Amber Bain, known by her stage name The Japanese House, delivered an electrifying performance at Glasgow’s SWG3 this May. The day had been atypically warm for Scotland, and the warm setting sun that one felt walking into the venue felt like a precursor to the artist’s magical, dream-like sound. Opening the gig with the energetic and dynamic “Touching Yourself” from her latest album, In the End It Always Does, Bain immediately captivated the audience. Her setlist was a delightful mix of tracks from her new album and beloved older songs, offering something for every fan to dance along to. She even gave the lively Glasgow crowd an exclusive first listen to an upbeat new track, cementing the special relationship musicians seem to have with the audiences of the city.
While dreamy pop music can sometimes risk falling flat in live settings, Bain defied this expectation with an infectious energy that permeated the entire performance. Her consistent crowd interactions and commanding stage presence ensured that the audience remained engaged throughout the night. At one point Bain memorably asked, “Is anyone here gay?”, prompting a joyful uproar of cheers and laughter that highlighted her connection with the crowd and her status as a modern queer music icon.
Gigs like these certainly solidify The Japanese House as a prominent figure in a wave of artists, alongside the likes of MUNA and Chappell Roan, who openly celebrate and champion queer love and happiness through their music. It’s so wonderful to be able to see an artist so visibly interstate their queerness into their music and performance, and for the audience to connect so deeply with it. Bain’s performance was a beautiful testament to this, leaving the audience with a sense of joy and inclusion that has thankfully become more present in today’s music scene.
Ailbhe Ni Mhurchu (she/her)
Instagram [@ailvhe]
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