LIVE FROM THE PIT: ivri and Marskii
- Mary Horner
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The room became one as a sea of two-hundred onlookers swayed back and forth in rhythmic timing to the hypnotic synth tune sphere of annihilation. Entranced by the sound, it was clear that this moment would be career defining for IVRI.
The Theory of You Tour Pt. 2 marked the first time IVRI not only played in London, but embarked on an international tour. With the London show fully sold out, anticipation buzzed around the room in conversations between likeminded fans, many of whom had travelled long distances for this moment. The question lingered - would this performance live up to fan expectations?
UK based indie-pop artist MARSKII was first to take to the stage. From the very first chord, she made the space her own, floating around like an alt-fairy. A gentle stream of people were still entering the venue, and the excitement of the night took the crowd a moment to settle, but once they did, they were invested. By the third song, MARSKII had more than warmed up the crowd with her track Just Like You. Voices belted back the lyrics as if it were a household classic. With lyrics exploring the all-too-familiar issue of body image struggles, it was powerful to see how MARSKII unified the room and injected energy into the crowd. Slowing down the pace with Twelve Years Old, the beautifully delicate finger plucking pattern repeating throughout swept a wave of nostalgia through the crowd. Wearing a mask of white face paint, MARSKII’s talent here was anything but hidden. Despite battling a cold, MARSKII pulled off a set that was authentic, clean and drew people in.
Cheers and screams erupted from the crowd before headliner IVRI even took to the stage. The glowing green lights and atmospheric synth backing track filled the room as a soft-spoken introductory voice played over the speakers. Catapulting eager onlookers into another world, the stage was set.
The crashing of the drums from the opening number, Erosion, really set the tempo for the night. It was impossible not to move, and what started out as calm swaying and head bopping quickly evolved into headbanging and occasional thrashing from the audience.
The addition of a live band - Romello on drums, TK the Architect on guitar and Zachary Kirismae on bass, added depth to the set. Contrasting the delicacy of IVRI’s voice, her band were a full force of sound that maintained momentum throughout the show. Still, IVRI’s shoegaze roots shone through with every song, her vocals overlapping beautifully with the lo-fi beats, sharply transitioning into alternative rock. Clearly a master of genre blending, spoken word interludes were peppered throughout the night, keeping the performance fluid and anything other than static. These moments felt like diary confessions - raw, inviting and with a sprinkle of 90s nostalgia.
Much to the delight of dedicated supporters, IVRI treated the room to two extra songs, Infinitesimal and telekinesis, at the special request of a fan. Although the vocals were momentarily faded by the intensity of the other instruments, the powerful but weightless delivery of the chorus vocals was a hypnotic pull into IVRI’s world.
The interludes were chrysalises, wrapping the audience up in IVRI’s inner world of thought. Moving into her next song, slip & let go was an emo-rock butterfly breaking free. Her voice slipped from sweet, echoey and layered verses to powerful, controlled choruses. In a moment that brought IVRI herself to tears, fans were right there to support her through the vocals. As humble as she was grateful, IVRI took many opportunities to speak with the crowd: “Thank you for showing up for me” - she gushed to a cheering audience.
Fuelled by the emotion of the previous track, IVRI launched into a cover of DEFTONES’ Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away), earning headbangs and cheers as she yet again showcased her shoegaze prowess. This powerful energy spanned the whole setlist, with eager crowd members screaming ‘five more songs’ as the band momentarily left the stage. Returning for just one more song, the show wrapped up with the crowd still on a high, many clearly eager for the night to continue.
Energy lingered like stardust in the sky as fans waited, basking in the post-concert glow as the lights came up. Unearthly and divine, IVRI’s performance was from another world. With gen-z talent emerging and reviving the shoegaze genre, IVRI is a standout in blending alternate rock with dreamy sounds. She could have easily drawn in a crowd twice the size, who would have lapped up a set twice as long. For IVRI, this is only the beginning. Her magnetic presence and floaty vocals demand much larger stages in the near future.
Words: Mary Horner
Photos: Nicola Small
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