Nessa Barrett opened the Paris leg of “The Aftercare Tour” on June 22 with the first of two back-to-back shows at Le Bataclan. Stepping into a room thick with anticipation, she delivered a set that was as emotionally raw as it was sonically polished, offering the crowd a powerful glimpse into the vulnerable world she’s built around her latest music.

But first, it was sombr who took the stage. The 19-year-old rising superstar, who’s been gaining massive momentum while touring with Nessa, delivered an unforgettable set that had the crowd fully locked in. I’ve rarely seen an audience this intense for an opener—everyone showed up early, and nearly every person seemed to know the lyrics, even to his older songs, which added something really special to the night. He ran through hits like “back to friends” and “undressed” alongside earlier fan favorites like “i don’t know you anymore,” “do i ever cross your mind,” and “would’ve been you.”

During “caroline,” he brought out an acoustic guitar, stripping things back for one of the most intimate moments of the night. And in a moving gesture during “would’ve been you,” he stepped down into the photo pit to get closer to fans, holding hands as he sang through the pain of the track.

One fan waved a “Proud citizen of sombrica” flag—something he noticed right away—and by the end of the set, he handed them his setlist in return. Another fan gave him a “We Are Young” t-shirt, a playful nod to an inside joke that’s been circulating among his fanbase online.

sombr is known for crashing out emotionally mid-performance, both on stage and across social media—and tonight was no exception. He closed with “back to friends” collapsing beside his guitarist in a moment that felt as raw and unfiltered as the lyrics themselves. It was the kind of ending that lingers, the kind that makes you realize why everyone came early.

Nessa arrived just in time, stepping onstage at 9 p.m. sharp and launching straight into a flawless opening trio. With a bass in hand, she kicked things off with “DIRTY LITTLE SECRET,” setting the tone with dark, sultry energy. She kept the momentum going with “DISCO” and “S.L.U.T,” two fan favorites that lit up the room and had the entire crowd screaming back every word. It was a bold, confident start—one that immediately reminded everyone why this was her night.

What immediately struck me was the visuals and scenography of Nessa’s set—it’s been a while since I’ve seen something that well thought out. Most of the night, she performed from a small elevated square at center stage, making her visible from every corner of the venue. Her band was positioned on either side behind her, creating a clean, symmetrical setup that kept all eyes on her. She still made a point to walk to the sides of the stage to connect with the crowd, but the core of the show played out from that intimate central platform.

Behind her, a massive screen projected a series of carefully curated visuals that shifted throughout the set. Sometimes, instead of detailed imagery, the screen was simply white, casting the shadows of Nessa and her band in striking silhouettes—a minimalist moment that felt powerful in its simplicity. During “S.L.U.T,” the words “SEX. LIGHT. UGLY TRUTH.” flashed across the screen during the chorus. For “PINS AND NEEDLES,” a shot of Nessa smoking a cigarette accompanied the lyric “I feel nothing at all.” Mustangs galloped across the screen during—of course—“MUSTANG BABY.” During “GIVEN ENOUGH,” a man appeared to hold her through a haze of smoke, and for “KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME BOY,” a vinyl spun slowly in the background. One of the most moving visuals came during “die first,” where two birds followed each other through a soft, melancholic loop. And that’s only a glimpse—this is a show where the visuals are best experienced live.

Her stage presence was really captivating. I’ve seen people criticize her for it in the past, and honestly, I don’t get it. I found her mesmerizing—she stayed fully present, often interacting with the crowd while singing, and her energy carried the entire set. The only thing I’d point out is that, aside from a quick “bonjour” and “I love you,” Nessa didn’t really take time for talk breaks or share personal moments with the audience. But with a 22-song setlist, it never felt empty or lacking. Talk breaks often serve as little pauses where the audience can breathe, but luckily, songs like “EDWARD SCISSORHANDS” and “RUSSIAN ROULETTE” offered those quieter moments. During those, Nessa sang seated, giving both herself and the crowd a brief but welcome breather.

Even without talk breaks, Nessa still found meaningful ways to connect with her audience. During “LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU,” she stepped down into the photo pit to get as close as possible to the barricade, singing directly to fans and sharing the moment up close. During “PINS AND NEEDLES,” she handed the mic to the crowd, who shouted back the lyric “you’re mean and you’re boring, they’ll all forget you” with full force. And of course, she couldn’t escape the classic French crowd chant—“Popopopopopo”—which her drummer even joined in on. Nessa jumped along with a huge smile, closing the moment with a heartfelt “I love you.”

Another thing I need to point out is her voice. Just like with her stage presence, people online have criticized her in the past—saying she uses playback—but I can confidently say those rumors are false. Her live vocals were powerful and emotionally charged, and it was honestly beautiful to witness. And as if we didn’t already know how talented she is, she also picked up an electric guitar for “BLUE VALENTINE” and “the one that should’ve got away,” adding an extra layer of depth and rawness to those songs that made them feel even more special. She looked powerful on that little stage, dressed in pink with her dark guitar—a striking contrast that captured the exact balance of softness and strength that runs through her entire set.

Nessa also delivered a beautiful cover of “Glory Box” by Portishead. I already love the original so much, but hearing her sing it felt like the song was made for her voice. She brought a softness and vulnerability to it that made the performance feel deeply personal—it was one of those rare covers that doesn’t just pay tribute, but transforms the song into something new.

After closing her main set with “AFTERCARE,” Nessa returned for an encore with an iconic trio: “the one that should’ve got away,” “die first,” and, of course, “P*RNSTAR.” Even though the venue was sweltering and everyone was visibly exhausted, the crowd gave everything they had left for that final song. It was loud, sweaty, and electric—one last cathartic release to end a night that already felt unforgettable.

If anyone still doubted Nessa Barrett’s place in pop today, tonight made it clear: she’s not going anywhere.

FOLLOW NESSA BARRETT : INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | TIKTOK | WEBSITE

FOLLOW SOMBR : INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | TIKTOK | WEBSITE

FULL SET LIST NESSA BARETT PARIS JUNE 22 :

• DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
• DISCO
• S.L.U.T.
• BABYDOLL
• heartbreak in the hamptons
• HEARTBEAT
• EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
• BLUE VALENTINE
• GLITTER AND VIOLENCE
• PINS AND NEEDLES
• MUSTANG BABY
• GIVEN ENOUGH
• LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU
• RUSSIAN ROULETTE
• KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME BOY
• GASLIGHT
• DYING ON THE INSIDE
• GLORY BOX (Portishead cover)
• AFTERCARE
• THE ONE THAT SHOULD’VE GOT AWAY
• DIE FIRST
• P*RNSTAR