Photo by Emma Turner / @ems.lens3
Precious Pepala recently played two intimate shows in the UK, and we were lucky enough to catch her at The Deaf Institute in Manchester. It didn’t take long for the room to fill from wall to wall, with everyone trying to get as close as they possibly could to the stage. Pepala has already built a strong fanbase, and the excitement was clear on people’s faces as they took photos together and tried to sneak a peek at the setlist being laid out on stage.
Kicking off the night, Pevova set the tone with alternative rock and shimmering dream-pop synths, warming the crowd up ahead of the headliner. Frontwoman Aimee Pevova’s strong vocals seemed to stun the room, and you could see the admiration on people’s faces. As the set progressed, the band settled in and owned the stage, dancing around together without a care.
Photos by Emma Turner / @ems.lens3
After Pevova’s set, the crowd’s screams intensified as Precious Pepala made her way to centre stage, full of confidence. For those who don’t already know, Pepala has been performing since she was young, singing in a church choir, which explains her powerful vocal delivery. Although she makes dark pop music now, her journey started with soulful gospel singing, which you can still hear elements of in her original songs. Her upbringing and the complexities of her father being a pastor shaped much of this, something she tackles directly on ‘Sunday Morning’. It’s a vulnerable track about religion not feeling right for her, and hoping her family will still accept her. With her dad cheering her on from the crowd and a room full of fans screaming every lyric back at her, there couldn’t have been more love for her in that moment.
Photo by Emma Turner / @ems.lens3
Most of her music draws on personal experiences or causes she is passionate about, and, despite her young age, she’s written songs with real depth that impact people more than just on a surface level. She explained that ‘Looking for Trouble’ came from being scared of walking alone at night, and her frustration with the narrative that women and girls are “asking for it”. The room cheered in agreement as she introduced it, then belted every word at the top of their lungs.
Between songs, she talked to the crowd, which made the night feel relaxed and personal, giving fans the chance to connect with her as a person as well as an artist. At one point, she asked if everyone was ready for a “more happy song”, then quickly followed it with “I’m lying”, which was met with laughter. It was the perfect way to balance the heavier topics without the night ever feeling too dark.
That said, she brought plenty of upbeat rock energy too, with ‘Dream Cheater’ and ‘Love Bombs’ from her latest EP, Rosey, driven by heavy bass and thunderous drums. She had the whole room jumping, and whether people were at the front or the back, the energy was infectious. Girls who didn’t seem to have arrived together were cheering each other on, reflecting the solidarity that is present in Pepala’s writing. She created a space where people could be themselves, which is so special to see at a live show.
Photos by Emma Turner / @ems.lens3
Precious Pepala was incredible from start to finish. Her voice is distinctive and soaring, and there was a fearlessness in the way she moved that made it clear she naturally belongs on stage. She switched between raw storytelling and explosive moments with ease, captivating everyone in the room. Her intensity hit hardest on ‘Eve’, a song written for a friend who didn’t have very accepting parents. You could hear the anger in her voice, amplified by hard-hitting drums, and her passion reached another level, with a presence that demands bigger venues.
As the night drew to a close, there was time for one last song, ‘Pls Cheat On Me’. The room erupted at the first few notes, and fans sang every word back, buzzing with excitement. Precious Pepala left the stage on a high, with the crowd cheering long after she’d disappeared from view. This is only the start of her journey, and based on what she brought to The Deaf Institute, it’s one worth following.