Nessa Barrett @ The MET

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Photos By: Hadiza Mshelia

Written By: Ava Holmes

On Tuesday, February 11th, TikToker-turned-singer Nessa Barrett performed at The Met. Philadelphia was her hometown show, as Barret grew up in South Jersey. 

Truthfully, I was unaware that Barrett had started a music career after The Hype House had disbanded up until recently. I didn’t know many of her songs and had heard rumors that she lip-synced, but I went in with an open mind.

After checking her social media, I noticed that she has definitely matured since the early 2020 era of TikTok and has shifted her focus mainly towards her music career. She is currently touring for her album Aftercare, an album that’s aesthetics and lyrical themes mostly center around female sexuality (something that has become more popular in pop music again thanks to Sabrina Carpenter), which is something I’m in full support of.

The venue was packed with fans who were eager to see her alongside her opener, Ari Abdul. Abdul was a decent opening act, with only a guitarist joining her on stage as they jumped around to the music. If you are a fan of Nessa’s music, I highly recommend checking Abdul’s music out; they are pretty similar in sound with their use of guitar and vocals. This is why openers are so great! You get the chance to discover music you may like, recommended by your favorite artists. 

Personally, a concert experience is a make-or-break for me depending on the fans, and I can confidently say that Nessa Barrett has such passionate and respectful fans that made the show feel more personal —even for someone who was unfamiliar with her music. 

When Barrett eventually came out, the venue was a sea of iPhone screens, but I think that should be expected when a majority of your audience first discovers you on TikTok. However, as the night went on and I looked around the theater, so many fans were engaged with her performance. There were people ages pre-teen to middle-age, and they were all singing along and dancing!

As for Nessa Barrett’s performance on stage, I want to say that I don’t think she was lip-syncing despite the rumors. There would be moments during her songs where she would say something to the audience or her band, proving her mic was on. I genuinely just think her backing track is just a little too loud. Besides that, she was extremely happy to be on stage at her hometown show. She is an influencer-turned-singer who you can tell cares about the music she’s making and loves performing as well. She was very engaged with the crowd, even helping someone who seemed to have fainted in the pit.

With the resurgence of pop music, Nessa Barrett is definitely someone you should check out if you enjoy Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and Madison Beer. If you ever get the chance to see her on tour again, I can assure you that it will be worth it. 

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