Emeline Empowers at the Voodoo Room with Reverse Pathogen and Dezi

Last Saturday night, April 11th, Emeline brought the Emotional Virgin tour to the Voodoo Room at House of Blues for an iconic night of pop and feminine power.

The first set of the night was Reverse Pathogen, an LA based indie rock band created by lead singer Clayton Thomas. Thomas took the front of the stage in a diamond studded button up and diamond pants. The band has style as they lean into rock and punk rock sounds, often singing lyrics about feelings and frustrations related to existing in the music scene. They’ve worked with legendary musicians like Josh Freese, drummer for the Foo Fighters. They rocked the stage, and next up is Dezi.

Dezi is an alternative pop artist from LA, who released her debut album earlier this month, Lemonade and Cyanide. She owned the stage, you could tell she belongs there and was having so much fun. She brought a vulnerability to the stage, sharing personal stories about the songs she was performing, inviting the audience into her songs and connecting through shared experience. Her performance of her song, rage, ignited a powerful emotional release throughout the room as the lyrics touched on the state of the world and how enraging it can be to exist here. The crowd raged together as one during the song. Dezi loosened up the crowd and left them excited and energized for Emeline to take the stage.

Emeline is a singer songwriter and musician from Providence, Rhode Island. She is a multi-faceted artist, as she has experience in acting, modeling, as well as a passion for videography and directing.

Her entrance onto the stage was nothing short of iconic as she walks out in a white button up shirt with black lingerie stitched onto the fabric and lipstick marks scattered on the cloth. During the opening song titled, Iconique, she writes out the word in lipstick on a mirror that has been set up on stage. Emeline made the small stage feel big and cinematic as she personalized the show. She brought on stage with her a Von Dutch bag, full of lipsticks and a bouquet of pink roses. She slowly picks petals off and eventually tosses each rose into the crowd during flowers & sex. During the song PORN STAR, she asked for audience participation, handing out lipsticks to those in the front row. She gave them her consent to draw on her body with it, creating a beautiful moment of connection with the fans and brings a performance art level to the show. The drawings and lipstick marks fans draw on her becomes merch after the show, a beautiful idea that creates a unique piece of clothing from each show, made by fans and for fans.

Emeline’s stage presence is striking and electric, as she moves through moments of vulnerability, heartbreak, anger, and power. Emeline rips a photo of Trump in half during the song you should be scared, which addresses sexual assault trauma that many women can unfortunately relate to, a crime that the president of this country has committed. The song poses as a threat to abusers and a reminder that survivors hold power too.

The mood shifts and lightens near the end of the set and during an especially touching moment during the song, Against the Gates, which is a song about her first queer experiences. She invited a gay couple on stage to slow dance with each other to the song, and the queer joy and community could be felt radiating through the room. It struck as a reminder to celebrate love in all its forms and live in the magic and levity of love.

The show was heartwarming and empowering. Emeline will continue the tour into the beginning of May.