughed Lauv after bouncing around during Paranoid, but the infectious nature of dancing reached the crowd especially as the vibrant and upbeat grooves of A Different Way kicked in, with everyone on their feet either jiving, jumping, or doing both.

Tuning it down, Lauv pulled on everyone’s heartstrings as he slowed the pace down for Come Back Home, a track that is heartbreaking enough with its poignant lyricism but was made even more emotional as fans waved their flashlight around, creating a shimmering amongst the moody blue lighting for the track. However, he quickly amped up the electricity again with the dynamic Chasing Fire, and the whole crowd almost moved as one as everyone bounced about.

Contrasting against the excitement of the previous track, it was now time for fans to try and hold back tears as Lauv packed a double punch with the sentimental The Story Never Ends, which he serenaded the crowd with from the balcony, and the touching Superhero. However, the sprinkled humour as Lauv joked that his balcony performance “was kinda awkward, right?” made the job a bit easier, and coupled with a glimmering disco ball during Superhero, the melancholy of the tracks treaded on the edge of endearment instead.

His collaboration with Troye Sivan earlier this year for i’m so tired was a huge success, and this was clear by the way the track easily garnered one of the loudest sing-alongs of the evening. He rode off this high by teasing the crowd with an unreleased track called The Sims, under the condition that “you guys have to promise to go off” and the crowd certainly did not disappoint – but that wasn’t difficult to do considering the poppy nature of the track.

Rounding off the main set with his first ever single The Other, Lauv’s incredible vocal prowess took centre stage and you couldn’t help but be reminded of what an incredible performer he has been for the whole evening. Returning for a two-song encore of Never Not and I Like Me Better, it’s clear that Lauv was born for nights of sold-out shows like this one. His irresistible charisma and candid songwriting is something we all need in our lives, and we can’t wait until the next time he’s back.

Photos: Athena Kam