Cover photo by Amanda Romankiw
Alice Phoebe Lou has been the soundtrack of my daydreams for the past few years. Her ethereal, pensive, and mystical sound has paired perfectly with my daily romanticization of normality — allowing me to bask in the in-between moments.
Born and raised in South Africa, and having lived most of her adult life in Germany, the anticipation for her LA show emanated throughout the audience. Upon my arrival, the Wiltern was packed and chattering with excitement.
When she took the stage, the crowd roared as she said, “I forgot I could still feel butterflies.” Her sweet voice lulled the loud audience into her first track, “Hammer.” To me, this track is a great representation of Lou’s discography:
“As I try to exist
Without caring 'bout the voices in my head, analysing
You would know, your head gets full too
I see it in the cloud that you carry”
These lyrics reflect greater themes of her music: introspection about the anxieties of life as they relate to relationships, love, and self-worth. Her self-assuredness and confidence transcend her music as Lou elected to remain an independent musician throughout her career, a choice that has carried her far and clearly aligns with her discography. Those sorts of decisions by Lou affirm the authenticity of her music as her choices are synchronous with the motifs of her lyrics.
Lou went on to perform a stripped-back set, deepening the rawness her music encapsulates. As she played the next track, “Sailor,” orbs of light floated behind her, creating a gold and airy atmosphere that comforts you and draws you in. Her presence on stage is entrancing, her gentle movements and gorgeous voice demand your attention as she sings words most of us would only write in a diary.
One of my favorite aspects of her music is the quiet confidence felt in her lyricism. It’s so easy to be self-deprecating and lose yourself in love; however, her words clearly come from a self-aware place where she prioritizes herself and effectively communicates her feelings. As she played track, “Only When I,” I was reminded of her beautiful and poetic way of owning her feelings:
“You didn't teach me
I taught myself through you
You didn't heal me but I healed
From the things that you do
We didn't want each other baby
We wanted something so much more
To feel the rarest of feelings
That which opens all doors”
She then transitioned into “Halo,” a track about self-discovery, learning to enjoy solitude, and freedom through independence. The intimate nature of her performance mesmerized the crowd, singing words so raw, poised, and relatable about caring for yourself on those off days when nerves take over your body:
“Don't have a sense of purpose today, I'm a little nervous
But sometimes you gotta find that sense of mission for yourself”
“I'm always caring for everybody else
But if I put that care in me
How easy it could be”
Without any lyrics too obvious, Alice Phoebe Lou discusses themes of self-care and mental health, truly embodying what it’s like to exist inside of our heads and the healing power of treating yourself with grace and embracing nature. It feels as though she’s singing to one person, or maybe to herself. This sort of intimacy is impressive to achieve in such a large theatre. Her music is like yearning while lying in the grass, seeing dots because you decided to look into the sun.
She closed out the night with a fan favorite, “Witches,” which is an upbeat and joyous love song about her magical essence. It draws on her ability and desire to exist harmoniously in relationships that fulfill her.
As I left the theatre, the beautiful architecture and colored lights of the Wiltern carried the whimsy of Lou’s music until we exited the venue. I highly recommend checking out the entirety of Alice Phoebe Lou’s discography if you’re in a pensive place, trying to pick yourself back up, or even if you want some celestial tunes as the soundtrack to your days.
Listen to Alice Phoebe Lou’s latest album, Oblivion, here:
