Abi Scaife

Even before the concert starts, the energy is palpable.

The bass is thrumming through our bones as we stare at the stage, unable to rip our eyes away for fear of missing Jessi’s entrance. Hundreds of fans from across Europe are crammed into the tiny back room at the O2, having paid an extortionate amount for the chance to stand in the same room as their idol.

Raised in New Jersey until the age of 15, the feisty South Korean puts on the show of her life. Crummy YouTube bootlegs, eagerly poured over, cannot compare to the raw power she exerts on stage. Over the course of almost three hours, she performs fierce hits such as ‘Boing’ and ‘Spirit Animal’, talks South Korean culture and feminism, and even opens up to her adoring crowd about depression and suicide.

We go from a crowd of fans to a group of friends, sprayed with water from the stage in anticipation of ‘Wet’ before ten or so of us join Jessi on stage for ‘Down’. She speaks to a fan in the crowd about her dream to become a singer and promises to take a look at her music.

“Leave all your stress behind tonight, alright?” She asks, at the beginning of the set.

And we do.

[This piece was originally written for LDN Magazine and has been uploaded now as part of my portfolio].