It’s always an interesting experience to see TikTok sensations begin to make their foray into the offline world of the music industry and on Saturday night (October 5th) in North London’s O2 Islington Academy2 venue, we saw not one but two TikTok artists perform.
The gig was officially Arya’s first headlining show with the “After Dark” performance also featuring social media star Frede who opened the evening with a skilled acoustic set that proved he is ready to step out of the online shadows and onto main stages offline.
He has a gentle demeanour on stage that flows easily with his guitar style and smooth vocals and those in attendance absolutely loved his sound and vibe. Frede is definitely one to watch out for in the coming years.
Once Frede had wrapped, it was time for the main event of the night with headliner Arya arriving on stage at around 8pm for an hour-long set that was littered with Taylor Swift covers and standout originals showcasing his vocal prowess and growing stage presence.
Unafraid to shy away from a couple of moments that saw him slip over the lyrics, Arya demonstrated a professionalism way beyond his years and instead of stumbling or freezing he simply had the grace and maturity to laugh it off and incorporate it into the set using it as a moment to let the audience have their moment to shine.
This is an exciting time for Arya who is just at the beginning of what’s promising to be an illustrious career in music, and fans attending these intimate venues will be able to say in years to come “I was there that night”.
Growing in confidence with each performance, Arya demonstrated a natural quality during his first headlining show and he showed that the stage is where he belongs. He is proving that TikTok to mainstream is achievable and that success online can return real results and fan appeal offline if nurtured correctly.
This feels like just the start for the singer/songwriter who is bolstering his catalogue with covers and original releases and honing his performance skills with live shows. At the O2 Islington Academy2 venue, he shone and showcased his artistry to full.
Overall the night was a huge success for the fast-rising artist and as we close out 2024 we can expect more new music from Arya and heading into 2025 lots of new live dates and possibly a tour from him as he continues to push himself toward mainstream appeal and chart success.
