There can’t be many more wholesome ways to spend a Wednesday night than watching Sigrid. That’s certainly how it felt in Leeds O2 Academy, as Norway’s premier pop powerhouse brought her “There’s Always More That I Could Say” tour to town.
Her third album – which dropped at the end of last year – is a blend of her high quality indie-pop and some more electronic dance vibes. In one sense, it’s perhaps more chaotic than her previous records, but it’s a story of the ups and downs of relationships and see-sawing emotions.
The show feels a bit like this sometimes. Sigrid’s energy and effortless magnetism is on show from the outset, and you really can’t fault the performance. Although she doesn’t chat much to the crowd, her breezy persona is undeniably engaging. The set list flips between the new material – with all 10 songs from the new record featuring – and some of her strongest back catalogue.
I’ll Always Be Your Girl and Burning Bridges make for a strong start, and Sigrid bounces around the stage with that trademark grin. She’s happy to be in Leeds, she tells us, as the band always have a great time in the city.
Of the new material, Do It Again and Eternal Sunshine stand out as the strongest tracks, but it’s hard to ignore that the songs from her earlier eras still get the biggest reaction. Sucker Punch, early in the set, takes the level up and the collab with Griff – Head On Fire – keeps that momentum up. Going way back, High Five is still a crowd please.
Sigrid’s pure quality is highlighted at the piano. Anyone that saw her cover of Chappell Roan’s The Giver recorded for the BBC will know that she has genuine vocal chops. Nowhere is this more evident that when Sigrid belts out Dynamite – the kind of moment that gives you goosebumps.
A high octane encore of Don’t Kill My Vibe and Strangers takes us back to the heights of that first album and rounds out a glossy show full of joy and optimism. The kind of thing we could do with a bit more of right now.
