First to take the stage for a sold out night at The Atlantis was Will Linley. Will, a pop artist from South Africa, rose to fame by utilizing TikTok to promote himself giving himself his big break into the music industry. In my opinion, Linley is the epitome of pop music. Reminiscent of the boyband and pop music I fell in love with in middle and high school, his music induces nostalgia for me personally in the best way possible. His songs are a perfect mix of catchy tunes and relatable lyrics, and it’s hard to simply resist dancing to his set as proven by the crowd dancing continuously from the time he took the stage to the moment he stepped off.
Beyond his obvious musical prowess, Linley also knows how to interact with the audience. He was actively communicating with the crowd during every stage of his performance. Most notable during his hit song “Gracie”, where he muses about meeting his future wife, he stopped before the chorus to admit he was “distracted” by a girl in a leather jacket in the pit. He then asked her name before altering the lyrics to replace Gracie with her name, Junie, for the rest of the song. The energy in that moment was reminiscent of the boyband craze from my adolescence. All the girls in the audience screaming in unison, the ones in the background reaching out for Linley while the others farther back through up heart hands to catch his attention. Linley is the epitome a showman with the musical abilities to back up his stage presence. Along with Gracie he broke out hits such as Last Call (my personal, all-time favorite – and yes I still listened to it again on the car ride home from the show) and Miss Me. Mark my words: in the coming years we’re going to see Linley headlining, and I’m sure that before long he’ll have no problem selling out arenas.
Perhaps what drives Linley’s dedicated fanbase is not only his music but his incredible care and dedication to his fans. Linley came out between his and Em Beihold’s set to greet fans and then came out again when the night was over to hang out in the pit, chatting and taking pictures with anyone that asked (myself included). His demeanor puts everyone at ease, and the easiest way to describe his vibes is “the kind of person you instantly want to be friends with”. There’s something special about watching an artist pour so much of themselves into not only their music but also into connecting with their fanbase. Will Linley is truly an incredible artist as well as (from my short interaction) an even more incredible person.
Em Beihold
Finishing Linley’s set, I couldn’t image how the night could not get any better, but then Em Beihold took the stage by storm. Beihold, a pop artist who rose to fame when her song “Numb Little Bug” went viral, is as dynamic of a performer as you can see.
I’ve always remained impressed by the amount of athleticism that it takes to sing flawlessly while also dancing around the stage, and then to do so night after night for weeks on end. Beihold is, by all standards, an elite athlete. She spent her set skipping, dancing, and running from side to side on the stage always pausing at either end to lean out over the crowd and engage with the fans. At one point she perched down to sing the first part of a lyric before directing the mic into the mouth of a fan to finish the lyrics for her. At another instance she bent down to take what appeared to be a handmade puppet from another fan pressed up against the barricade. Providing those moments of connection for fans, especially people who queued outside to achieve barricade for the sold out show, is what takes a performance from great to spectacular. I remember that feeling of getting to interact with an artist that I truly loved, and I can only imagine the opportunity to sing into the mic with Beihold made that young fan’s entire night.
Being able to make lifelong, core memories for individuals through your art is such a special skill, and Beihold makes achieving it look easy.
Additionally, Beihold clearly knows how to have fun on stage. She peppered her set with funny anecdotes about herself and background about her songs. One notable instance of this was when she talked about her song Extraordinary which she confessed she wrote while freaking out that she would never be the president. Beihold’s relatability and realness with the audience had everyone in the room laughing including myself. That feeling of knowing that there are so many things we will never get to do or be in our lifetime is something that I’m sure almost everyone can relate to. By letting us into her world, Beihold makes her performance even more impactful and enjoyable.
Beihold also broke out a fun surprise during her set by having her friend Leah, who was also running merch that night, join her onstage for a duet of Until I Found You, a duet she has previously sung alongside Stephen Sanchez who released Until I Found You in 2021. Leah and Beihold sung together before partaking in some partner dancing that involved a number of fun spins and twirls. The duet ended with Beihold’s arm slung around Leah’s shoulder while the crowd erupted in applause.
Despite all of the incredible moments highlighted above, the most memorable part of Beihold’s show for me wasn’t her stunning vocals or her ability to mesmerize an entire venue with her stage presence and energy. The most memorable part was watching how her music brought people together. The show had a younger audience than many other shows I have captured. A large percentage of the crowd was individuals who looked to be in middle or high school. And the entire time, they were in the pit, or pressed up against the barricade, they were all watching out for each other and making friends. And then behind the pit, there were parents watching from afar while letting their children have this wonderful concert experience. When parents bought water, the crowd never hindered them from delivering it to their kids or passing it up to where the children were. When the photographers needed to move up into the pit, a group of young girls very graciously moved out of the way to let us through, offering up smiles as we passed by. It was such a joy to witness a lot of young individuals experiencing memories that I am sure they will talk about around the dinner table for years to come, and that happiness is all due to Em Beihold and her willingness to share her art with the world.
Will Linley’s Setlist:
Magic
Kill All My Feelings
IDWBY
Gracie
Last Call
Touch
Blame
Miss Me
Em Beihold’s Setlist:
Roller Coasters
12354
Too Precious
Groundhog Day
Extraordinary
City angels
Until I Found You
Shiny New Things
Goo
Pedestal
Spiderman
Lottery
Egg In The Backseat
Maybe Life Is Good
Numb Little Bug
Show Date: 03.15.24 // Washington D.C. @ The Atlantis // Maybe Life is Good Thanks to Em Beihold’s First Headlining Tour
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