#minefields

georgee, the first opening act, brought smooth R&B and funk. He had a chill and humorous demeanor, cracking self-deprecating jokes with the audience before moving into sensual vocal runs. From the lofi-esque “split” to the ironically energizing “sad” and bouncy “baby4u,” georgee’s passionate vocals and playful lyrics instantly drew listeners in: “I’m a baby for you / When you leave me I get nervous / I stay up waiting for you / And I think that I deserve it.”

Next up was Carmen DeLeon, who brought joyous energy and a mighty stage presence. DeLeon, who sang mostly in Spanish, had a soft but fierce voice, always maintaining a Latin elegance. She moved seamlessly from the electro sway of “Mariposas” to the determined “Mala Memoria” and darker, post-breakup anthem “BBB.” DeLeon cultivated an infectious atmosphere, quickly getting everyone out of their seats to dance. She pulled her father, who was also on stage, into a tango and spontaneously ran into the crowd to dance–much to their collective delight.

Faouzia started her set with “Puppet,” a bold celebration of independence: “Little did you know / I’m my own Geppetto / And now you get to watch me go, go, go.” Her strong and angelic vibrato echoed throughout the chorus. Beautiful reassurance followed with “Thick and Thin.” Faouzia had incredible control over her voice and navigated complex vocal runs with ease. A fan favourite, “Born Without a Heart” was also performed. The crowd sung along to lyrics that celebrated boundaries reset.

Faouzia wore a purple shimmering outfit that matched her dreamy persona and was accompanied by a keyboardist, guitarist, and drummer. She moved fluidly on the stage. At one point, she took an audience member's phone and recorded herself singing on it. Faouzia’s newest single, “HABIBI (MY LOVE),” was sung. Its romantic and opulent nature put the audience in a trance.

Her signature Arabic trills shined in the gentle “SoLie” and the fearless “RIP, Love.” Of course, Faouzia performed “Minefields,” a tragic and passionate tune. Lyrics described the strain of forbidden and scarred love: “Now this might be a mistake / We’re broken in so many ways / But I piece us back / together slowly.” One of the last songs of the night was “Tears of Gold,” another classic to mend a broken heart. Faouzia’s fiery vocals complemented clever wordplay: “Don’t you know that I cried tears of gold for you? / I sit here poor for you / Collect my pennies and my dimes / That’s why you love it when I cry.”

Faouzia’s show was a pleasure to experience. Vibrant and interesting opening artists and a captivating main performance. Faouzia has built herself a stellar discography that was elevated on the stage. And while she has racked up millions of streams on Spotify and Youtube, she still remains a relatively underrated talent. Faouzia has flourished on her “CITIZENS” tour and will certainly continue to do so.