Abby Roberts - Rough Trade - 5th May 2022

Abby Roberts is a divisive figure in the world of music; as a TikTok star, her rise towards musical stardom has often been questioned. The genius of her performance last night, though, is found in leaning into her role as the face of the digital age.

“Paramaniac” - her biggest song and the name of her tour - is laden with her wink-and-you’ll-miss-it irony as she sings “social media’s a bore” to an audience summoned up by her online presence. The sound of rain showers down as she sings sad songs, and her band is made up of other blonde girls with the same haircut as her, giving the effect of a real-life copy and paste.

Her best performance is an unreleased song with the lyrics, “video girl, I want to live in your world.” It’s a world away from her typical toned-down presence; what was once a stage becomes a fantasy of glitchy, ‘80s pop elegance, and shows that Abby has the potential to be a real star.

A swooning digital dream, there is a real sweetness to her presence, and despite the brevity of her set, her fans hang on her every word. The songs careen from low-key bedroom pop to indulgent ballads dripping with decadence, but Abby’s confidence in exploring these different avenues pays off. As a new talent to the world of music, her onstage persona still feels authentic, if a little unpolished.

It was almost as much of a pleasure to watch the audience - which was mostly made up of young girls staring starry-eyed at the queen of the small screen – as it was to watch her. The girl online has hit the stage, and she looks like she was built to be there.

Photography: Tom Dodd / @tomdoddvisuals