Phoebe Ryan took the stage at The Box in NoHo on Thursday night to a room full of press and industry tastemakers. As the curtain with her name projected onto it opened up, the singer at front and center of the stage to perform a short but worthwhile set to let NYC know that she’s finally arrived.
A night after she played Bowery Ballroom opening for Say Lou Lou, Phoebe and her label invited music, media and friends to the venue typically held for burlesque. This night however, it was meant for electro-pop music, and the young, rising pop singer, and NYU alum was happy to oblige. While the two-hour event most featured an open bar and free appetizers, the short, but quality set saw Phoebe close out the night with songs off her first label-back EP, Mine.
Opening up with ‘Dead’ and going into ‘Homie’ and ‘Chronic’ to start things out – her more pop-based sound and higher, soprano style vocals set her apart from her contemporaries. She has more of an innocent, girl next-door kind of personality. The kind that pop music loves. The difference between her and former and current pop singers, is that she pulls it off and makes that style and persona sound good again. After ending with her own version of R. Kelly’s ‘Ignition’, and her hit ‘Mine’, Phoebe ended the night having showcased her powerful voice that makes female pop music a hot commodity among the touring and festival circuit these days. While some may hate or love the genre, one can’t deny that Phoebe is well past her Pianos or Bitter End days and pushing forward to bigger and better things.
Article: Tom Shackleford
Photos: Merissa Blitz