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Livesphere is an online music magazine led by a female collective united by the love of music, dedicated to bringing you the latest music news, reviews, live photos and insights, predominantly in London and the UK as well as throughout Europe. Whether you're a fan of rock, metal, alternative, pop, or indie, we’ve got you covered with in-depth features on artists, album releases, concert reviews, and interviews. With engaging articles and content, and a passion for all things music related, Livesphere is your go-to destination for staying in tune with the music scene.
And don’t forget to check out the Live Events section to stay updated on what’s to come!
LIVEreviews
KATY PERRY | THE O2 ARENA, LONDON | 14 OCTOBER
NEW!
In a world where pop music is a platform for self-expression and spectacle, Katy Perry transformed the stage into a playground of colour, emotion, and unapologetic fun. On the second London stop of her Lifetimes Tour, the pop powerhouse delivered a night of high-flying theatrics, shimmering visuals, and stadium-sized singalongs, all held together by her trademark mix of wit and warmth.
The concert opened with a cinematic video setting the scene: Katy Perry is on a mission to save the world from an AI overlord known as The Mainframe, a tyrant that has enslaved humanity and captured all of the world’s butterflies, symbols of freedom now held hostage.
From the moment Perry - or more specifically her alter-ego KP143 - ascended from the ground at London’s O2 Arena, suspended high above a stage shaped like an infinity symbol, it was clear the night would be anything but ordinary. Opening with ‘Artificial’, Perry made a celestial, spectacular arrival, dressed in futuristic armor, setting the tone for an evening that was equal parts pop spectacle, nostalgic throwback, and personal connection.
Following energetic performances of ‘Chained to the Rhythm’ and ‘Teary Eyes’, the atmosphere shifted as she launched into ‘Dark Horse’, prompting a roar of instant recognition: phones shot up and the mood transformed into something euphoric.
ONE OK ROCK | THE O2 ARENA, LONDON | 15 OCTOBER
NEW!
Japanese rock giants ONE OK ROCK made their long-awaited debut at London’s O2 Arena for one night only with a high-octane, emotionally charged performance, showcasing their evolution into a powerful arena rock force. After two decades in the global rock scene, the outfit leaned heavily into their legacy, balancing longtime favourites with hard-hitting new material from their latest album DETOX, for a night of both nostalgia and reaffirmation of their present-day power.
When ONE OK ROCK finally took the stage, it was with a cinematic bang. Towering LED screens lit up with visuals telling a dystopian story of a fungal invasion and an AI god controlling the narrative - a bold metaphor mirroring the themes of their latest album - before the quartet arrived and played the opening notes of ‘Puppets Can’t Control You’.
‘The Beginning’ and ‘Save Yourself’ followed, ONE OK ROCK wasting no time in unleashing a wave of energy, igniting the crowd into a frenzy from the very start.
“I know this place is legendary,” frontman Taka Moriuchi told the crowd. “We’ve been doing this for 20 years, so tonight... show me what you got!”
From the sensual swagger of ‘Nasty’, complete with slick guitar solos by guitarist Toru Yamashita, to the anthemic power of ‘Renegades’, where the crowd provided beautiful harmonies on the chorus, the set was a masterclass in showmanship. On ‘Party’s Over’, the energy was electric, while ‘Tiny Pieces’ brought flashlights across the arena in one of the night's most intimate moments.
ALBUM reviews
LEAP - ENTROPY | 3 OCTOBER
NEW!
Music over the past five years sits in the marked post-pandemic age. This isn't yet defined as a distinct era of music but when it is LEAP are likely to be a quintessential example of the tendency to pair bare-all honest lyricism with genre appropriate party vibes. Born from the combination of the time available to musicians to get introspective during lockdown, with the desperation to get out IRL in front of a rowdy bunch of fans and shake-down, many artists seemingly embraced this style in all of its beautiful contradictions.
On Entropy, LEAP present their first ever full album to an already dedicated and passionate following.
‘Over & Out’ gets down to business with singer Jack Scott blending sultry, spikey and echoing vocals over the top of a chuggy, resolute take on indie rock.
‘Play Dead’ continues this vibe with moments of dissonance. This track was the first single to be released from the album and after being received enthusiastically, the pressure to deliver an album up to its level was well and truly on.
‘Exit Signs’ is the first of three album tracks representing each of the band's previous EPs. This one taken from 2023's ‘Dark Habits’ joins ‘Energies’ from One Million Pieces, (2022) and ‘The Downfall’ from the 2024 EP of the same name. All three slot seamlessly into place and create a feeling of an album that aims to tie together and define the entire first four years of the band before they move on to life beyond Entropy.
TAYLOR SWIFT - THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL | 3 OCTOBER
NEW!
When you think Taylor Swift, you may think of a blonde singer who often writes about her love life. Perhaps, if you are a little more acquainted, you might identify her as a pop star, recalling some of her hits such as ‘Style’, ‘Blank Space’, ‘Don’t Blame Me’, or you could go old school with one of her first international successes, ‘Love Story’. You may even know, after the global sensation that was her two year long Eras Tour, that she often creates full themes for her new albums, spanning decades and music genres, and if you’re really a pro, you know she self-identifies as an English teacher because of her love of lyricism and poetry.
Whichever one you are, this album might be for you.
The opening notes of ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ almost fool us into thinking Swift might be leaning into a softer style once again, in the vein of the Anthology section of her previous record, The Tortured Poets Department, but it is very clear, very fast, that this is not a soft album. This is an album for 80s synths, cheeky lyrics and, as always, many a reference.
This first track alludes of course to the Shakespearian character of Ophelia, driven mad and eventually to death because of her love for Hamlet, but plays with words, evoking fairytales in the first half of the chorus (“I sat alone in my tower - you were just honing your powers”) in juxtaposition with contemporary terms in the second half (“where the hell you been” “your vibes”).
The main theme of the record already shines bright in this first song: Taylor Swift is in love and she wants you to know it. The general public and media alike have, after all, been morbidly curious about the singer’s love life ever since she started writing songs about her teenage romances, and now she is finally willing to be more open. Very open - see track 10.
musicnews
Upcoming live events
THIS WEEK’S FAVOURITE TRACK
We can’t get enough of Twenty One Pilots’ new single ‘City Walls’, from their new album Breach, out now via Fueled by Ramen.
aboutus
We are an inclusive, independent, non-profit publication led by a female collective launched out of sheer passion for live music and all things music related.
Executive Editor and Photographer: Florelle Servageon
Contact: florelle@livesphere-magazine.com
Editor and Photographer: Eva Grant
Contact: eva@livesphere-magazine.com
Lead Writer & Photographer: Imogen Bird
Contact: imogen@livesphere-magazine.com
Writer (Platform ‘96): Vlad-Paul Ghilaș
Contact: platform96events@gmail.com
Contributors: Justyna Serafin (Photographer), Bia Vismara (Writer), Auré (Writer), Liv Kendall (Writer), Verity Eaden (Writer), Julie Moisson (Writer), Julia Jevzikova (Photographer), Charlie Wright (Photographer)
For any submissions please explore our CONTACT page.