Photo: David Blackburn
From the outside it is easy to brush Tove Lo off as just another electro pop sensation, but behind the curtain is a trove of fans pouring their support and adoration into an artist not afraid to bare all.
A series of illnesses have prevented the Swedish singer from playing in the UK since early 2014 and it is clear from the atmosphere in the room that tonight is a long time coming. Tove has the ability to control a crowd much like an 80s rock god. The passion is palpable and the energy high in the direction of this millennial heartthrob; a bra is thrown on stage midway through as if to prove the point.
A face adorned with glitter, Tove bounds around the stage, illuminated by colour-changing light rods. Powering through songs from her two albums, the crowd laps up every moment. Her voice is her greatest asset. Earlier in the evening she accompanies New Zealand support act Broods for their duet 'Freak Of Nature', showcasing her impressive range. For the her set, she sticks to what she knows best: upbeat electro-pop about love. Her "favourite topic" is explored duting 'Imaginary Friend', a soft and poignant ballad about being the only person believing in yourself; it is a definite highlight.
But understandably it is her hits - 'Not On Drugs', 'Habits (Stay High), and 'Body Talk', - that garner the biggest reactions. During the latter the singer lifts her knotted t-shirt to expose her breasts, a sort of tradition among her gigs. A simple backdrop including a motif resembling female genitalia hangs behind her throughout.
In an industry in which female singers are constantly sexualised without their permission, Tove takes it upon herself to be a symbol of female empowerment. Her sensual dancing never feels cheap, and she has a bold and unapologetic voice to back it up. A triumphant return to the capital that has just been so long overdue.
