By Emma Turner
New York singer-songwriter Ari Abdul is known for her dark alt-pop sound, characterised by heavy reverb and influenced by the likes of The Neighbourhood. She first gained attention in 2022 when her debut single, BABYDOLL went viral on TikTok. It introduced the world to her hypnotic and seductive musical identity.
After completing her first North American headline tour, Abdul has brought the Change tour to Manchester’s Club Academy. With the last-minute support slot being filled by emerging pop artist Lois, the evening began with a warm introduction.
Lois’ delicate vocals and beaming smile lit up the room immediately, as she danced around the stage with complete confidence. Her happiness and enthusiasm spread through the crowd instantly. Her lyricism was captivating, exploring themes of self introspection and grief, particularly in her closing song Running. The pop singer-songwriter’s raw honesty provided an emotional depth that was so compelling, there’s no doubt this gig gained her some brand new supporters.
Shortly after, it was time for Ari Abdul herself. Joined by her guitarist Constance, and drummer Nick, the three put on an absolutely unforgettable show. They all burst onto stage with an unmatched energy, as the lights flickered and the crowd’s screams got progressively louder.
The excitement was overwhelming. By the third song, Abdul was lying on the floor, swinging the microphone stand in the air with Constance to her side, shredding her guitar, dashing her hair in every direction. With a bass so intense that the floor was shaking, it was the perfect atmosphere for the Academy basement venue.
It was clear immediately that Taste was a fan favourite by how buzzed with anticipation the room became after the first few chords played. Fans all jumped along as one, even copying the hair tossing demonstrated by Constance and Abdul. Its dark, moody tone, accompanied by its playful lyrics, created a subtle confidence and attitude within the crowd, which only grew throughout the night. A cover of Toxic by Britney Spears quickly followed. It appeared to be slightly slower than the original with a thundering tone to it, matching Abdul’s usual sound flawlessly.
As well as creating the most chaotic and captivating show through her performance, it was also lovely to see her interaction with her fanbase. Throughout the venue, there were signs created by fans to express their love, and it felt like Abdul reciprocated this feeling as she stopped to read them and spoke to members of the crowd. Two in particular, at different points in the show, simply asked if they could hug her, to which she happily came towards the barricade to do so. It was heartwarming to see the genuine connection she’d built just through her music and how it bonded everyone in the venue.
Certain songs sparked a particularly strong reaction from the crowd, as the shift to a slower song Worship, caused them to lose their minds. They sang back every word at the top of their lungs, filling the space in the intimate venue. Overall, it was dramatic in the best way possible and gave us arguably the best high note of the night. Transitioning straight into Haunt Your Dreams, fans braced for a moment they’d been waiting for – Abdul pouring her water over herself – which gained deafening screams, with one shouting out asking for her to throw some their way.
To end the night, of course, was her hit single BABYDOLL. As Abdul basked in the moment, dancing around the stage, fans did the same. As a whole, Ari Abdul and her fans were perfectly in sync. With a setlist curated flawlessly to maintain a high energy throughout and a relationship that was full of understanding and charm, it had the optimal balance for a truly remarkable gig.
The sky really is the limit for Ari Abdul.
Photography & Text Copyright 2026 © Emma Turner/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Alexandra Pullen 
Alisha Lawton