Photo Credit: Emma Last
Words: Sophie Thompson
Fresh of the release of her third studio album ‘A Complicated Woman‘, Self Esteem, real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor bought her powerhouse live show to Manchester for a second sold-out night out of her three-night run. She delivered a performance which was less of a concert but a theatrical, immersive experience which bought her music to life.
Opening the show was Tom Rasmussen who filled in for Moonchild Sanelley who had to pull out last minute due to illness. Rasmussen, known for their heavy electric techno music delivered an acoustic performance of their best hits bringing a sense of intimacy to their set. ‘There’s A Lot to be Happy About‘ uplifted the crowd with the positive message. Rasmussen later dedicated their tender acoustic cover of Goldfrapp’s ‘A&E‘ to “All the 6 music dads” in the crowd. Whilst Tom Rasmussen was not the opener the Manchester crowd had expected they certainly were not left disappointed as their impressive vocals and acoustic performance left a solid impression on the crowd.
Then came Self Esteem. Emerging in what appeared to be a nun inspired ensemble which was almost cult like, she opened her set with a spoken word monologue taken from her song ‘I Do, and I Don’t Care‘, the track which is consumed by social messages about not conforming to society to fit in. The opening song set the tone for a performance which blurred the lines between a concert and a feminist theatre production. “If I’m so empowered, why am I such a coward?” she asked the room, the powerful yet vulnerable lyric which shows the duality of her music which makes her so popular.
Backed by an army of 7 dancers and backing vocalists, the choreography was a visual spectacle which extended the feminist messaging which her music skilfully portrays. For the second song of the night ‘Mother‘ the setting took a drastic shift to something darker and more melancholic, bathing the stage in a red shadow and the speakers erupted with a pulsating drumbeat. With complete ease she shifted into one of her most popular songs ‘69‘, an anthem highlighting self-empowerment and sexuality. Ironically timed, there was exactly 69 minutes left of her set as Rebecca states “For the next sixty nine minutes, your ass is mine”, the statement which the crowd showed no sign of disagreeing with.
It might have been a Sunday night, but the adoring Manchester crowd gave their all to the Mercury Prize nominated songstress, Self Esteem. A standout moment was during ‘You Forever‘ where her incredible dancers transformed into an 80s inspired workout routine transforming her performance into something more than just a pop concert but a visual experience.
The performance slowed down as she performed ‘Logic Bitch‘ taken from her chart topping third album. Taylor took a moment to stand alone in the spotlight without the theatrics which consumed the rest of her performance, allowing her impressive vocal ability to take centre stage, reminding the audience of not just the talented performer she is but also the talented musician that is Self Esteem.
Later, ‘The Curse‘ tackled problems of alcohol dependency in an open and honest way. In a complete shift in mood Self Esteem came out with a rousing rendition of ‘Cheers to Me’ complete with an addictive dance routine and catchy lyrics.
There was a surprising appearance from Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, best known for playing Hayley Cropper in the award-winning soap. Julie performed the spoken word segment that appears mid-way through ‘If It’s Not Now, It’s Soon‘ met with a huge applause from the crowd. With Self Esteem telling the crowd that she is “My literal favourite person in the world”.
For the encore Self Esteem returned to the stage with an emotional ‘I Do This All the Time‘ and ‘Focus is Power‘ the latter track known for being the soundtrack to the women’s 2025 euros, elevated by a choir of voices singing as one.
Self Esteem has used her platform to deliver powerful social messages, supporting two charities close to her heart, ‘The Schools Consent Project‘, a charity which focuses on teaching about consent in schools and ‘Choose Love‘ a charity which provides humanitarian aid to refugees around the world. Her ability to combine activism with her music makes her one of the most powerful live performers of the contemporary music scene.
Taped Magazine 