Isabel LaRosa in Paris - Live Review
Isabel LaRosa is one of those artists you have to see live. It’s not a want, it’s a need.
Opening the night was none other than Isabel’s brother, Thomas. Their music is completely different, but it’s clear they work closely together and draw inspiration from one another. During his opening set, Thomas LaRosa proved to the crowd he’s not only an amazing guitarist but also a talented singer. He had the audience singing along to songs like “Perfume” and “Scream My Name”.
Following his performance was dancer and singer Snow Wife. Hailing from LA, Emily Leann is the perfect example of a great opener. Even though her music and performance style were very different from Isabel’s and Thomas’s, Snow Wife managed to set fire to the room. With her two backup dancers, Sofia and Addysin, she had the crowd singing, dancing, and shouting the lyrics in no time.
After a short break came Isabel LaRosa, greeted by hysterical screams from the audience. Dressed in a white babydoll gown — made by a fan, how adorable is that? — she sang song after song with little to no intermissions. While I usually enjoy shows where the artist takes more time to interact with the crowd, this fast pace allowed Isabel to perform a lot of material — 25 songs, to be precise. On top of her own songs, the 21-year-old singer performed three covers — “Babydoll” by Ari Abdul, “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood, and “Enjoy of Silence” by Depeche Mode — which she managed to give her own twist to.
One of the most memorable moments of the night came when Isabel returned to the stage holding a Pride flag during her song “My Girl”. This lesbian anthem was screamed back at her by a thousand enthusiastic fans, turning the room into a shared, emotional release.
Now, back to what was said at the beginning of this review. As you would know if you’ve ever heard one of Isabel’s songs, she has a habit of whispering the lyrics. That hush delivery has become her entire musical identity and signature, and one of the reasons so many people love her. That whispering tone gives her tracks a sultry but vulnerable edge at the same time. Seeing her live was an entirely different experience than listening through a streaming service or on vinyl/CD.
On stage, Isabel LaRosa was finally able to showcase the full range of her voice, and it was a revelation. Watching her pour her heart into “More Than Friends” and “I’m Yours” proved just how strong of a vocalist she is, reshaping familiar songs to fit the intensity of the room.