I walked past countless flower crowns, long white skirts, and outfits that belong on a fairy garden-themed birthday party Pinterest board. It was rainy and cold, but that didn’t stop Sydney Rose fans from lining up outside The Atlantis in anticipation of her show on Nov. 18.
VIP Q&A Soundcheck ticket holders were let into the venue an hour before general admission doors opened. VIPs were able to write out questions for Sydney to answer during the Q&A section.
The stage was already decorated with delicate greenery and fairy lights. The space felt homey and intimate – smaller than the full 450 capacity of the venue. Sydney came out in a cozy outfit – only adding to the comforting vibe.
“You guys only get two songs for soundcheck because I am so sick,” she said. “I’m really sorry if I sound like a little boy.”
Sydney soundchecked her newest song “The Holiday” and a cover of Boygenius’ “Revolution 0.” She then answered almost everyone’s questions drawn randomly from a hat “in exchange” for her not being able to sing more songs for us.
It wasn’t a typical Q&A experience where the question is asked and the artist gives a plain answer. Rather, this felt like a conversation where everyone was able to participate. Sydney took time to ask the names of the people who wrote each question. She took a picture with the VIP crowd and then left to get ready for the show.
Between the time general admission doors opened and the supporting act, Jayla Kai, went on, the room filled up with even more flower crowns, bows, and long white skirts. It looked like everyone had agreed on what to wear. You could hear chatter and people making friends with each other.
The lights dimmed, and Kai shyly came on stage and gave an awesome five-song performance. She sang four originals and covered “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn. Kai got the entire audience singing and excited for what was to come a short bit later.
The lights went out – all of them except the fairy lights around the piano, drums, and microphone stands – and the room erupted with loud cheers. Sydney’s all-female band came on stage first, shortly followed by Sydney herself. She opened the set with her song “31.” Gut-wrenching from the start.
“If you came with your friend, turn to them and tell them how much you love them,” she said between verses of “You’d be Stars.”
Sydney called “You’d be Stars” her one and only happy song. Seeing everyone so happy while she performed it was so special. The crowd was sweet and loud “I love yous” filled the room. People from the upper level waved at the main floor. It felt chaotic, but somehow, it felt so calming and familiar.
Sydney took a moment to introduce her band, as this tour is the first where she has had one. Her band is small, only two other people: Lydia Maes plays the violin and bass and Giselle Bouclé plays the drums. Sydney’s calm, quiet, acoustic songs are brought to life by her band. During the beautiful, musical, lyricless moments, everyone around me was in awe.
“We Hug Now,” Sydney’s most popular song, was second-to-last on the set. The song, specifically the bridge went viral on TikTok earlier this year. When that part of the song came along, the crowd was incredibly loud. You could feel and hear the passion when people sang the lyrics.
Sydney asked the crowd to say thank you and goodbye to her band. The lights dimmed further and she started playing the last song of the night: “Dreams,” an unreleased song. During soundcheck she mentioned it was one of her favorite songs she has ever written. Knowing that and then hearing it about two hours later was special.
“Thank you for bearing with me and my sickness and little boy voice,” Sydney thanked the crowd one last time. Everyone told her that she sounded amazing and to feel better soon. Quickly, the crowd dispersed, and the flower crowns and white skirts funnelled out of the venue.
Featured Image by Isabella Alvarez