LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: SOFIA ISELLA AT THE ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON 04/06/26
'‘This is a full-circle moment. I played this venue two years ago when I opened for Tom Odell'‘ Sofia Isella said during her headline show at the Roundhouse on June 4th. The 21-year-old singer from Los Angeles concluded her 'Her Desire, The Nemesis' Tour that night. Isella’s music is often described as dark, as she explores themes of horror and womanhood. Her debut EP 'I’m Not Yours' was released when she was just 15 years old, but it was her 2023 single 'Hot Gum' that brought her wider attention, generating over 10 million streams, helping her build a loyal fanbase.
Isella was supported by British singer-songwriter Seb Lowe, who delivered an energetic set alongside violinist Kate Couriel. While Lowe played acoustic guitar, Couriel's violin added a classical element that complemented Isella’s dark, theatrical aesthetic. Despite Lowe’s stripped-back setup, their performance didn’t lack of anything and captivated the audience’s attention throughout. Lowe performed a new song, as well as several tracks he described as being inspired by British politics, particularly the rise of the far right. '‘It’s the last night of the tour with Sofia. Huge thank you to her and her team. It’s been fucking fantastic'‘ he told the crowd during his set. The crowd was clearly loving Lowe and Couriel, with several fans singing along and applauding enthusiastically when Lowe mentioned that he would be back on tour in winter. His performance felt intense and almost theatrical, making Lowe a natural choice for Isella’s support slot.
Next up was Sofia Isella, who immediately proved why she has become such a captivating live performer. Having once played to empty shopping malls, she has clearly learned how to captivate crowds that don’t necessarily want to listen – a skill that was evident from the moment she stepped on stage. Pacing frantically with her hair falling over her face, Isella rarely stood still, filling the stage with a restless energy that made it impossible to look away. Although she performed all by herself, she held the audience completely in the palm of her hand.
The connection between Isella and her fans was visible throughout the night. Several girls in the front row had dressed like her, wearing distressed dark clothing and black face paint, reflecting Isella’s aesthetic. Another fan at the front held up a poster reading '‘From Camden Assembly to the Roundhouse. We love you!'‘. Throwing herself across the stage, Isella kept the audience guessing at every turn, creating a set that felt unpredictable, intense and immersive.
'‘I don't do this every night. I'm going to play an unreleased song. It's the last night of the tour’' she told the crowd before performing 'Product of Public Domain' for the first time. Introducing the song, she explained that she likes to write tracks that are related to each other, describing them as '‘sister songs'.’ ‘'I wanted a sister song to 'Everybody Supports Woman’’' she adds before explaining that the song was written from the perspective of watching women in the public eye, combined with her own personal experiences. She followed it with another unreleased track called 'Vinegar' which she said was only a month old. Both songs were met with enthusiastic appreciation from the audience and it was one of the many special moments that night.
Later in the set, Isella reflected on how the evening felt like a full-circle moment, reminding the audience that she had played the venue two years ago while opening for Tom Odell. Recalling that experience, she described him as 'generous, incredible and kind' and remembered how he had invited her on stage to sing with him. Moments later, she brought Odell out as a surprise guest to perform his hit 'Black Friday' together – a beautiful and unexpected moment that felt genuinely special.
Odell was not the only guest to appear during the night. At one point, Isella brought out her violin teacher for a short instrumental solo and later invited three fans on stage to hold her microphone while she sang. That moment highlighted just how close she is to her fanbase. Throughout the set, she repeatedly came down to the barricade, crowd-surfed and even moved through the audience during the encore, making the room intimate despite its size. She even announced that she would be doing a meet-and-greet after the show. ‘'We’ll meet everyone. I won’t be able to talk but I’ll be able to listen to you’' she said – a gesture that felt especially meaningful in a venue of this size and after performing a two-hour show. That closeness was evident again when she said 'If you’re happy with me touching your hands, put it up' before heading to the barricade to connect with her fans again.
At one point, when a fan held up a birthday sign requesting a specific song, Isella granted the request and performed 'Unattractive' joking 'I have not rehearsed this. Do you wanna do it?'. The spontaneous moment was met with huge applause and added to the sense that the night was as much about the fans as it was about Isella.
Isella proved herself to be an insanely talented musical talent, switching between guitar, bass, piano, violin and even harmonica throughout the set. Despite being a one-woman band, she jokingly pushed back on that idea by telling the crowd 'I am not a one-man band, my mum is backstage'. Even without a captivating stage design or visuals, all eyes were glued to the stage, constantly anticipating what might come next. Beyond her ability as a multi-instrumentalist, Isella also stood out vocally. Across a 24-song set that stretched to nearly two hours, and even included a second performance of 'Hot Gum' during an encore, the energy never dropped and Isella’s voice remained captivating throughout.
Before performing 'Evergreen Soldier', a song that addresses religious trauma and systemic misogyny, she told the audience 'I was told for a long time not to be political in my career because it would divide my audience'. Despite her dark aesthetic, Isella also brought warmth and humour to the evening. '‘You all as a crowd have surprised me in many ways. I am surprised how many grown men come to my shows. I thought I scared you off a long time ago but here you are' she joked at one point. While the audience was mixed, it was especially noticeable how many young women filled the front rows, something that makes sense given how strongly Isella’s music engages with female experience, feminism and womanhood. Before performing 'Everybody Supports Women' she told the crowd 'I like to imagine that I am singing it in defense of somebody in the crowd, so if you feel like you need defending, this if for you'‘.
Isella’s ability to make a large venue feel personal was one of the night’s most impressive aspects. Despite performing to around 3.000 people, Isella had a way of making it feel as though she was singing directly to each individual in the room. She closed the night with 'Us And Pigs', 'The Doll People', 'Sex Concept', 'Orchestrated Wet Verboten' and 'I Looked the Future in the Eyes, It’s Mine' ending the show on the same intensity and emotional force that had defined it from the start.
Overall, Sofia Isella proved exactly why her star continues to rise. With a performance that was intense, unpredictable but deeply personal, she turned the Roundhouse into a space that felt both huge and intimate at the same time. From unreleased songs and surprise guests to powerful political statements and constant connections with her fans, Isella delivered a set that was theatrical as it was heartfelt. Ending her tour in a venue like the Roundhouse that marked such an important moment in her journey made the night feel even more special, confirming that Sofia Isella is not only an exciting performer but an artist with a clear vision and a remarkable bond with her audience.
Words and photos by Nadine Goetz
