Isabel LaRosa’s Hypnotic Toronto Takeover

may 4, 2025 - toronto, canada

The Danforth Music Hall was lined with babydoll dresses and Mary Janes as the anticipation built for Isabel LaRosa to take stage. Isabel LaRosa is not only a singer, but multifaceted artist, directing many of her own music videos. The dark club aesthetic matching her pop hits translates effortlessly to the live show. An expert in tracks similar to liquid dnb, the 20-year old singer stepped on stage and hit a languid pose, silhouetted from the barred lights behind her. With a cheeky smirk at the crowd, the bass bursted open the show to her 2023 track, “older”. 

Beyond playing through her debut album, Raven, there were various crowd pleasing covers folded into the set; featuring LaRosa’s co-written track with former tourmate Ari Abdul’s “BABYDOLL” and “Friends” by Chase Atlantic. Adorning a collared black dress, the artist also paid a sexy homage to the city with a cover by Toronto legend, The Weeknd’s “House of Balloons” mashed up with “You Don’t Own Me” originally by Lesley Gore. The singer easily commanded the stage despite her small stature, the crowd was seduced by the effortlessly flowing change between whispery trills to strong belting vocals vibrating through their chests. 

The venue felt as if it had transformed into a club straight out of a modern vampire flick, as each track played on and on the audience fell deeper into an awe-struck hypnosis. From the barricade to the mezzanine, the bass was traveling through the floors and walls while the chandeliers on the ceiling swayed simultaneously with LaRosa’s hips. Accompanied by her guitarist brother, Thomas LaRosa (whom LaRosa writes her tracks with), the spell-binding duo lead a set full of pulsing reverb and haunted vocals. LaRosa closed out the set with her two viral breakout dark-pop hits, “i’m yours” and “HAUNTED” with strobing lights, pounding drum fills, and languidly dancing fans. 

If the Psychpomp Tour is any indication, if not blatant proof, Isabel LaRosa will become a household name in no time. Make sure to put on your platforms and catch Isabel LaRosa on the remainder of her North American stint as she travels the bewitching show until June before LaRosa joins the 2025 festival circuit.