Live Review: Lennon Stella // O2 Shepherd’s Bush London

Following her band’s small introduction, Lennon Stella walks on to the stage with nothing but her guitar and an infectious smile. With such a strong stage presence, it’s hard to believe that the singer/songwriter is only 20 years old. Whilst opening the set with new track ‘ Black Light ‘ might seem an unusual choice, it was the perfect opportunity to showcase her new sound. From start to finish, eyes were all on Lennon and her new mature sound.

Effortlessly transitioning into ‘ Bad’, the crowd went wild singing back every lyric and dancing along to the jazzy track. Performing a variety of older tracks and new unreleased songs, Lennon showcased her impressive vocal range and musical ability.

Lennon’s cover of ‘ Girls Just Want To Have Fun’, immediately followed by her first ever single ‘ Like Everybody Else’ was a standout of the entire evening. With just herself on the piano, her rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s hit was hauntingly beautiful and as she delicately sang to the lyrics to ‘Like Everybody Else’, touching on insecurity, loneliness and the trials & tribulations of being a young adult, it was clear that this wasn’t any old song. It was raw, honest and for a lot of people in the audience — a reminder that it’s all going to be ok.

Following suit with one of her newest singles ‘ Kissing Other People’, Lennon swapped the acoustic vibe for a dance party. With an infectious chorus and catchy melody, the crowd were singing back every single lyric and it became clear that Lennon’s relationship with her fans wasn’t one to be messed with. ‘ BITCH (takes one to know one)’ and ‘La Di Da’ solidified this connection & just how grateful Lennon was for everything that was happening at that moment.

Ending the set with another new unreleased track ‘ Goodnight’, everyone began to settle to listen to her powerful voice for one last time. Lyrics such as ‘please don’t say goodbye just goodnight’ resonated well — this wasn’t Lennon saying goodbye to the crowd, just a see you later. It’s clear that she isn’t going anywhere; she’s just going to keep getting bigger and better. And no-one deserves it more.

Originally published at https://www.indiependent.co.uk on March 9, 2020.