Sydney Rose's delicate and intimate takeover of Omeara
- blondevibrations
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
Aligned with her support slot at Noah Kahan's show at BST Hyde Park, Sydney Rose marked her London debut with a two-date residency at Omeara, as stops on her 'I Know What I Want' tour. Outside the venue, girls in white skirts and flower crowns queued in the summer breeze, eager to claim the perfect spot for an intimate evening with the rising American singer-songwriter. What is clear from the get-go, is that this is an extremely special night, for the artists and fans alike.
At the beginning of the night, the crowd is gently warmed up by Sydney's close friend, Noah Levine, who you may recognise from Noah Kahan's band. With a candid and friendly presence on stage, the guitarist jokes that if you like the sound of a song on his setlist, there's only a small chance it will be on streaming platforms, with only two tracks off his discography currently living on his streaming profiles. However, this made Noah's setlist even more sweet, as you could feel every audience member taking in every word and note, knowing that this could be the last time they hear a track until his debut EP, 'Deceiver', is released on 18th July. Noah shares Sydney's knack for vulnerable yet poetic songwriting, opening up about the story behind one unreleased track being that of the human urge to cry. He reflects on the challenge of expressing softness as a man, and his honesty resonates with the crowd, responding with their flashlights in the air to the following song.
Once Sydney takes the stage, she wastes no time in sharing what a special show this is, with 'lots of lore', you can feel her eager fans buzz with glee at being part of such a monumental moment in her journey. Throughout the show, she speaks tenderly at the time she spent with Noah and his support as she navigates her early twenties. The night feels like a family affair: Noah's girlfriend runs the merch table, and Sydney's family is huddled by the sound desk. A sweet story of Sydney's mum wishing she made less sad music makes the crowd giggle and share a fond wave to the woman who is a recurring feature in Sydney's songwriting. 'Look where it got me, Mum!', Sydney exclaims, and the room erupts with cheers from the adoring fans who find comfort in said songs.
A common thread that ties the night together is an admiration for Phoebe Bridgers. We are gifted with two covers by Noah and Sydney, as well as a subtle mashup of the bridge of Bridgers' 'Waiting Room' with one of Sydney's original tracks. Audience members quietly sing along with the repeated lines of 'Know it's for the better' with the same level of admiration that they have for Sydney's own songs, showing the incredible impact of Phoebe on the new generation of artists and fans. In a drought of new Phoebe Bridgers, Sydney and Noah's rendition of 'Funeral' brought many fans to tears to the same extent that they once were when Bridgers played in London many years before. Songs like 'Briston' are made all the more intricate and impactful with the inclusion of violin, played by bandmember and fellow musician Lydia Maes. While summer puts music fans in a world of high production shows and intense festival sets, Sydney's stripped back acoustic set felt like a breath of fresh air as we were placed face-to-face with everyone performing's immense talent and dedication to their craft.
Sydney's songwriting is painfully raw and delicate (read more about our thoughts on it here!), and somehow this is even further elevated in their live renditions between songs. When introducing songs, she draws on first-hand experiences, from the grief of friendship breakups and lost relationships, to the many animal references threaded through her discography, and even the awkwardness of running into someone after dreaming about them. Every audience member is invited into every corner of Sydney's life, so even if you didn't know her at the beginning of the show, you can't help but feel like she is now a close, personal friend. The crowd show an attachment to every song, showing that despite her first EP, 'You Never Met Me', only being released in 2022, fans have grown with the artist and resonate with her every word. At various points of the show, fans hand over presents to Sydney and hold up signs with sweet messages (with one fan in particular having multiple fans, which got the response of 'That's your second sign! How many did you bring?'). One particular humorous moment was during the performance of her latest single, 'Before & After You', fans held up images of Pedro Pascal, as a playful nod to the song's reference to 'The Last of Us', where Pascal plays a lead role.
Sydney Rose's show truly felt like a living, breathing extension of her songwriting and thoughtful community that she's carefully built over the past few years. It was a soft and gentle celebration of emotions and relationships, giving fans a space to be themselves and feel whatever they want, whether it's joy or sadness. The impact that she has made on her listeners is clear for all to see: from their careful listening to every word she utters, waiting in queues outside, or bringing handmade gifts and signs. To be carving out such a prominent space already, it's safe to say that this is just the beginning of a long line of very successful, warm-hearted and powerful shows to come.
Please note: we were gifted tickets to this show, but all opinions expressed are entirely our own! Thank you to UMG for providing access.
Comments