Rose Gray

Hackney Wick - on the surface, this East London neighbourhood may not have much that meets the eye. However, as you delve further into the history of this area, it becomes apparent why some dub this as ‘London’s East Berlin’, whether it be due to its street art or prominent nightlife presence. Central to all this is Colour Factory, a place prided on its all inclusive nature and its advocacy for cultural diversity. Here we find the birthplace of Rose Gray and her debut album “Louder, Please”, released in January of this year. In a mini-doc named after the area, Rose entails the album’s vision capturing the emotions of a night out, from meeting someone on the dancefloor to rolling out of the club as the sun rises. And as I stepped into the third room of the O2 Institute, a space only holding 250 people, you get the sense that while her monumental rise in 2025 has led her to play sets from her wildest dreams, from opening for the Sugababes on their arena tour to a slot at Charli XCX’s day at LIDO Festival, this is a show that deserves to be delivered in tiny, packed and sweaty temples of dance and electropop music.

One thing immediately noticeable is the way she is able to command the dancefloor - despite an eclectic mix of people of different races, genders and backgrounds in the audience, she brings them altogether in the spirit of having a good time. A lot of this is simply down to the fact her live performances are so good. In an era where many pop artists are looking to capture the Y2K aesthetic of digicams and animal print jackets (which her DJ Troy Alexandros, known as “Lil Miss Guestlist”, proudly adorned), Rose is able to put her own unique spin on things. Rather than making a typical stage entrance to begin the show, she decides instead to walk through the left hand side of the crowd, much to the audience’s surprise and excitement. Adorning an outfit that you wouldn’t be hard pressed to find on other British pop compatriots such as Charli XCX, she immediately exudes the confidence and character of someone who’s on their fifth album, not their first. 

The most important thing about a pop show, though, is ‘do they get the crowd moving?’; in the case of Rose, every song is delivered with the same punch as the last. Whether it’s the debut single from the album “Free” and the audience screaming the chorus at the top of their lungs, or the ever-so infectious “Wet & Wild”, there is very rarely a moment where Rose loses her grip on the audience. While some may critique the lack of choreography or style on show compared to some of the biggest names in pop, there’s something that feels raw and authentic about her energy on stage. Like everyone else in the room, she’s simply having a good time. Even amongst the pandemonium of jumping up and down, she’s able to take the time (after an outfit change I may add!!) to show the more reflective side of her music. “Everything Changes (But I Won’t)” reflects on her long-term relationship with BAFTA-nominated actor Harris Dickinson, who’ve been together since secondary school, with a heartwarming and honest approach that still fits in perfectly in and amongst the dance-heavy pop that follows before and after it.

Despite the persona she puts on, she frequently takes the time to acknowledge those who came to see her - she mentions how the “majority of (her) family live in Birmingham”, making this show almost feel like a second homecoming. She makes the most of all of the stage space around her, even going down to the barriers at one point to ask a fan to light a cigarette for her! And in an almost cyclical nature, Rose begins her last song “Party People” in the middle of the crowd once again, this time being embraced in a circle. As the hour zooms by, everyone in her presence is connected to her, providing the love that she truly deserves. Looking out at that crowd, Rose will take a lot of pride in the fanbase she has already built. Rose proudly mentions that this album has been “slowly changing (her) life”, and it’s clear to see why. With the deluxe of her debut album (aptly named “A Little Louder, Please”) releasing at the end of the month, with collaborations from former Little Mix member JADE to Spice Girls icon Mel C, she’s only going to continue to have her life changed. And certainly for the better.