By Lorenzo dela Cruz | May 5, 2025

all images taken from the crowd

On a warm Houston night, Audrey Nuna took the stage at The Bronze Peacock, the more intimate performance space within the House of Blues, for her first-ever headlining tour—and what unfolded was nothing short of electric. Known for its cozy layout and solid acoustics, The Bronze Peacock proved to be the perfect venue for an evening that balanced raw energy with deeply personal moments, allowing fans to engage closely with the rising genre-defying artist.

I had previously caught Yerin Baek’s Volunteers NA Tour in the same room, and similar to that night, the crowd was the perfect size—packed enough to feel like a vibrant gathering, yet not so congested that the space lost its intimacy. Attendees were a stylish melting pot of young fans and a few older outliers, decked out in fits as expressive and fashion-forward as the headliner herself. From the jump, the energy in the room hinted that we were in for a special night.

Opening act ABBIANA stepped onstage in a stunning lace dress that matched the smooth, sultry vibe of her R&B-tinged set. Her vocal prowess was on full display as she effortlessly glided between chest voice, falsetto, and jaw-dropping whistle tones. Her set combined melodic choruses with spoken-word verses, showcasing not only her range but her sharp sense of rhythm and flow. The emotional peak of her performance came with a crowd-pleasing cover of SZA’s Love Galore, which had the entire room singing along. Before leaving the stage, ABBIANA opened up about her journey—from an NYU graduate and barista to a touring artist—offering words of inspiration to those balancing the weight of everyday life while chasing creative dreams.

Before Audrey even appeared, a voice recording played over the speakers, urging fans to live in the moment. This prelude also highlighted the tour's partnership with PLUS1 and Propeller, who joined forces with Bold.org to raise scholarship funds for female creators and visionaries. This intentional inclusion of philanthropy set a thoughtful, empowering tone that lingered long after the show ended. Audrey's band took the stage first in white coveralls, as a flurry of abstract electronic sounds and warped voices filled the air. Then Audrey emerged—back turned to the audience, dressed in a crisp white button-down paired with a hand-crafted, upcycled skirt with translucent red-and-blue pockets. She later shared that she had made the outfit herself specifically for the tour. The visuals and sounds built to a dizzying crescendo, culminating in her dramatic spin to face the crowd as she launched into “Locket.” From that moment on, it was pure kinetic energy. Audrey sprinted across the stage, swung her long hair like a whip, and poured everything into each song. It was an all-out sensory experience, a beautiful chaos powered by her relentless stage presence.

After several high-energy tracks, Audrey paused for water—and so did the crowd, all catching our collective breath. The show then shifted into a more mellow, R&B-infused segment. Songs like “Baby Blues” and “Space” served as reminders that beneath the aggressive production and hype lies a genuinely underrated vocalist. On “Space,” she let loose with intricate vocal runs that were jaw-droppingly good—soul-shattering, even. These quieter moments were especially impactful, taking me back to when I first saw her live at Head in the Clouds 2022, sharing a stage with Deb Never.

A standout moment in set design came during this portion, with a standard fan placed beneath Audrey and a custom mic stand featuring handlebars. The image evoked a striking visual nod to the These Nights music video by Rich Brian and Chung Ha—wind in her hair, riding through sonic landscapes. The tempo kicked back into gear as Audrey moved into tracks from her new album, including “Doggie Pound” and “Jitterbug.” “Baby OG” amped up the room, and by the time she hit the opening notes of her biggest hit “Mine,” the crowd erupted.

At this point, a new visual element emerged—a large white sheet was pulled across the stage, backlit to create a looming silhouette of Audrey. As orchestral notes from “Cellulite” played, her figure appeared distorted due to football shoulder pads and metallic claws she was now wearing. The purpose of the outfit was left open to interpretation, but it visually represented transformation—maybe even battle-readiness—marking a shift in the night’s narrative.

Audrey closed the night with her breakout track “damn Right,” hopping onto the pit barrier and passing the mic to fans who gleefully shouted the song’s iconic chorus. It was a raw, joyful moment of artist-audience connection and the perfect high to end on. Throughout the evening, Audrey repeatedly reminded the audience of Bold.org’s mission, urging people to donate or learn more. It wasn't just performative—the sincerity in her voice and the structure of the show reinforced that this was an artist who cared deeply about her craft and her community. Knowing that part of my ticket money was going toward scholarships for future female creators made the experience feel more meaningful, more impactful, an icing on top to an already moving evening. All in all, Audrey Nuna’s Houston performance was a blend of energy, showmanship, and community, an overview of Nuna’s progression as an artist and individual, and a reminder of her place in the forefront of socially conscious Asian American artists.