There’s something unmistakably Brazilian running through Leo Middea’s music. Born in Rio de Janeiro, the troubadour, guitarist and songwriter has been making music for as long as he can remember, weaving the colors, rhythms, contrasts and energy of his home country into every song. Leo Middea’s latest album Notícias de Puglia was featured in our Seven Albums To Be Your Summer Soundtrack feature. The album is packed with drums and rhythm, that euphoric feeling of carnival and kissing someone for the first time, and that undeniable pulse of home for Leo. It only makes sense that tonight, on the official last summer day of the year, he is bringing these songs to life in Berlin. There’s something almost magical about hearing Leo Middea’s Brazilian rhythms fill the historic ballroom of Heimathafen Neukölln. Originally built in the 1870s as a salon and ballroom in Rixdorf, the ornate venue has spent the past 150 years transforming from a local entertainment hall to a theatre, cinema and cultural space. Tonight, its old walls are given another chapter as congas, guitars and Brazilian rhythms take over the room. It’s crowded tonight on stage at Heimathafen. Leo Middea enters with a band of five members. Each musician is dressed with a big smile, immediately giving the crowd that warm feeling of familiarity. The show opens with a big bang as we dive right into ‘Fio de Bronze’. No support act warming up the crowd, no upfront warning. From the very first minute, each and every visitor is asked to sing along to the song. The Portuguese-speaking fans take the lead, and the other half of the crowd happily join in for the easy parts. The night is off to a great start. The live instrumentation is incredible. The keyboard is going, the trumpets are strong, the bass is electrifying and a traditional drum kit is joined by a set of hand-played congas, bringing an infectious rhythmic energy to the performance. Leo himself takes part in the band with his guitar. It’s his warm and crystal-clear voice, however, that hypnotizes the crowd. It’s easy for him to sweep the audience away. Let’s be honest, a smile like that is stealing the show! His one and only English song on the album has a background story. Leo introduces the song by explaining in detail how it came to life. One of his friends told him he should really record an English song. He is traveling the world with his tour, so he should give his non-Portuguese-speaking fans something to sing along to as well. The singer agreed, but quickly found himself in a writer’s block. Until one evening, when he spent about five hours in a bar back home in Rio de Janeiro. Drinking beer with friends, he noticed three people passionately kissing each other throughout the whole night. This ultimately became the inspiration for ‘More Than Two’. The absolute highlight of the evening is when the opening track to his latest album is brought to life. ‘Atabaque’ has the band jumping around on stage, ensuring everyone in the room is moving along and celebrating the music. To really become one with his fans, Leo and his bass player join the crowd to dance together to the sounds of a Brazilian street festival. If you came to the show feeling worried about whatever you have going on in your life, we’re sure the joy in the room washed it all away during the performance of this song. Leo and his band play for a whopping one hour and 45 minutes, but the night goes by in what feels like five minutes. We are having so much fun. We all dance as one to ‘Verano’ and sing in harmony to ‘Sulamérica’. Whoever said music unites would’ve been proud tonight. Notícias de Puglia was clearly made with the intention of being played live, and we loved every second of it.
All of Berlin’s R&B lovers are collectively united in one building tonight. Huxleys Neue Welt welcomes 31-year-old singer Ella Mai to its stage for this Friday evening. The UK hitmaker is here to perform songs from her latest release Do You Still Love Me? and, of course, her greatest hits throughout her career. The stage is decorated to mimic the album cover of her latest project. One lounge chair, a tiny table with a phone on it and a fence filled with plants are setting the scene. The show opens with one of our favorites from the latest record. ‘There Goes My Heart’ already proved to be a perfect opener on the album, so it only makes sense that it takes on the same role for the tour. The almost haunting production is the kind of interlude that right off the bat has us wanting more and curious about what’s to come. Following up is the perfect love song ‘100’. Ella reminds us that within a relationship, it’s completely fine to not always be on a fifty-fifty. Sometimes your partner might only feel like a twenty, so you step up to an eighty. Together, you make it a hundred. As she is a traditional R&B artist, some of her music naturally tends to have similar vibes. During the show, it feels like she knows exactly who she is. The few up-tempo songs she has are perfectly placed in the setlist to pick up the energy in between her slower songs. One of the standout moments of the night is ‘One Of These’. For the banger, her two backing singers get on stage and together they form some sort of unbelievably talented R&B band. Their energy and chemistry are off the roof. They almost have you wishing they would actually form a band and get in the studio together. It’s time for her debut album to have a little moment. ‘Shot Clock’ in this live setting almost feels like a rock song. The guitar-heavy rendition boosts Ella’s confidence as she sings her heart out. The rockstar energy quickly fades away as she exchanges it for the most intimate moment of the night. It’s time to strip things down and take it all the way back to 2017 for an acoustic version of ‘Naked’. On top of a high chair with the spotlight shining on her, she has the whole crowd singing along to each word of the singer-songwriter’s hit. Surprisingly enough, it’s during this intimate moment that the crowd is at its loudest. Ella’s biggest hits are hidden at the back of the setlist. Her Grammy-winning smash hit ‘Boo’d Up’ sounds fresh as if it was released yesterday. Hearing her sing it live proves how insanely timeless the song is. It was so ahead of its time that it stands the test of time. Eight years later and it still hits hard. It won’t come as a surprise that ‘Trip’, the other hit with the same ingredients, has the same trick up its sleeve. We love seeing the singer in her element. Dressed in a beautiful beige piece and bare makeup, truly looking like a natural beauty. No heavy choreography. Just her incredible voice and good, traditional music is all that’s needed. We can’t believe we finally get to hear one of our favorite songs released in the past few years live. ‘Little Things’ first appeared on her EP 3 and, thanks to its success, made it to the Do You Still Love Me? album as well. It somehow ended up kind of serving as the lead single of it, without any intention. It really is an R&B love song at its very best. It’s simple, relatable and the melody is insane. What a way to close the show.
Rarely have we seen someone run onto a stage with the amount of enthusiasm and energy as tonight. Rachel Chinouriri is playing the last show of her current tour right here with us in Berlin. And what a blessing it is to be in the same building as someone bringing a burst of excitement like this. Tonight is off to a promising start and she hasn’t even started singing yet. We’re in for a night full of her biggest hits, fan favourites and brand new music from her upcoming album I think I spoke too soon. The evening opens with a bang thanks to the lead single of her sophomore album. The live rendition of ‘One song away from crying’ proves what a great song it is. The disco-themed production has Rachel dancing around the stage, persuading everyone in the audience to dance and sing along to the catchy track. To complete the picture, a disco ball shines dozens of moving lights that sweep across the room. With her second studio album set to be released next month, we’re in for a treat. We get exclusive access to be some of the first fans to hear the brand new music before it’s available for streaming. The album is set to be packed with up-tempo bangers. Among them is the incredibly catchy ‘Aah’. The song instantly transports us back in time to the days when VV Brown was dominating our playlists. The Brit indie singer must’ve been an inspiration behind this upbeat indie-pop song. Compliments only, we can’t wait to add this one to our playlist and let it become our new obsession. Time to visit her debut album What A Devastating Turn of Events. On ‘It Is What It Is’, she showcases her talk-singing style throughout the song. We love how conversational the performance feels with the audience. Rachel locks eyes with her fans in the front row as she spits out words of truth. Once again, the song fully comes to life thanks to her energetic rendition. The studio version should almost be ashamed of itself compared to the pitch-perfect live version we’re hearing tonight. Our cheeks are hurting from having such a big smile on our faces. Time to replace that smile with tears in our eyes thanks to the beautiful ‘So My Darling’. Throughout the evening, Rachel has shown how high her voice can go and the unlimited places it can reach. For the acoustic rendition of this one, she showcases a different side of her voice. She keeps it calm and collected, singing the emotional song in her lower register. We love how controlled, yet fragile she sounds. The audience is clearly loving every second as we turn to absolute silence in the room. There is no time to stay in our feelings, we need to get back to the good vibes. ‘Can we talk about Isaac?’ ensures the room lights up and is back to full energy, right in time to gear the audience up for two unreleased songs. First up, we get a disco-inspired song that could easily fool you if Rachel didn’t explain what it was about upfront. The song sounds happy, but underneath it all are some sad lyrics about family trauma. Next up, we get the absolute banger ‘Pretty Girls’. The drum-heavy, up-tempo song explodes from the stage and is yet another one that has us wishing the album was already available online. The night would obviously not be complete without her most-streamed song to date. The perfect indie-pop ‘All I Ever Asked’ sounds even better with the live band performing it. We love how Rachel consistently delivers at 100% from start to finish. There is not a moment where you catch her without the biggest smile on her face, and the same goes for us in the audience. We completely get why artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Sombr and PinkPantheress are raving about her talent. We’re counting the days until October 16th and hoping for another tour to accompany the release of I think I spoke too soon.
The road to any recognition within the music industry can be a very long one. Some artists release music for years before receiving any nominations for their outstanding work. Scottish singer Jacob Alon learned piano and guitar as a child and initially developed their songwriting privately before beginning to release music. Their sound earned recognition and they quickly became part of Edinburgh’s folk scene. It all started when they finally got into the studio to record their music in 2024. Following in the footsteps of some of the greatest names in today’s music such as Adele, Florence + the Machine and James Bay, they won the BRITs Critics’ Choice 2026 award for their talent. A huge deal after just two years of releasing music, to receive recognition like that. What’s particularly striking is that this has happened without them making commercial pop music. Their songs are quiet, vulnerable and rooted in folk traditions, yet they’ve managed to attract an extraordinary amount of industry recognition. You’d think that winning the BRITs Critics’ Choice 2026 alone would’ve been enough, but besides this they went on to take home the BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year 2025, becoming the first Scottish artist to do so, as well as the Rolling Stone UK Play Next Award 2025 and a Mercury Prize 2025 nomination for their debut album In Limerence. Tonight Jacob is making their tour stop in Berlin and, with a lead-up like this, the expectations are high. Jacob’s unusually soaring and delicate vocal, paired with their intimate, atmospheric indie folk, deserves a special location to be heard. For their Berlin tour stop, they are playing in the Passionskirche, a beautiful small church. The location itself right away sets the mood for the singer to take the audience into their world. Their show is centred around finger-picked guitar and beautiful piano music. From the moment they sing the very first word, it becomes clear there is an outstanding talent standing in front of us. Their voice is undeniable and reaches places that truly sound angelic. It’s easy to be mesmerised by the live set and feel as if you are at the doorstep of heaven. This feeling, however, sadly doesn’t last forever. Throughout the show, the musicality stays pretty much the same. The slow tempo, the high soaring falsetto in their voice, the deep songwriting and the overall vibe. We know what they are famous for and it’s exactly why we’re here. Yet, we were hoping for a bit more diversity. Hoping for a few moments that take us off guard, to ‘wake us up’ and put a smile on our face. We see the talent and couldn’t agree more that all their prizes and nominations are well deserved. At the same time, we left wishing there had been a little more variation throughout the set. By the end, we found ourselves struggling to pick out that one song that stayed stuck in our heads on the way home. We hope Jacob Alon finds that sweet spot between their extraordinary talent for writing intimate music and, here and there, gives their audience a little wake-up call to bring some positive energy into the room. Because when you already have a voice and songwriting talent this special, we can’t wait to see what happens when they start showing us even more sides of it.
When Steve Lacey shouts you out on his profile, you know you made one hell of an album. The singer, who’s busy promoting his own project Oh yeah?, took the time to promote Love Spells, his debut album. ‘Beautiful album. Beautiful voice. Yes yes yes.’ We couldn’t agree more! Tonight, we attend the Love Is The Law World Tour, and the excitement to hear how his music translates into a live setting is off the roof. It’s the very first time Love Spells is visiting Berlin. And the first visit is off to a good start. He is here to play a sold-out show at Kantine am Berghain. His fans have come together to sing along to their favorite songs from the debut album Love Is The Law and, of course, all the music that came before the arrival of this excellent body of work. The stage welcomes a band of three and, of course, the star of the show. Right off the bat, it’s clear the chemistry between the musicians is undeniable. The foursome are here to have a great gig. His music is full of romance and love-themed songs. Each one explores desire, devotion, obsession, heartbreak and surrender. This theme runs through the production of the album, the songwriting and, of course, his beautiful falsetto voice. In a recent interview, the singer revealed he started singing like this because he wanted to sound like a female artist. He wanted to sound delicate and soft, almost as if he were singing a lullaby. This comes through perfectly in his recorded music. In the live setting, however, it tends to get a little more rock ’n’ roll. The night is anything but a live rendition of lullabies. Quite the opposite, it’s a wake-up call to everyone who had been sleeping on Love Spells during the start of his career. He blasts out one song after another with full energy, largely thanks to his equally energetic band. It’s songs like ‘Heart For Eyes’ and ‘Don’t Touch’ that have the whole crowd two-stepping away while the singer and his band are dancing like there is no tomorrow. Expect a shirtless Love Spells laying on the floor, jumping up and down, guitar riffing and even a run into the crowd to dance with his fans. We keep it soft and tender in all the right places of the show. Our favorite songs sound more beautiful than ever in the live setting. Love Spells gets at his sexiest and most romantic for ‘Kiss Me Slow This Time’. While he sings his heart out, we slowly melt away on the floor. Two highlights during the evening go to ‘Crutch’ and ‘Keep It To Yourself’. Both are pure perfection on the album, and hearing them live for the very first time has us falling even more in love. Having Love Spells on a small stage right here in Berlin confirms one thing: the stage he and his band are performing on will only grow bigger and bigger in the years to come. His signature high falsetto is already such a distinctive part of his sound, but imagine the possibilities when he starts exploring every side of his voice, from high to low. There is something incredibly exciting about an artist who already has such a unique identity while still having so much room to grow. Love Spells is only getting started.
What was built in 1936 to host the Summer Olympics has grown into the home of some of Berlin’s most iconic events. Of course, it lends itself perfectly to major sporting occasions, but it has become so much more than that. Legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones, Metallica and Beyoncé have all transformed the stadium into their own musical spectacle. It is no wonder that Lollapalooza moved its festival to the historic Olympiastadion in 2018. A legendary festival needs an equally legendary playground. Over the years, the festival has welcomed some of the biggest names in music to perform within its striking architecture. With artists such as Justin Timberlake, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa and The XX already in its archive, Lollapalooza Berlin 2026 had the seemingly impossible task of living up to yet another unforgettable line-up. Saturday is off to a glorious start. Sun rays decorate the sports stadium turned festival ground, bald caps and hibiscus flowers are spotted everywhere, and Berlin residents jump into the Olympia pool as if it were any regular summer weekend. There is no turning back now: the biggest festival in Berlin is officially underway, and we could not be more ready. Saturday - Sunny discoveries, brutal honesty and a never-ending pop spectacle As if the temperatures are not hot enough already, Young Miko brings Puerto Rican heat to Germany. The tattoo artist turned rapper gives everyone in the crowd a much-needed confidence boost. The way the ‘WASSUP’ hitmaker commands the stage is undeniable. Without even trying, she takes on the role of warming up the audience for everything still to come. Her laid-back, cool take on reggaeton is exactly what sets her apart from others in the genre. Everything is in check: her energy, stage presence and charming eye contact with fans all match the music effortlessly. We have to compliment whoever is responsible for the festival booking. One international act follows another, and it feels as though every corner of the world is represented. From Puerto Rico, we travel to Argentina with indie-rock band Usted Señalemelo. The trio were unknown to us before this weekend, and we could not be happier to have stumbled upon them at the New Horizon stage. Expect upbeat, energetic indie-rock songs layered with brilliant vocals from frontman Juan Saieg. Argentina may have taken a loss at the FIFA World Cup, but with this performance, the Argentinian band certainly won the hearts of many festival goers. Berlin-born and raised DJ LOVEFOXY had a busy weekend. She was not only playing one, but two of Berlin’s most iconic festivals, both taking place on the very same weekend. The advantage of being an artist is that you get to experience a glimpse of both worlds. If Whole Festival received even a small dose of the energy she brought to Lollapalooza, they were in for a treat. Pumped up by the good vibes from her set, we made our way to the main stage where Lily Allen was set to perform her West End Girl show. Since this performance deserves a review of its own, you can read all about it in our separate concert review. The crowd is divided into two groups: fans in suits and bald caps, and fans in hibiscus flowers, glittery make-up and sun-soaked outfits. There is no question that Pitbull and Zara Larsson are headlining today. No matter what the weather forecast says, the sun is going to shine anyway. Summer is not determined by the actual weather; it comes from within. It is a state of mind. And who better than the queen of summer herself to amplify that feeling? The stage becomes a never-ending ‘Midnight Sun’ as Zara sings her heart out. Anyone who has seen her live before knows exactly what is coming: one of the most energetic and joyful pop spectacles Berlin could possibly ask for. Since we last saw Zara perform her Midnight Sun Tour, she has released new music that we finally get to hear live. Her collaborations with Tyla, ‘SHE DID IT AGAIN’, and PinkPantheress, ‘Stateside’, fit perfectly into the dreamy setlist. Our favourite moment of the night has to be ‘Pretty Ugly’. There is something about that chanting chorus that never gets old when performed in front of thousands of fans screaming along. We love how Zara is not afraid to remind everyone that ‘Midnight Sun’ is one of the best pop songs released in a very long time. She does not only open the show with it, she also closes the set with it. For the finale, we begin with an acoustic arrangement that showcases those unbelievable live vocals before dancing the night away. Sunday - Shaking ass in the rain, surprise after surprise and smooth funky jazz Sunday is packed with surprises from the very beginning. We have heard many critics praise Self Esteem’s latest album A Complicated Woman. We, however, had not yet had the chance to fully dive into her world. And boy, oh boy, have we been missing out. Together with seven dancers who also take on the role of background singers, she steps onto the stage to show Berlin exactly how it is done. It has been a long time since we have seen such a talented group of people have this much fun on stage. The infectious energy sets the perfect tone for the day ahead. Self Esteem, consider us fans from now on. Even though the line-up is packed with stars dominating charts across the world, the loudest fans are found at Sofia Camara’s show. Her setlist, filled with sweet pop power ballads, becomes the backdrop for fans screaming their lungs out. At times, it even seems as though the Canadian singer herself is overwhelmed by the love coming her way. While she takes the crown for the loudest crowd, Anitta wins the title for the most dancers in the audience. The sun makes way for rain, refreshing the Olympiastadion. Luckily, the timing for the rain could not have been better. With Anitta up next, the temperatures remain high regardless. The singer is here to represent her culture in the best way possible. Brazilian fans take over the crowd, ready to move their hips to her biggest hits. The set is packed with huge tunes, energetic dancers, pouring rain and a Brazilian dance-off. Anitta cannot be stopped by the weather. She even leaves the stage to walk into the rain and get closer to her fans. This woman truly knows how to put on a show. At times, walking around the festival grounds feels as though you have stepped into a giant fairground. The biggest brands have made their way to Lollapalooza to promote their products, leading to endless queues everywhere you look. It is overwhelming to see so many visitors willing to miss out on incredible music for the chance to win free branded merchandise. The Johnnie Walker stage, however, manages to stay true to what Lollapalooza is meant to be about: great musical moments. Dance crews, singers and rappers bring the good vibes all day long. Kelvyn Colt is the most pleasant surprise of the day. The German rapper, currently based in Los Angeles, mesmerises the crowd with his unmistakable talent and has everyone jumping up and down, chanting every word. It would not be a perfect Sunday without some smooth, jazzy music. Thankfully, singer Don West has packed his bags and travelled from Australia to Germany to perform songs from his latest album Give Me All Your Love. For a moment, we feared the talented singer would be performing to an empty crowd, as he was scheduled at the same time as Lorde. But as soon as the show begins, the space fills within minutes. His charming stage presence and smooth voice make it impossible not to stop and enjoy the performance in full. He serenades the crowd with funky hits such as ‘Send It Back’ and ‘Small Change’. Lollapalooza Berlin 2026 was one for the books. Fans will be talking about it for years to come. If you, like us, are already looking forward to the 2027 edition, you are in luck: the festival has already announced next year’s dates, and tickets are already on sale. So, who are we seeing on 17 and 18 July 2027? Zara Larsson photo by Robin Mayer (@goodguypaez) Self Esteem photo by spndlr media (@spndlr.media)
This weekend Clean was at Lollapalooza Berlin. We like to invite you to the festival grounds through our analogue photos. No overly polished, glossy festival photos. No heavy editing, no perfectly staged shots. Just raw, beautiful captures of real moments as they happened. The grain, the light leaks and the imperfections are inviting you to step into the festival with us and experience Lollapalooza through our eyes.
It’s October 2025 and everything seems perfectly normal. Little do we know that Lily Allen is about to release a life-changing album. A comeback that will go down in pop music history books, cementing October 24th, 2025 as a day to never forget. Her album West End Girl feels like listening to a diary read out loud over beautifully curated production and carefully selected samples here and there. A project that truly needs to be enjoyed front to back; pressing the shuffle button just won’t be appropriate. This right away raises the question of how the album should be experienced live. Lily Allen is clearly at a point in her career where she can do whatever works for her and her art. She has been an industry puppet before and is clearly over it. After the experiences in her personal life, it only makes sense that she is now taking full control over her life, including taking the reins in her career. Naturally, this led to the decision of rewriting the books on what a world tour around an album release can be. The singer made a decision that, just like the album itself, will go down in history and be studied in the years to come. West End Girl is played in its full glory, front to back, in a theatre setup. If you are here for the big hits such as ‘Smile’, ‘The Fear’ and ‘Not Fair’, well… turn around. This is not your ordinary concert where hits from the past and songs from the new album meet in the setlist. This setlist was a no-brainer: we start at the beginning of the album, follow the tracklist to the final song, and that’s it. It must be beautiful to have an album that is so strong in its message and theme that it makes it possible to do a world tour in this way. A way that truly hasn’t been done before. Lily Allen Performs West End Girl should not be perceived as a concert, but rather as a musical or theatre play. Obviously due to its setup, but more so for the storytelling through the music. The fact that this also means we stay within the one-hour mark for the show duration makes it perfect to bring to festival season. Which brings us fast forward to today. Berlin is in luck this weekend, and we have Lollapalooza to thank for it. The festival did a remarkable job booking the show for this weekend. Among a killer line-up filled with stars such as Zara Larsson, Lorde and Don West, we get the chance to experience the West End Girl show on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the Olympiastadion, right here in Berlin. We feel lucky to be able to witness the show that everyone has been talking about ever since the first tour stop. Lily Allen enters the stage and leaves no time to waste. The music starts playing, she smiles at us, doesn’t say a word to the crowd, but rather starts singing from the get-go. Unusual, but we live for it. When the music speaks for itself, there is no need to stop it to talk with the audience. The show is painful to watch in the sense that we are here as a crowd cheering her on, applauding after each song, while she is up there reliving some of the most painful times in her life. The show is a gentle reminder of her acting career, as she clearly treats it as a theatre piece. In the instrumental moments, she expresses the pain she went through. She might not say a word to us, but her cheeky, charismatic laughs and smiles in between say it all: she loves being here and is proud to show us her undeniable talent as a performer. We would love to tell you all about the fun bits and the surprising attributes entering the stage, but we won’t. More so, we urge you to grab any opportunity to go and witness it yourself. This is a show that you simply can’t miss out on. We would go as far as saying you should even see it if you don’t like Lily Allen at all, but are simply a music fanatic. This show will open your eyes to how a world tour can look. The ways it could be if we dare to think outside of the box. We can’t applaud the ‘Pussy Palace’ hitmaker enough for taking the lead in changing the traditions around touring. This is the start of a new era for live music.
In 2015, publisher and graphic artist Franco Maria Ricci brought his lifelong vision to life by creating a seven-hectare park featuring a labyrinth made up of more than 200,000 bamboo plants. This extraordinary location in Fontanellato, just outside Parma, has become the home of LOST Music Festival. The festival brings together artists from all over the world and across a wide range of genres. Despite their different musical backgrounds, they all share one thing in common: bringing the mystical, esoteric and unknown spirit of this remarkable space to life through sound. From live bands pouring raw emotion into their performance to DJ sets flirting with the sunbeams filtering through the bamboo, and from delicate harp melodies to immersive ambient soundscapes drifting through nature, every performance feels perfectly at home in the labyrinth. LOST Music Festival is unlike any other. Not only because of its carefully curated line-up, but because of the way that line-up is experienced. With four stages hidden throughout the labyrinth and only one hosting performances at any given moment, the festival takes visitors on a carefully orchestrated journey. Together, everyone moves from stage to stage, letting LOST decide when it is time to dance, when to slow down and reconnect with nature, and when to stand still as live music stirs something deeper. Clean was there to experience it all, documenting the festival entirely on analogue film. No filters, no heavy editing and no perfectly polished images. Just raw, honest moments that capture the atmosphere exactly as we experienced it, inviting you to step inside the labyrinth and get lost with us.
Parco Musica Milano has assembled one of the most impressive summer concert line-ups in Italy this year, transforming Parco Lanini into a destination for music fans across the country. Tonight marks one of its most anticipated events: Halsey’s long-awaited return to Italy. Seven years have passed since the singer last performed a headline show here and fans could not be more eager. A sense of anticipation hangs over the park as thousands gather to finally experience songs from across her catalogue live once again. The stage is decorated with medieval-inspired set pieces and the screens announce the start of the show The Girl in the Tower: A Ceremony by Halsey. As soon as the band begins playing, it becomes clear that we are in for an energetic rock show. Halsey enters the stage with ‘I am not a woman, I’m a god’, immediately setting the tone for the evening. We remain in the If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power era as she moves into ‘Nightmare’. Anyone expecting the sweet pop star who once scored major hits alongside The Chainsmokers and Marshmello is in for a surprise. There is no easing into the rockstar Halsey has become. Together with her band, she injects an unmatched intensity into the live version of the song. Hearing the crowd sing along to every word is a reminder of just how much she has been missed in Italy. It is easy to forget that Halsey once dominated charts around the world as a mainstream pop star. Those unfamiliar with her catalogue might think she made a sudden turn towards rock music, but tonight she reminds everyone that she has always had a rockstar spirit, even before her glossiest pop hits took over the world. Hearing ‘Castle’ from her debut album BADLANDS proves exactly that as she scream-sings her way through the track. The lights dim and Halsey reappears on stage wearing a leash. Real fans instantly know what time it is. She seductively performs one of her newer songs, ‘Dog Years’, climbing the towering staircase that dominates the stage design. Locked into the performance, she stares deep into the crowd while singing: “I’ve been such a good girl, can we go for a ride? I’m on a real short leash, but I like it tight. You know, I’m such a sweet girl, but I can really bite.” It would not be a rock show without a circle pit. During ‘Experiment On Me’, the crowd is tasked with creating a massive circle in the middle of the park. It appears to be a first for many attendees, as the attempt quickly turns into chaos. Several circles open simultaneously and people begin running before Halsey has even given the signal. Laughing, she remarks that there is a first time for everything and appreciates the effort despite the intense summer heat. Touring during Pride Month is exactly why Halsey enjoys festival-style shows so much, and tonight is no exception. Just before performing ‘honey’, a fan throws a lesbian flag onto the stage. It is carefully taped onto the staircase that has served as the centerpiece of the set throughout the evening. Whoever tossed it on stage is going home happy. Moments later, after performing what many consider an unofficial lesbian anthem, Halsey signs the flag and returns it to the crowd. Eventually, it is time to give the audience a breather from the relentless rock and almost nu-metal energy. Halsey picks up an acoustic guitar and slows things down, reminding everyone why her voice works just as well in polished pop music. Performances of ‘3am’, ‘You should be sad’ and ‘Colors’ showcase a softer side of the singer while turning the park into one giant sing-along. Throughout the evening, it becomes increasingly clear just how extensive Halsey’s catalogue has become. Having a full headline show rather than a shortened festival set gives her the freedom to showcase her artistry exactly how she wants. Surprisingly, major hits such as ‘Closer’, ‘Bad At Love’ and ‘Now Or Never’ are absent from the setlist. Her biggest hit, however, is impossible to ignore. ‘Without Me’ receives one of the loudest reactions of the night as not only the dedicated fans but also the more casual attendees sing every word back to her. During the encore, Halsey revisits three different eras of her career. It begins with a stunning vocal performance of ‘Lie’. Hearing the hopeless fountain kingdom track soaring through Parco Lanini at 23:45 feels like one of those moments that could wake up all of Milan. It is one of the evening’s strongest vocal showcases and a reminder of just how versatile she is as a performer. The energy quickly rises again with BADLANDS favourite ‘Gasoline’ before the show closes with ‘Lonely is the Muse’ from her latest album, The Great Impersonator. Once again, Halsey has something to prove, this time that her most recent album deserved far more recognition than it received. Halsey’s long-awaited return to Italy proves well worth the seven-year wait. Over the course of two hours, she delivers a show packed with explosive energy, memorable visual moments and impressive vocals. By welcoming Halsey to its summer concert series, Parco Musica Milano once again demonstrates its ability to bring world-class live music experiences to Italian audiences.
Lollapalooza Berlin is bringing another diverse line-up to the city this summer. This July 18 and 19 the hottest artists of the moment will take over Berlin. From global pop stars and chart-topping icons to exciting emerging talent, there is plenty to discover throughout the weekend. These are the five acts we are most excited to see at this year’s festival. Don West You can’t miss the charming Don West, who will be performing on Sunday at Lollapalooza Berlin. The Australian singer is making his only stop in Berlin this summer exclusively for the festival. Expect jazzy tunes, smooth vocals, and a performance that is just as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the ears. Lily Allen She turned her diary into everyone’s soundtrack of 2025 and delivered one of the most talked-about comebacks in recent years. It’s safe to say that Lily Allen is an act you won’t want to miss. The singer will perform her deeply personal album West End Girl live from front to back. We can’t wait to experience these songs in a festival setting. Zara Larsson She is the pop star of the moment and guaranteed to give you that never-ending summer feeling. Following her massive success, Zara Larsson is ready to take over the Lollapalooza stage. You simply have to be there to witness the show in person before the festival’s inevitable ‘Lush Life’ dance moment takes over social media. Lovefoxy Among all the major international names on the line-up, we’re especially happy to see Berlin’s very own Lovefoxy included. The DJ is guaranteed to get the party started and will have the crowd moving from the very first track. We always love seeing a taste of Berlin represented at an international festival like this. Anitta No matter the weather, Anitta will make sure the sun shines over Berlin. Her sun-soaked music is guaranteed to heat up the stage. The singer recently announced her world tour in support of her latest album EQUILIBRIVM. While the rest of the world is still waiting to experience the new music live, Lollapalooza visitors will get the chance to witness it first.
NOTION Magazine announced their live concert series BLOOM, a new European artist development tour designed to support emerging artists at key moments in their live careers. A beautiful initiative to give talented artists a little push in the right direction. And even though their first headlining artist was already doing just fine on her own, we are happy to see NOTION acknowledging the undeniable talent that is Nectar Woode. The UK singer made her final tour stop in Berlin, Mikropol. This time around she gathered three talented ladies to form the band joining her on stage, creating a beautiful intimate live setting. The night promised a trip down memory lane through her amazing discography while also treating the crowd to brand new, exclusive live renditions of songs from her upcoming project Naturally. The show opened with ‘Head Above Water’ from her critically acclaimed project of the same name. Nectar immediately got to show off her pitch-perfect voice, setting the tone for the night. The live rendition of the song made clear it was a brilliant idea to bring together a band for this tour. The ladies brought that extra energy and harmonies that gave the music such a beautiful extra layer. The whole visual of all the elements melting together clearly worked its charm on the crowd, who were two-stepping away to the soulful music. Nectar played her brand new release ‘Rivers End’ and, to her surprise, fans could already sing along to the gorgeous song. “If you can sing along to the words already I’ll give you a firm handshake, it’s only been out for a week!” Here at Clean we’re usually not massive fans of comparing artists, but we couldn’t help seeing a beautiful comparison between Olivia Dean and Nectar Woode after seeing both talented singers live within such a short period of time. And honestly, if Olivia’s success is any indication of what’s to come for Nectar, we’re sure she can handle it. The upcoming project is promising to be incredible. The neo-soul songs she performed for us tonight were each a treat to the ears. Obviously the title track ‘Naturally’ is a force and the beautiful unreleased ‘Roses In The Dark’ once again showed off her vocal range. It was however the powerful ‘Lights Off’ that excited us the most. The song, written about struggles within the music industry, brought a different energy into the room. The more up-tempo production came with an almost chanting chorus that demanded attention towards the singer. We were not just there to enjoy a beautiful show, we had to play our part and join the singer as her choir. Nectar brought her sister Ama on stage to sing along to the song written for her, ‘Ama Said’. Besides Ama being on stage, we all got to sing along too. While Ama stood there smiling, the crowd loudly sang her name together. Another perfect sing-along moment came during our favorite song ‘How It’s Gotta Be’. And trust us, the crowd was loud for this one in the most beautiful way possible. We were in for yet another exclusive when Nectar Woode introduced her new song ‘Wine Into Water’. She explained the beautiful piano ballad only deserved the best of the best, so why not shoot your shot and send Elton John an email asking him to join the song. It should come as no surprise he stepped into the studio with her, as the legend is known for recognizing and supporting upcoming talent. The song is truly beautiful and we can’t wait to hear it again once it’s officially released. The night ended on a high with the funky ‘Stick Fight’. The perfect way to close the show with full energy. We all danced along while watching the evening slowly come to an end. As a final little treat we even got the chance to meet her in person afterwards. She’s everything you expect her to be: fun, elegant and kind-hearted. Nectar, your future is so bright.
White curtains, a light oak wooden floor and an organically shaped stage. A beautifully clean decor sets the mood for The Art of Loving Live tour stop at Uber Arena. The crowd awaits a spectacular performance from one of the most loved singers of the moment. She has been dominating the global charts with singles from her latest album The Art of Loving and her collaboration with Sam Fender, ‘Rein Me In’. She’s the kind of singer that reaches every generation. Children, teenagers, parents and even grandparents all seem to adore her music. A true generational artist. Welcome to the stage… Olivia Dean! Backed by two beautifully talented backing singers and a big band, Olivia gracefully serenades the stage with the first three successful singles from her sophomore album. In quick tempo she makes sure the crowd is fully tuned in and reminds us we are here to have a great night and simply enjoy ourselves, just like she clearly enjoys singing these songs for us. It’s a beautiful feeling looking around and seeing every member of the crowd singing and dancing along to ‘Nice To Each Other’, ‘Lady Lady’ and ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’. Olivia has that rare kind of likeability that reaches everyone. Usually the partner who got dragged along to a concert sits still waiting for the night to end, but tonight even they are enjoying themselves to the fullest. Olivia Dean is a true charmer. She knows exactly how to mesmerise a crowd. No endless chit chat, no forced speeches, just honest words from the heart when needed. She introduces ‘Let Alone The One You Love’ by explaining what loving someone truly means to her. According to Olivia, love is a word we throw around too easily without really thinking about what it means. She realised that, to her, love means wanting to see the person you care about win and become the best version of themselves. That feeling led her to write the beautiful song. We were already in love with the track, but hearing her sing it live with these powerful vocals nearly brings tears to our eyes. What a moment. It’s time to strip things back for the next section of the night. The big band leaves the stage, leaving Olivia, her guitar and two guitarists to deliver some beautiful acoustic songs. Three songs from different stages of her career are brought to life in this intimate setting. We get ‘UFO’ from her debut album Messy, ‘Touching Toes’ from her EP With Love and ‘I’ve Seen It’ from her latest album. It’s a beautiful reminder that she is anything but an overnight success. Olivia has been making songs for years that all perfectly live together in the same musical world. We love that Olivia Dean grabs every opportunity she can to remind us of her powerful grandma. We saw her do it while accepting her Grammy win last year and couldn’t be happier seeing her do it again tonight. She wrote the song ‘Carmen’ for her grandma, telling her life story and thanking her for being so strong at the age of eighteen, making sure Olivia gets to live the dream she is living today. The room falls completely silent as we all take in the heartwarming moment. Hearing all these beautiful songs delivered with such elegance almost makes you wonder why rockstar Sam Fender invited her onto ‘Rein Me In’. Not for long though. Olivia quickly reminds us just how powerful her voice truly is with ‘Time’. The chorus of the non-album single nearly blows the roof off the arena. The big band gets to shine at its very best while Olivia sings louder and stronger than ever. We keep the energy powerful in a more emotional setting when ‘Hardest Part’ follows. It’s songs like this from her debut album that make you wonder why the world is only fully waking up to her talent now. What was everyone waiting for? Grab your dancing shoes and let the disco ball enter the arena, because it’s time for a huge disco moment. What better way to introduce the next section of the night than with ‘Baby Steps’? The funky, soulful tune has the entire crowd on their feet, swinging their hips from left to right. For a moment it feels like we’ve stepped into an old episode of Soul Train. Especially when a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Move On Up’ follows next. Dressed in a sparkling disco gown, Olivia and the band bring nothing but good vibes to the Uber Arena, making sure there’s a smile on every face in the room. The night is coming to an end, but not before Olivia serenades us with two of her most loved songs. Messy’s biggest moment was of course ‘Dive’. The huge song sounds better than ever inside the massive arena. We are mesmerised by every single move she makes. Olivia Dean is everything you’d want to be: classy, elegant and effortlessly cool. No bullshit, just someone here to deliver great music while genuinely enjoying herself. She’s like a magician performing without props, because the real trick is simply her insane talent. We end the night on a high with ‘Man I Need’. Olivia leaves no doubt as to why this song will still be loved a hundred years from now. It’s simply timeless. No wonder it completely explodes in a live setting. What a night!
For his European leg of the CAOS Tour, Miguel makes a stop in Milan to celebrate his Italian fans. The singer who broke through with his smooth R&B tunes is ready to show us his organic evolution into the true rockstar he is today. The stage has a crashed car, upside down in the middle, adding another level to the set. Red lights shine bright through the smoke machines, truly setting the scene for what is awaiting us. Miguel and his band bring the energy from the moment they enter the stage. The singer climbs onto the car with his electric guitar and for a second you’d forget he was once considered one of the most promising R&B singers. Yet nothing feels staged or unnatural, it’s as if he was born with the guitar in his hands. The singer mentions: “I grew up in a punk town called San Pedro and my father was a massive Clash fan.” After hearing this, it all falls into place. Punk rock was part of his upbringing. Surprisingly enough, the songs from his critically acclaimed first and second albums don’t feel misplaced in the setlist at all. If anything, it shows that Miguel always had a good ear for which songs would sound perfect in a live band setting. The songs that once felt like they were competing in the landscape of Usher and Trey Songz now fall completely into their own lane. A lane that only Miguel walks with his R&B rock sound. We couldn’t be more happy to hear our favorites ‘Do You..’, ‘Coffee’ and ‘How Many Drinks?’ come to life. Especially the latter was a standout performance of the night. The singer charms his way through the song as he makes eye contact with the crowd, asking how many drinks it would take them to come home with him. The singer carries a certain anger with him tonight. He is mad at the world we live in and decides to write ‘Fuck war’ with spray paint on the car before speaking about the current state of America. The live rendition of ‘Candles in the Sun’ is perfectly placed after this honest and emotional moment. Things slow down for a bit as the singer expresses his hope in us and in the moment we find ourselves in. Usually it’s pretty easy to predict which songs will be the fan favorites of the night. Not tonight, though, as the crowd is at its loudest during ‘Girl With The Tattoo’. The short, slow song from his debut album is received with open arms. Yes, the song is beautiful and gives us a moment to breathe during the full-on show, yet it’s surprising that this seems to be the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Before the show, we weren’t too familiar with his latest album CAOS. We were pleasantly surprised hearing it live. The singer is ready to show us we’ve been missing out and should have been tuned in since day one. The title track ‘CAOS’ blends Spanish and English to perfection. It lands somewhere between rock and hip-hop, while also leaning into Spanish acoustic guitars and reggaeton. This blend is delicious and allows the band to show what they’re capable of. The almost anxious songs ‘Triggered’ and ‘RIP’ instantly become new favorites and will go straight into rotation from here on out. Both are full-energy rock songs, blending multiple genres at once. They demand your attention, both in the production and in his vocal delivery. Our personal favorite moment is, of course, one of R&B’s all-time best songs: ‘Adorn’. The song is timeless and fits right in with classics by artists like D’Angelo and Maxwell. Not only is the production one for the history books, Miguel’s vocal range is truly something else. It’s always the question how the live version compares to the original, but no worries here. He delivers a version that might even be better. The voice this man has is nothing short of breathtaking. The show ends with full energy thanks to ‘Sky Walker’ and ‘Sure Thing’. Two fan favorites that have the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs. The audience is a mix of young and older fans, likely thanks to the ‘second life’ ‘Sure Thing’ received after going viral on TikTok. The song climbed back up the charts twelve years after its release. Recently, we’ve seen a lot of huge spectacle shows. Concerts with dancers, multiple outfit changes, transforming sets and even live orchestras. While we love all of that, it’s refreshing to see Miguel perform a full two-hour show without any of those tricks. Just pure love for live music.
A sun-soaked imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire sets the tone for the evening ahead. The medieval beauty that Cologne still holds intact creates the perfect décor to get us in the mood for ROSALÍA’s LUX Tour. The huge success of her experimental, classical-inspired album LUX has led her to a sold-out arena tour across the world. Tonight, it’s up to one of Germany’s biggest cities to welcome the Spanish superstar. Even before the curtains open, we know we are in for a good night as the orchestra makes their way to the middle of the arena. They take their seats and quietly begin playing to set the show in motion. As the curtains open, a wooden box is brought onto the stage. It comes as no surprise that ROSALÍA is hiding inside, dressed in a ballet outfit, ready to begin. Just like the album, we open with the beautiful ‘Sexo, Violencia y Llantas’. It’s simply the perfect way to start a show. It showcases the orchestra at its best and strikes the ideal balance between a slow burn and energetic outbursts. What a warm-up. Two of our personal LUX favorites appear early in the show. ‘Reliquia’ is clearly not just our favorite, as the entire crowd sings along to every word. Behind the singer, the dancers begin preparing the stage. They remove the curtains and sweep everything clean. It feels like watching a theatre piece come to life right in front of our eyes. After the clean-up, the dancers take center stage. Together with flowing white fabric, they create a stunning visual during the performance of the brilliant ‘Divinize’. From the moment ROSALÍA opens her mouth, we are in awe of her powerful voice. The control she has over her unique instrument is incredible. Her voice alone is impressive, but the emotion she channels through it is simply breathtaking. We don’t speak a word of Spanish, yet goosebumps take over our entire bodies. To our surprise, ‘Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti’ becomes one of the highlights of the evening. While we might skip it on the album (sorry!), we completely fall in love with it in this live setting. After an outfit change, it’s time to shift the energy in the building. The curtains open and ‘Berghain’ begins. A loud cheer erupts from the crowd, exactly as expected. We can’t believe we are witnessing this performance live. Every detail has been carefully thought out. From the orchestra delivering the production flawlessly, to the stunning outfit, the breathtaking choreography, and the inclusion of the famous BRIT Awards remix, everything clicks. We couldn’t have asked for more. As much as we love the LUX world, we were secretly hoping for some throwbacks to MOTOMAMI. Thankfully, ROSALÍA doesn’t forget her earlier hits. It’s time to bring that era to life on stage. We hear ‘SAOKO’, ‘LA FAMA’, and ‘LA COMBI VERSACE’. We wondered how these songs would fit sonically into the show, but surprisingly, it works perfectly. It ignites an imaginary fire on stage that almost feels real, fueled by the powerful performance of ROSALÍA and her dancers. Some of our favorite “day-one” ROSALÍA songs don’t make the setlist, making room for a cover of Frankie Valli’s ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. What might seem out of place at first works beautifully within the show. The stage transforms into a living painting as ROSALÍA serenades us like a modern-day Mona Lisa. Even with many Spanish-speaking fans in the crowd, this moment allows international fans to sing along with confidence. We can only imagine how much the parents accompanying their kids to the show enjoyed the song played by a beautiful orchestra in ROSALÍA’s cheeky rendition. It’s confession time. ROSALÍA steps into the role of a priest and invites a fan into her confession booth. We hear an actual confession, something about blood in the bolognese (you really had to be there). This moment leads into one of the biggest fan favorites of the night. ‘La Perla’ follows, bringing another piece of live art. The dancers are dressed entirely in black, except for their arms, which are covered in bright white gloves. Their hands become part of the stage design, moving around ROSALÍA in a playful, almost surreal way. It’s simple, yet incredibly effective, even in this huge arena setting. Another outfit change follows. A baroque-inspired dress and headpiece frame the singer beautifully as she walks toward the orchestra to greet them in person. All eyes shift to the center of the arena as ROSALÍA joins her musicians. With the orchestra now fully in focus, you might expect another classical moment. Instead, we get the complete opposite. ‘CUUUUuuuuuute’ from MOTOMAMI is transformed into an explosive, all-out performance. Goosebumps, big smiles, and disbelief take over. Sensational. As we approach the end, we get a blend of MOTOMAMI and LUX. First, we dance to ‘BIZCOCHITO’ and ‘DESPECHA’ before moving into songs from her Complete Works version of her latest album. The night closes with a heavenly rendition of ‘Magnolias’. Once again, she proves her voice is a force of nature. Her range is incredible, truly out of this world. She showcases both her classical and flamenco training. A bright light shines behind her as she slowly disappears into it, quite literally like the goddess she is. This wasn’t just a pop concert. It was an indescribable experience where multiple worlds came together. While some performers claim opera, ballet, and the dancefloor are dead, we are grateful to have artists like ROSALÍA who continue to honor them. She pays tribute to the greats across genres while pushing things forward. It was a dance performance, a classical concert, a pop superstar spectacle, and an art exhibition all in one. ROSALÍA, you are truly one of a kind.
A sunny, warm spring day sets the perfect scene for Leigh-Anne’s final stop on her My Ego Told Me To Tour. It marks her first tour since stepping into her solo era after Little Mix — and Berlin is in for a treat. Tonight, she’s here to prove she doesn’t need to share the stage to own it. The show opens with the singer dancing her ass off to the beats of the album opener ‘Look Into My Eyes’. Her signature long braids cover her face as she moves wildly to the drums. As soon as she starts singing, we’re in for a surprise… Leigh-Anne is standing behind us on the balcony. For the first few minutes, we had been watching a lookalike on stage, completely fooled into thinking it was her. Genius. Hands down one of the best concert openings we’ve ever witnessed. We waste no time diving into ‘Dead and Gone’. Together with her almost identical-looking dancer, she moves energetically across the stage. The two often mirror each other, as if she’s looking at her own ego. Every detail of the night ties into the album’s theme — from the red and green lighting, to the coordinated outfits, to the carefully styled stage design. Leigh-Anne takes a moment to reflect on the journey that led her here. The road to her debut album wasn’t easy. She began under a major label before being dropped and ultimately continuing independently. The first song she wrote for the album, ‘Revival’, is clearly a fan favorite, with the crowd singing along to every word. From there, we move straight into her debut solo single ‘Don’t Say Love’. It’s always been a strong debut if you ask us, and finally hearing it live feels like a full-circle moment. Even though it sits slightly outside the reggae and R&B palette of the night, it still earns its place in the setlist. Next, it’s time to shine a light on her EP No Hard Feelings. Released during that in-between phase between the record label drama and the debut album, tracks like ‘OMG’ and ‘Stealin’ Love’ sound fresh and more than worthy of a live moment. Leigh-Anne jokes that ‘Stealin’ Love’ was her most-played song on Spotify that year — we love a self-aware queen. After a run of high-energy tracks, we get a breather with ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Me Minus U’, both delivered with stunning, stripped-back vocals that feel intimate and grounding. For ‘Tight Up Skirt’, a fan favorite of the album, Leigh-Anne invites fans on stage to show off their dance moves. She carefully selects five people from the crowd, and the moment feels genuine rather than staged. It becomes a real highlight — not just because of the dancing, but because of how connected it feels to her audience. And the fans on stage delivered! The moments we’ve been waiting for all night finally arrive. First up is ‘Talk To Me Nice’, an uptempo standout that gets the big moment it deserves. Leigh-Anne delivers some of her strongest vocals of the night to the incredible song. She keeps that momentum going with ‘Goodbye Goodmorning’, another undeniable fan favorite that has the crowd at its loudest we’ve heard them throughout the night. Honestly — can we please give one of these the official single treatment? She deserves a global smash, and either track could be it. Before the encore, the room erupts into one of the longest applause moments we’ve experienced. It’s clear this is a crowd of true fans, fully invested in her solo journey. The love in the room is undeniable. Recharged by the energy, Leigh-Anne returns to close the night with ‘My Love’. The smash hit lands perfectly as a finale, ending the show on a high. This concert was one for the books. Watching Leigh-Anne perform with such hunger and determination is genuinely inspiring. It feels like she has something to prove — not out of pressure, but out of passion. That drive never feels forced; instead, it comes across as honest and powerful. We leave the venue feeling inspired to go after what we want, unapologetically. Leigh-Anne truly deserves her flowers.
For the last stop of his European leg of the The Shows That Saved Us tour, Odeal is visiting Berlin. He saved the best for last — this stop must feel like coming home for the German-born singer. We are excited for an evening packed with his Nigerian-inspired music with that South London touch to it. He has been paving the way for himself, creating his own lane with his perfectly genre-bending sound. The night promises to be sun-soaked, soulful and packed with R&B perfection. A simple stage setting with some neon light stands, a drummer and a piano player shares the stage with the star of the night, Odeal. Simplicity is key to make sure his music shines to its fullest. We open the night with ‘Free Me’ and the Juls collaboration ‘Hold You Down’. Two perfect tracks to set the tone for the next hour and a half awaiting us. Nigerian-inspired beats paired with soulful, smooth vocals. Odeal reminds us he was born in Germany and therefore expects us to be at our most energetic throughout the night to welcome him back home. In return, we get a tour exclusive as he sings ‘Modern Day Suicide’ just for his Berlin stop. The energy in the room quickly shifts when we’re treated to ‘SHOWBIZ’. The neon lights decorating the stage start flickering to match the energetic production. Unfortunately, the song is cut short — a shame, as it’s hands down our favorite song by Odeal. Luckily, we have no time to dwell on it, as the moment is followed by two more favorites — ‘Blur’ and ‘Molotov’. Both tracks seem to put a spell on the crowd; we are locked in and ready to dance with the singer. A chair is brought to the stage and real fans know exactly what time it is. It can be no other than ‘In The Chair’ awaiting us next. Odeal takes a seat to make sure his actions align with his lyrics. The moment easily becomes one of the sexiest of the night. Near the end of the song, the band slows down, allowing the singer to invite two women from the crowd onto the stage for a dance battle. We can’t help but feel a bit awkward — is it really needed for a famous guy to sit on a chair while two women dance for his attention in front of the whole crowd? We are definitely not fans of this moment, but hey, we don’t judge — let’s move on. The absolute highlight of the evening has to be ‘Soh-Soh’. Everyone in the audience is moving their hips and singing along to the catchy lyrics. Odeal shows off some moves while smoothly making his way across the stage with minimal, but charming choreography. After all that movement, it’s time to slow things down. The duet with Summer Walker, ‘You’re Stuck’, and ‘Temptress’ are up next. Both songs beautifully showcase the vocal range of the singer. We love how his silky smooth voice serenades the entire room. We have no time to waste as the show is nearing its end. Time to bring some energy back — ‘Be Easy’ takes on that responsibility and doesn’t disappoint. We feel the crowd light up and it’s clear we are not ready for the show to end just yet. With ‘London Summers’, the singer quite literally brings us a piece of South London. He sings about summers back home and we sing along, as if for a moment we are right there with him in the UK. For the final track, the singer has his biggest hit to date lined up — ‘Miami’. We tapped out after the high of ‘London Summers’ and, honestly, couldn’t care less about the Leon Thomas-assisted, more ballad-like ending of the show (sorry!).
Night two of the That’s Showbiz Baby! tour is a fact for Clean. This time we do it all over again at Columbiahalle, Berlin. Don’t worry, we won’t give you the same concert review twice. Enough happened during this concert to move on to the songs that were not discussed yet in our Fabrique, Milan review. JADE made sure to perform each and every song from her debut album and proves they’re all worthy of a live performance! Before we dive into the night with the former Little Mix star, we get to dance with DJ Adam Theo. The DJ doesn’t have to warm us up alone. For the last few songs, JADE’s boyfriend and Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens comes out to dance along and hype up the crowd for his girlfriend. Can you think of a more supportive boyfriend? The show is packed with big pop songs, references to showbiz and odes to the greatest pop stars. It’s no wonder that JADE chose to include her cover of pop queen Madonna’s ‘Frozen’ in the setlist. The song fits right in with all her own music and has the crowd going wild. Ever since the release of the cover it has become a fan favorite and has everyone singing along at their loudest to every word. Near the end of the song it transforms into a trance remix, urging everyone in the room to jump and dance along. During her interactions with fans she checks in with us about what our favorite songs from the album are. The Berlin crowd seems to unanimously share the love for ‘Use Me’. One fan screams the song title and the room goes crazy. The song is not included in the setlist, so JADE decides to treat Berlin to an improvised a cappella moment. Clean has previously shared our love for the album cut and couldn’t be happier to hear we’re not alone. After the cute moment another fan screams their favorite is ‘Glitch’, which leads us into the next song of the show. Lights are flickering and JADE shows us her dance skills together with her two dancers. She is ready to prove the song is underrated for no good reason. The theatrical, dramatic pop show is nearly coming to an end when JADE treats us to more fan favorites. She is seen riding her dancers as they serve as her horse for ‘Midnight Cowboy’. The song is undeniably one of our favorite tracks released by JADE. In a live setting it shows just how big it can get, as the whole crowd claps along exactly where it’s needed. The beat of the song perfectly lends itself to a little “justice-for-Wasabi” moment. The singer makes sure each Little Mix fan is happy by treating us to at least one throwback to her girl group days. ‘Wasabi’ is the perfect choice. Not only does it fit perfectly within her solo music, it’s also a fan favorite — something we can clearly hear in the room. A phone rings and fans know exactly what this means. The ringing phone is a reference to the video she did for her collaboration with Confidence Man. We get to hear the summer hit ‘Gossip’. The song puts us in the mood to go out and party. Before our encore moment we hear the Berlin crowd at its loudest all night. We all love to sing along to ‘IT Girl’. During the song JADE struts down the stage with full enthusiasm and sass. It confirms she truly is that IT girl within pop music today. ‘Church’ serves as the second-to-last song of the night. Unfortunately a fan becomes unwell during the performance, urging JADE to kindly stop the show temporarily to make sure the fan is safely escorted outside before continuing. She shows that during her concerts it’s a safe space for everyone and that we take care of one another. Restarting the song has JADE jokingly wondering where to pick up the performance, as she feels awkward starting it all over again due to the dramatic slow walk-in entrance. The night obviously closes with her biggest hit to date — the song that put her on the map as a main pop girl and proves she can do this on her own just as well, if not better, than with the band. Her vocals are unmistakably some of the biggest in the industry right now as she gets to show on ‘Angel Of My Dreams’. Yes, she is a pop girl, but she can absolutely hold a note and blow the roof off the room. We clearly didn’t need any further proof of why JADE is going to be one of the biggest international pop stars out here, yet we were given plenty of reasons to confirm it during a night of That’s Showbiz Baby!.