ISABEL LAROSA HYPNOTISES MANCHESTER WITH ETHEREAL GIG [New Century Hall, 06.12.25]

The penultimate night of Isabel LaRosa’s Psychopomp Tour took place in none other than Manchester’s vibrant New Century Hall. Since releasing her debut album Raven, Isabel has carved out a place for herself in the dark pop scene, with her performance proving even more that she’s an artist to watch. With an incredible lineup for the night, what better way to open your show than with your own brother? 

Thomas LaRosa produces and writes songs with Isabel, but he’s also an artist in his own right. Both share grungy guitars and heavy bass in their tracks, which translates even better live. The reaction from fans was already huge when Thomas took his shirt off earlier in the set, though that same energy surged again during his song Scream My Name. They loved him from the second he walked on the stage, welcoming him with cheers all around. Utilising the stylistic drum pattern of dark pop, he amped up the crowd, his intensity setting the tone for the rest of the night. 

Snow Wife brought out an entirely different energy. Accompanied by her two dancers, Sofia and Addisyn, they took the stage by storm, delivering a performance reminiscent of Britney Spears and The Pussy Cat Dolls. Focused on more of a hyperpop sound, her music is characterised by its intense and addictive electronic beats. Along with her lyrics, Snow Wife wants her listeners to feel confident. During her set, she spoke about how she wants her music to empower people – whether that’s through her as a person, how she expresses and owns her queerness, through her movement or through her songs – everyone deserves to have a place where they can feel good about themselves, even if it’s in a room full of people who are scared of those things. It was a really nice message to incorporate, and the crowd were definitely influenced. 

She truly stunned the room with her commanding vocals and razor-sharp choreography, creating an atmosphere so immersive and captivating that it felt bigger than the venue itself. No one could take their eyes off the stage – with lifts, splits and provocative chemistry – and it would be safe to say her electrifying set hypnotised fans. 

After patiently waiting between sets, the crowd were more than ready for Isabel. Her entrance unfolded through pulses of droning synths paired with bursts of white light, along with two screens at the back that displayed atmospheric visuals of her. She opened the set with one of her most popular songs, Older. Setting a dramatic tone from the start, her haunting vocals paired with Thomas’s intense guitar made it clear that Manchester was in for a cinematic evening. The fan blowing through her hair and the deep red lights that washed over the stage – interrupted only by bursts of white during the chorus – heightened this feeling. 

The aesthetics of the show matched seamlessly with each song, the main visual focus being an image of a raven behind her, representing her album. However, it was the movement and controlled chaos of the lighting that really stood out. For a striking song like Muse, white spotlights cut through the darkness to highlight Isabel during the chorus, with the rest of the stage set up as red once again. It visually mirrored her sultry vocals and the deep pulsing beat. Even for slower songs like Cry For You, and Burning, a warmer spotlight appeared, allowing fans to hone in on her delivery and release emotion along with her. 

During Famous, her powerful voice took centre stage, complemented by bold, seductive energy during the dance breaks, all amplified by Thomas’ driving guitar. Turning into a softer tone for My Girl, the track aches for a connection with someone that you can’t have. It’s much more musically dreamy, with echoing and breathy vocals, emphasising its fragility. 

Among her originals, Isabel performed a few covers, BABYDOLL by Ari Abdul, and Softcore by The Neighbourhood being the most notable. They blended so naturally with her style and sound that they could have passed as her own. And of course, fans were loving every second of it. They couldn’t help but dance along. The vibrations from the deafening bass, combined with everyone jumping, had the floor beneath them shaking. Every lyric was screamed with a collective passion that felt strong enough to tear the roof off the venue. 

From beginning to end, Isabel’s show was magnetic, shifting effortlessly between energetic and vulnerable, to create a fully immersive experience. Her authenticity and relatability connected her to her fans, providing an intimate feel while also showcasing an unstoppable star-like performance. 

Bringing the night to a close was the warmth of I’m Yours, as Isabel’s delicate vocals floated on top of the ethereal track, making one final impression on the crowd before the lights went out for the final time. 

Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Emma Turner/ADRENALINE Magazine.