Heaven, London
The once-belittled artist ignites a comeback show for the release of her debut LP - to an air of indifference.
Proceeding beyond the earth-shattering effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, the year of 2023 is already igniting new beginnings for those in music: Rihanna’s Super Bowl-famed pregnancy announcement, Lil Yachty’s venture into psychedelic rock and now Rebecca Black’s coming-of-age debut LP, Let Her Burn.
It seems a perplexing stretch for the mind to ruminate on (almost exactly) 12 years ago when the (then) 13-year-old from suburban California produced one of the most highly-referenced and streamed singles across the internet landscape, quickly falling victim to an intense period of bullying and vitriolic online abuse.
The years since then have undoubtedly been one of heal and grow for the young singer-songwriter, resolutely announcing her comeback last year with singles ‘Sick to My Stomach’ and ‘Crumbs’. Whilst these tracks possess the veneer of a hyperpop/glitchpop sheen, Black’s entrance into tonight's ultra-supportive cauldron of London’s nightclub, Heaven, proves off. Her debut LP may have only graced its presence for barely a day, yet the crowd’s initial anticipation gives way to a sense of ambivalence, as if balancing on a preferential tight-rope between the Black of old or new.
None better typifies this ambivalence than Black’s sure-fire cover choice: Vanessa Carlton’s 2002 radio-pop-defining single ‘A Thousand Miles’, met with an uneasy indifference to its cringe-worthy form: caked in bedroom-pop synth lines and upbeat garage beats. But the crowd remains determined to show their support to the vociferous singer-songwriter, sprinkling rapturous applauses in multiple moments of the set, resulting in a teary-eyed Black, overwhelmed by an outpour of emotions following a challenging decade.
Tonight’s crowd are ultimately rewarded in the form of Black’s recent remix of ‘Friday’ featuring a (more convincing) update to suit the modern realm of hyperpop. But it’s this genre's artists who have soared to new heights within this field, namely Charli XCX, Dorian Electra, and Arca, and ultimately reveal the ocean of difference laid out for Rebecca Black to cross - in spite of some promising peaks peppered on this evening's servings.
There’s a slight underwhelming sense seethed into Black’s comeback: an underdeveloped voice, vapid dance moves and pandering to an audience feeling slightly at odds with it all. If this is the beginning, I’m not sure how many of us will remain further down the road.
5.5/10
Rebecca Black's debut LP, Let Her Burn, is out now and can be found below.
Photo is courtesy of Luke John Smith whose work can be found here.
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