Empress Of @ YES Review: an alluring and romantic evening

Debuting her new album ‘For Your Consideration’, Lorely Rodriguez, better known as the formidable Empress Of, reigned over the stage at the packed YES (Pink Room) in Manchester. The Honduran-American singer’s fourth album keeps it elusive, sensual, and upbeat, which, when heard live, transported the crowd to the heat of a club night. 

Returning to the UK for her new tour, admitting she is glad not to be in America at the moment, the songwriter and producer showed off her new seductive persona. The success of her previous album ‘I am Empress Of’ boasted a roster of introspective R&B and electronica, and gave her the opportunity to open for Rina Sawayama, who also features on the new album. ‘For Your Consideration’ journeys into the depths of experimental hyper pop with her blend of english and spanish vocals bursting with insatiable energy. 

Getting hearts racing, Sans Soucis swept onto the stage at 8 pm and instantly pulled everyone into their orbit. Performing tracks from their sophomore and coming-of-age album ‘Circumnavigating Georgia’, the Italian-born songwriter Giulia Grispino brought their unique blend of carefree R&B and electropop to life in a celebration of queerness and raw sexuality. With lyrics that pack a punch, angelic harmonies, and funk grooves reminiscent of Lauryn Hill, Sans Soucis proved that they are definitely not one to miss. Highlights of the night included the dizzyingly sultry beats of ‘Sexed & Sexual’ and ‘Dancing On This,’ which had the crowd dropping into a 2000s-inspired two-step, ready for more joyously sensual electronica to come. 

Opening with ‘Preciosa’, Empress Of hit the dancefloor at 9pm silhouetted against a shroud of smoke and neon light. Shamelessly flirtatious with the crowd, the singer made her presence known by showing off her alluring vocals, which she looped and harmonised, and throwing everyone straight into the thick of the dance. Best known for her scene-stealing feature on Shygirl’s ‘4eva’, the singer unleashed the crowd with the house track, as they began chanting the lyrics with full force. 

Asking the audience to take her new album into consideration, Empress Of brought the highs and lows of charged romance to YES. A hit for their memorable lyrics and the singer’s wild and provocative dancing, the dance tracks ‘Femenine’, ‘Lorelei’, and ‘Fácil’ surged the crowd into euphoria. They were still singing ‘Lorelei’ long after the music had died down to the singer’s delight. With songs from ‘I Am Empress Of’ scattered throughout the set, the songwriter played older fan favourites specifically requested for the night. The tracks ‘When I’m With Him’ and the empowering anthem ‘Woman Is a Word’ had the crowd singing along to the emotionally resonant lyrics. 

Gracing Manchester with an encore, Empress Of could not have given a better send off with her final tracks, the 2000s-inspired pop song ‘Kiss Me (featuring Rina Sawayama)’ and dreamy introspective ballad ‘What’s Love (featuring MUNA)’. Long after the show ended, people could still be heard raving over the hold she had on them. Empress Of left no one's desires unfulfilled.

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