Review: Mothica’s Heartfelt Performance at London’s O2 Academy Islington
Mothica’s emotional show at London’s O2 Academy Islington featured a new version of “Vices" and many heartfelt moments, with support from alt-pop artist NXDIA.
ALTERNATIVEREVIEWSLIVE SHOW
REYA CASAJUS
6/18/20252 min read
There was a distinct kind of electricity at the O2 Academy Islington this past Monday before the Mothica show — part gothic glamour, part Tumblr trauma bonding, and part “I might cry but in a good way.”
Opening the night was NXDIA, who set the tone with a confident, genre-blurring set that pulled from alt-pop, R&B, and a little bit of rock edge. Their stage presence was relaxed but charismatic, slipping easily between moody vocals and more upbeat moments for their hit singles "Feel Anything" and "She Likes A Boy".
Touring again for the first time in months, Mothica brought a roomful of people to the brink and back again. If you’re familiar with her work, you know she traffics in the beautifully raw: songs about addiction, self-worth, and surviving yourself, all wrapped in glossy alt-pop production. Live, it hits harder. She performed some of her biggest hits like "Buzzkill", "Can You Feel My Heart" (Bring Me the Horizon cover) and "The Reaper".
Midway through the set, just before launching into “Vices,” she took a moment. The room went quiet. Visibly emotional, she addressed the crowd: “If you all are here tonight, that’s proof of your success.” It’s rare to watch someone fight back tears on stage without it feeling performative. This was not that. This was real, and the room knew it. The updated version of “Vices" was a standout. It was a bit sharper and more polished than the original, but still carried the same emotional weight.
Between songs, she joked about how much she loves the UK: “You guys have Taskmaster!" Then, she launched into a rendition of Smash Mouth’s “All Star.” Yes, seriously. She leapt into the crowd, turning the floor into a joyful, slightly confused mosh of nostalgia and disbelief. It was chaotic, ridiculous, and perfect in between finishing with the hits "Casualty" and "Sensitive".
Mothica’s show struck a balance between emotional honesty and strong, focused performance. If you’re into big pop moments with heart, and don’t mind a bit of chaos thrown in, it’s a night worth showing up for.
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