LIVE REVIEW: Lyn Lapid at Brighton Music Hall in Allston, MA on January 31st, 2024

Artists: Ashley Mehta and Lyn Lapid

Location: Brighton Music Hall in Allston, MA

If you don’t know Lyn Lapid by now, you are missing out. Since the beginning of 2020, Lapid has been writing original songs and utilizing social media in order to share them with the world online. Studying classical piano and violin throughout her childhood, her current sound has mixed indie with pop to produce a discography full of melodic sounds that will please any listener. Lapid’s 2024 tour is based on her summer 2023 album named to love in the 21st century. On YouTube, a twenty-six-minute short film covers the story of the album, how she fell in love with the idea of a boy for exactly 147 days, but it turns out it was only a facade.

Opener: Ashley Mehta

The night started out with Indian-Filipina singer Ashley Mehta. The pride she holds in both of her cultures is the driving force she uses to write her original music. Mehta did not have a band playing live for her songs, but her pitch-perfect vocals made up for this. Her songs are of a unique rhythm and sound that are far from generic pop. After her set, she joined the crowd to take photos with fans and wait for Lapid to take the stage.

Headliner: Lyn Lapid

The music for the intermission ended and smoke filled the stage. Bassist Kayla Ramilliano, guitarist Jacqueline Kim, and drummer Tyler Nam emerged from behind the stage, erupting a house full of screams from the excited audience. Lapid appeared, making the volume of the screams increase even more. She started off her set with her 2022 single “The Outsider” then followed with “Producer Man”, one of her most famous songs, about a manipulative producer. Although the stage was cramped, that didn’t stop Lapid from giving her best performance.

Lapid then progressed to an acoustic set where she acquired a stool and an electric-guitar-looking ukulele. She awkwardly clarified how she needed to tune it for the next song which caused everyone to erupt in laughter.

Next up she sang “When She Loved Me” (originally by Randy Newman) from Toy Story 2. She made the comment, “I was like 16 years old. I covered this in my bedroom and I filmed my bedroom window and it went crazy viral and people think it’s my song, but it’s not my song.” Everyone sang along in unison to the comforting tune.

Small, intimate concerts can be such a special experience and this was exactly that. Between songs, Lapid would share stories and explain the background of her favorite songs before performing them.

After a few more songs, Lapid commented on how she wasn’t feeling her best that day, but the excitement during Ashley Mehta’s set and how important this show was inspired her. She explained how this show was particularly important because not only was her drummer Tyler Nam a Boston native, but it was also the 21st birthday of bassist Kayla Ramilliano. Mehta joined the stage again holding a cake lit with candles and everyone went on to sing her happy birthday. Lapid once again referenced the crowd when she shouted, “We still feeling good Boston?” and declaring that, “Best last show was Cleveland, but you beat them.”

Once again when Lapid was speaking to the crowd she revealed she’s been listening to mostly jazz, specifically legend Ella Fitzgerald and well-loved Laufey. She used this to introduce an unreleased song called “Fix” that she wanted to perform and declared was one of the best songs she had ever written.

Of course, every concert always benefits from a bit of comedic relief. Being told to advertise her tour merch from her label, she had Ashley Mehta and a friend strut onto the stage while wearing tour merchandise to the song “Yes, and?” by Ariana Grande. Easily one of the highlights of the night.

Finally, Lapid’s set was coming to an end. After singing “Comatose”, she made her dramatic exit. Dedicated fans knew there had to be an encore, so they chanted waiting for her to return. After about one minute, the lights started to flash in sync with the chants. The lights turned red and the band and Lapid returned to the stage to perform “In My Mind” (easily her most famous song) and “poster boy”, a universal fan favorite from her recent album. Saying she saved the best for last is not an overstatement.

Lyn Lapid is an excellent contributor to modern pop music because of the uniqueness of her vocals and sound. Her voice is like a comforting lullaby that satisfies any desire to listen to good-quality music. During her next tour, whether she becomes an opener or the headliner once again, we highly recommend you go and snatch a ticket to see her live!

You can listen to her music on Spotify and make sure to give her a follow on Instagram!