LOS ANGELES, CA- It was the final night of Nessa Barrett’s Aftercare Tour in the U.S., and The Wiltern was packed—two sold-out nights before she takes her show across the pond to Europe. The energy in the room was electric before the first note even played, a buzzing anticipation from fans who had been waiting for this moment.
Since breaking onto the scene in 2020, Nessa has built a dedicated fan base, turning viral fame into a legitimate music career with deeply personal songs about mental health, relationships, and self-discovery. With her latest album, “Aftercare”, she’s cemented herself as an artist who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
Opening the night was Ari Abdul, a rising pop artist whose style fit seamlessly into the world Nessa has created—dark, moody, and laced with just enough pop-punk attitude. Ari made an immediate impact, commanding the stage with a confidence that felt effortless. At one point, she had the crowd chanting Nessa’s name, a heartfelt moment of admiration for the headliner. The audience responded in kind, chanting “Ari” back to her, creating a shared energy that felt genuine and supportive.
Ari didn’t just rely on vocals to make an impression—she put on a show. Midway through her set, she dropped to her knees, poured water over herself, soaking her hair and shirt, and then flung the water into the crowd, igniting a roar of cheers. She toyed with the audience, unbuttoning her white collared shirt just enough to leave them wanting more. She was acrobatic too, backbending past a 45-degree angle while singing into the mic, a visual that was just as impressive as her vocal performance. And when she jumped off stage to sing from the crowd, it was clear she knew exactly what it meant to be a performer.
A special moment came when she brought out Isabel LaRosa to perform their song “Babydoll” together. It was almost surreal—I had seen Isabel open for Tom Odell at this same venue just a year ago, and now here she was, back on The Wiltern stage. A cool full-circle moment for myself.
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Then, it was time for Nessa Barrett.
The stage design reflected her aesthetic—washed in soft whites, deep blues, and muted pinks, shifting to match the tone of each song. When she emerged, the crowd erupted. She stepped onto the stage in a striking black feathered tutu and matching bra, a look that immediately set the tone for the night: ethereal but fierce, delicate but commanding. She’s known for having a different outfit for each performance, a layer of detail not lost on fans who categorize each outfit online.
Unlike Ari’s high-energy antics, Nessa’s performance style was more reserved—intimate, even. She stayed close to the mic stand for most of the night, letting her voice and presence do the heavy lifting. But that didn’t mean she lacked intensity. If anything, she embodied the emotion of each song physically—gripping the mic stand like a lifeline, dropping to her knees as if overwhelmed by the weight of the music, crawling toward the edge of the stage to meet the outstretched hands of her fans.
A moment of mirroring happened when she knelt before her guitarist, a move that echoed something Ari had done earlier with her own bandmate. It was a performance choice that exuded power and vulnerability, embracing her femininity and sexuality.
One of the night’s biggest surprises was when Tommy Genesis joined her on stage for their song “Disco.” The energy in the room spiked instantly—if the crowd had been loud before, this took it to another level. Fans screamed every lyric, jumping in sync with the pulsing beat, the entire venue vibrating with excitement.
But Nessa also knew when to pull things back. A standout moment was when she sat on a stool for a softer, more introspective performance, as black-and-white scenes from *Edward Scissorhands* flickered behind her during her song of the same name. It was a cinematic touch that fit perfectly with her aesthetic, adding an extra layer of emotion to an already heartfelt set.
Throughout the night, the crowd played just as much a role in the show as Nessa herself. They were loud—sometimes nearly overpowering her, singing every lyric with the kind of passion that only comes from deep personal connection. When she sat on the edge of the stage, reaching out to them, the pit surged forward, hands stretching as if they could somehow hold onto the moment. When she swung her hair, headbanging to the beat, fans mirrored her movements, locked into the same rhythm.
As the final notes rang out, she stood at the mic, taking in the crowd one last time before disappearing into the darkness. The night felt like a send-off, not just for the “Aftercare” Tour’s U.S. run, but for a chapter in her career. With Europe ahead and undoubtedly more to come, we’ll be sure to see much more of Nessa.
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