Newly independent and with an exciting new sound, the exclusive show was a raging success
BY GRACE CROWLEY, IMAGES BY JESSIE MORGAN
This Tuesday, queer artist Ellie Dixon (she/they) headlined their first show in over a
year at The Grace in north London.
Opening with the single Renaissance which was released 16 October, Dixon’s artistic vision for her new era is clear. Renaissance is a groovy anthem for self-assurance and new beginnings and was an excellent way to come back to the stage with a bang. Entering the stage wearing a corset and holding a sword, the medieval and mythical themes transcend the music.
At the sold-out show, many fans dressed in medieval costumes, accessoried with plastic gold crowns to fit the renaissance theme. Songs that had only been teased on TikTok by the singer and not yet fully released were being sung along to by the crowd who were hungry for new music.
With the entire show embellished with personal anecdotes and stories behind each song, the performance was nothing short of excellent. Before playing her new song Thirteen, they said it was a “love letter to teenage Ellie”. Anxiousness informs much of Dixon’s writing and they spoke openly about difficulties navigating teenage and adult life because of it. This frankness was so refreshing. With continuous audience involvement and many wholesome interactions with their band, Dixon truly is a natural performer.
After parting from their label, Dixon said that they “went through quite a deep depression” and this inspired much of the writing for their new songs. Many of her lyrics are focused on struggling with mental health and learning self-compassion. A notable moment of the show was their effort to get the crowd to sing along with the lyrics “I’m brave for just being here”.
Upstairs of The Grace was decorated with vines and velvet drapes, perfectly incongruous next to the ceiling of disco balls. The unlikely pairing worked amazingly with Dixon’s fun indie-pop sound and old-fashioned lyrics about great knights. The intimate size of the venue only made the experience better. Halfway through, we all had a moment of mindfulness and deep breathing. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth whilst being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers made me feel like I was part of a community – part of the townsfolk even!
Ellie Dixon is a delight to see live. This show, and the release of Renaissance has firmly established her as a future pop success story. Her range, artistic vision and marketing genius makes her one to watch. Long live the Renaissance!
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