It’s late at the Hotel Café—10:48 PM, to be exact—and the atmosphere is both quaint and lively. With just a few weeks to go until Christmas, the Hollywood alleyway is bustling on this Wednesday night as a meet-and-greet for the headline performer is just getting underway. I navigate the slick floors near the entrance to the doorman, who is trying to manage four paper guest lists for the two stages currently in progress.
Drinks were pricey, and street parking was challenging, but the cozy atmosphere inside The Hotel Cafe was inviting as Australian-born actress-turned-singer YDE tuned her guitar. The blue lighting highlights her red-bottomed heels as she introduces herself but quickly realizes she’s not just here to talk; she dives straight into a cover of “Bang Bang” by CHÉR.
“I wanted to be selfish and wear heels, but you can’t work a loop pedal in them,” the “School of Rock” star jokes, mixing in some playful humor and colorful language that her mother would probably disapprove of.
She’s charming and reminds me of Mariah Carey, not just in appearance but also in her powerful singing voice. This is fitting, considering she played a young Carrie in the 2017 animated film *Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You*. Her friends lightened the mood with inside jokes during her set, generating laughter from the audience as they bantered affectionately like schoolgirls. It felt like I was at an improv show.
Her voice was captivating, and even without her looper, her performance was impressive as she smoothly transitioned between guitar and piano. She included “Parachute,” one of my favorite songs to watch her perform.
Her setlist featured nine songs, including her 2020 release, “BlindLife,” a poppy dance track about faking happiness, and “Dead at the Scene,” a recent release from her upcoming 2024 project titled *8*. All tracks that I will be playing on loop.
I’m excited to share that YDE has become one of my favorite discoveries this year. Her lyricism is amazing, and she’s such a triple threat. Plus, she’s just incredibly fun to watch. You don’t want to miss her performances. I can’t wait to see her artistry continue to grow.
Photos & Words by Asha Moné
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