Inside Sunset Boulevard’s iconic Viper Room, Velvettica delivered an authentic, sonically unique performance to the Los Angeles music scene last Friday night. Emily Krueger, the creator and singer behind Velvettica, contributed to The Viper Room’s iconic history of hosting rising stars in the rock and alternative music space. Krueger’s smooth vocals and raw lyrics balanced the venue’s edgier nature, resulting in an empowering yet vulnerable performance.
Velvettica blends pop-rock sounds with a psychedelic twist to create an eclectic and original style of music. Krueger’s lyrics are centered around themes of identity and sense of self. Her style blends dreamy pop with emotional lyricism, urging listeners to explore identity, relationships, and existentialism. Velvettica’s originality traces back to Krueger’s Canadian roots: in her hometown of Toronto, she taught herself to create and produce music.
The Viper Room’s historic role in the Los Angeles music scene indicates a significant milestone in Krueger’s career. Velvettica has now joined the ranks of other performers at the venue including Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen, and Oasis. In the rock landscape, a performance at the Viper Room reflects an artist’s ability to stay authentic while delivering sonic innovation.
Krueger’s performance commanded attention by combining her engaging stage presence with a sense of personal connection to the lyrics of her music. The venue’s intimacy made it feel as though Krueger was speaking directly to each person in the crowd. Velvettica’s hypnotic style made it easy to drift into the waves of sound while reflecting on Krueger’s lyrics.
Krueger placed special emphasis on the messaging behind Velvettica’s music during Friday’s performance. Themes of identity and self-worth were central to her performance, as Krueger urged the crowd to see themselves as more than just their physical presence. This ethos was carried throughout the songs performed that evening in a set that pushed audience members to consider higher levels of consciousness beyond the physical world.
To date, Velvettica has released three singles, each of which was performed during Krueger’s set on Friday. Her first release, “Telepathic Baddie,” introduced Krueger’s dreamy sound into the streaming space. The song features strong, layered vocals alongside guitar and drum instrumentals. Velvettica’s second release, “Everything is Nothing,” offers a slightly faster paced, suspenseful sound that plays on the use of electric instrumentals. The lyrics dive into existential territory, exploring the search for self amid relationships. Velvettica’s third and latest release, “Stereo Minds,” continues to explore these themes in a whimsical sound landscape. Krueger provides soft vocals in this song, capturing a sound with more rock influence and rhythmic drum beats. An electric guitar solo bridges the song’s rock and pop elements. Krueger included unreleased Velvettica tracks in the performance, including “Ironic,” “Circles,” and “Behind the Clouds.”
Velvettica’s music provides the ideal sound space for listeners who seek a blend between intense instrumentals and thoughtful lyricism. Krueger’s message extends beyond each track, leaving listeners to reflect on themes of self long after Velvettica’s songs end. At its core, Velvettica’s music is grounded, suspenseful, and exploratory. As Krueger continues to release music, this authentic approach to music creation is bound to attract a wide audience seeking her thoughtfully crafted, rhythmic music.
Photos by Oli McCormack
