Gig: COBRAH @ EartH, London
Clara Blom Christensen, aka COBRAH, brought her distinct brand of queer, BDSM inspired, gothy electropop to Dalston this past Saturday. The Swedish electro-pop artist led this night of debauchery supported by BIG WETT and Girl Ultra at multi-discipline arts venue Evolutionary Arts Hackney as part of Pitchfork Music Festival London.
Following the success of her Succubus World Tour and impressive festival run throughout this year, COBRAH’s return to the capital is a testament to her rising star status, having garnered significant critical acclaim and exposure in just a few short years. In 2024, her 2022 single ‘BRAND NEW BITCH’ was used as a theme, and in the marketing and trailers, for Yorgos Lanthimos' film Kinds of Kindness.
COBRAH’s edgy, deconstructed style has captured imaginations within queer and alternative electronic subcultures across the globe. The experimental artist attracts a certain type of fan as is evident from the excited sea of young people dressed in bold leather looks that flocked to this modest 1200-capacity venue in the heart of the trendy Hackney area.
Kicking off at half past eight on a mild November evening and continuing until late, this triple-billed, specially curated event was an exhilarating electronic romp guaranteed to please both die-hard fans and casual clubbers alike.
Mexican R&B artist Mariana de Miguel, better known as Girl Ultra, opened as part of her European ‘Blush’ tour. Already finding success in Mexico and Latin America before expanding her reach across the globe in more recent years, the singer blends soulful vocals with club beats. Her most recent EP is a departure from her previous body of work which took more influence from Spanish rock. This version of Girl Ultra is a more fitting first billing for this event, house beats combined with more grungy indie melodies. What results is an innovative and individual sound. Girl Ultra’s performance is alluring and high-powered, and I look forward to seeing her appearing more on this side of the world.
Mysterious Aussie dance-pop artist BIG WETT self describes as ‘making songs for sluts’, a statement that is unmistakably self-evident considering lead singles with such tongue-in-cheek titles as ‘NUMBER 1 PUSSY’ and ‘EAT MY ASS’. Lyrics are explicit and focus on themes of sex, drugs and power. Performing her hard and fast dance tracks with the same playful and provocative attitude as our headliner, BIG WETT brought a powerful vitality to the stage, commanding an impressive energy typically expected of a more seasoned performer. Setting the tone for the rest of the evening – BIG WETT is one to watch, and one to go see live for a naughty good time.
Arriving fashionably late and only playing around forty-five minutes of her hour and fifteen time slot, the latex and eyeliner-clad COBRAH entered amidst relentless flashes of strobe. While her lateness is apparently typical of a COBRAH show, it was clear the crowd didn’t mind. The shift in energy was obvious from the kick-off of the fetish-inspired opener ‘DIP N DRIP’. Wall to wall, devoted fans appeared enamoured to just be in her presence, cheering, singing and hanging on to her every word. Christensen fully embodies her stylish ballroom-influenced persona as COBRAH, possessing unfettered confidence as she struts across the stage with flair and attitude posing, and flipping her hair, owning her performance completely. The electricity of the crowd was unmatched during big hits ‘GOOD PUSS’ and ‘BRAND NEW BITCH’ and stayed up until the unexpected end, her hasty exit only leaving the crowd wanting more.
COBRAH’s latest single “Record Deal” is out now via Gagball/Atlantic Records.
