UPSAHL- LIVE AT THE COMPLEX
Phoenix born artist, UPSAHL, joined pop sensation Madison Beer in her US leg of The Spinning Tour this year. Taylor, the singer’s first name, blew up on tiktok in 2020 when her single ‘Drugs’ became a viral sound used all over the FYP (For You Page). While many of the videos used a filter to imitate the repeating voices, it was used for a number of different things. She’s been in the music game for a while now, with 3 albums - one of which is a Live Album, and a number of singles and EP’s. At this show, she was accompanied by Jonathan Sim on guitar, and Cater Couron on drums, both of which immensely talented musicians, sharing their work with many as they tour and play with different artists.
UPSAHL started with ‘Lady Jesus’, the title track off her debut album ‘Lady Jesus’ released in 2021. I had not made the connection to UPSAHL and her once viral song, ‘Drugs’ quite yet, so I was going in blind, but I was excited. Before Taylor made her appearance on the stage, Sim played the most entrancing solo. The tone of the guitar, to me, was just absolutely outstanding. I was just in awe, standing in the photo pit, as I watched him play. I have always been one to particularly love bass most, but Sim joined a good few musicians to remind me just how beautiful the talent of guitar playing can be. If anyone was wondering about a bassist, do not fret! Taylor pulled her bass out during a few songs, and man do we love a woman who plays bass!
Whilst I was in the photo pit, I was able to enjoy her single, ‘People I Don’t Like’ and ‘GOOD GIRL ERA’ (from the ‘UPSAHL Presents: THE PHX TAPES 2023’ Album) up close and personal. Both of which I had never heard, along with ‘Lady Jesus’, but was pleasantly surprised. Taylor’s stage presence is remarkable. She brings such a fun and unique personality to performances, and is immensely interactive with the crowd before her as she sings. She would point to those up front, even had a bit of conversation, and was gifted a rose as well. Taylor’s voice is powerful, quite unique, which can be difficult to find in today’s world of music. She has a pretty wide range, vocally, and her songs even have quite a range in feel and emotion as well.
I then joined my best friend, Ruby, in the crowd for the rest of her set and she agreed that UPSAHL put on quite the performance. She followed ‘GOOD GIRL ERA’ with, of course, her viral song ‘Drugs’, as well as ‘Antsy’. She included the crowd in a multitude of songs, and gifted us with her unreleased song, ‘Summer So Hot’ (coming soon!!!). I surely had a blast dancing around with my best friend to her set, and I think, if you are into a fun pop vibe, that UPSAHL is definitely an artist to check out. You would most certainly will not be disappointed!
