REVIEW AND INTERVIEW: Violent Vira @ Theater of Living Arts
WRITTEN BY: Ariana Droz- Santiago
PHOTOS BY: Ariana Droz- Santiago
Sunday Nov. 16, 2025, marked the tenth show of Violent Vira’s Chasing Ghosts North American tour. The 25-year-old artist turned Theater of the Living Arts into a giant wave of electrified fans moshing, surfing and chanting for Larry (if you know, you know). Supported by fellow alternative rock artists, Ivri and Brayton, the show was an energetic display of young musicians continuing to uplift the genres and communities of alt-rock.
Pop-punk solo artist, Brayton, opened up the show with his energetic set. His stage presence was so enthusiastic and engaged with the crowd, where he kept jumping in and opening the pit. He ended his set with a cover of King for a Day by Pierce the Veil, which got the crowd shouting and moving in lawless harmony. He was the perfect start to a great show. Ivri followed and took the stage around 9 p.m. to enchant the crowd with her soft voice over a shoegaze-influenced sound. The young artist is most well-known online for her song, Tower of Memories, one of the leading singles on her latest project, The Theory of You. Her presence was a little quieter than the previous act but very fitting for her style and outward personality. She ended her set with an unreleased single that excited the audience and left a high energy for Violent Vira to come out around 10 p.m.
The Philly show took place just two days after Violent Vira’s debut album, Lover of A Ghost, was released on November 14th, making this crowd one of the first to hear the album live post-release. This project is long awaited by fans and features a narrative story about Girl and Ghost. Each song on the album feeds the story and features Violent Vira’s writing style, vocal skill and musical talent. I had the opportunity to chat with the artist about this project and what it meant to her. She dives into her writing and creation process, her favorite song from the project, and the overall significance of the album and the story.
Ariana Droz: It’s been a long time coming for this record, so how are you feeling now that it’s officially out?
Violent Vira: I’m so relieved. I mean it’s been such a long time coming and so largely anticipated. Everybody kept saying like “Ah the album’s never coming,” but I was just finishing up some details. Yeah I’m just so relieved and happy.
AD: Do you have a favorite song or one that you’re super emotionally connected to?
VV: Yes and no because I’m honestly so proud of every single track on the album. Every single track feels like a single, so I love all of them as if they were their own body of art. But the one I feel has the most replay value for me personally is Sex Narcissist because I love the ending and the hooks. I also really love my lyricism on that one and I’m very proud of that.
AD: Do you want to talk a little bit about inspired that song and how that fits into the narrative of girl and ghost?
VV: The story of Lover of A Ghost and the characters, especially girl, are largely based off of a lot of parts myself. In terms of my mental health and my grief and my whole process of going through life. I just put myself in her shoes and I put a lot of me into this little character. Sex Narcissist kind of [diverts] from the main storyline. At the time it started out with the fact that I was heartbroken. There was someone that I really liked, and I thought that things weren’t going to work out… then I started thinking about everything that I was angry about because I was hurt. Then I was kind like “you know what, f*ck the haters,” but [I still wanted to] vent to that. So, it kind of explores themes of people who actively choose to hate on something whether its people or things, it’s almost like an obsession. So, I thought about what that means and how that is almost in a way, just as strong as love.
AD: Did you have a favorite part in realizing this project? When it was coming to life, what was the best part of making it?
VV: Honestly, because I feel like I’m a writer first, my favorite part was pre-production. Then on equal ground with that was recording. I almost miss moments before they happen and I knew as soon as I put those headphones on, I was already missing this and I was trying my best to memorize it.
AD: Is there a city that you’re most excited to visit on this tour?
VV: Definitely Houston. New York was also a big one; we just did that, and it always fills my heart with so much love, and I love the city. Houston always goes crazy, I love them they have just such a pure and amazing energy to them. Also, the first time ever toured the second show was Houston and I remember like that was the first show that I ever truly felt like I made it. Houston just loves so hard and so passionately.
AD: You were named Artist of the Month for October in Glasse Factory, and then next year you’ll be going on tour in Europe with Kimdracula. So how has it felt to see your growth this last year?
VV: It’s amazing. It feels like it’s been so long in the making but it’s also happening so quick it’s like a shock. When I really think about it, this is like a decade in the making. I really wanted to focus on music ever since I was 15 and now I’m 25. It’s just surreal and it’s cool that once you really build the train it just starts going, and it goes super-fast.
AD: Is there any message that you want people to take away from this record?
VV: Yes, I love this question. I actually had a dream about something similar to the record. I think a lot of it delves into our own ghosts and what we’re trying to avoid, that it comes face to face, and it haunts us. I just want everyone who listens to this record to really embody this life that we have and relish every moment of it. To remember that in the end we’re all just ghosts and we have this human meat, bones, and skin that helps us explore this world and that’s temporary, so we should just really appreciate every moment. I know it’s so hard to remember that at times but it really is such a gift to be alive every day, and I want everyone to know that they are alive for a reason.
Vira’s sound can be described as eclectic. She’s very numetal while also pulling influence from emo and gothic rock genres. Fans of Deftones, Fleshwater or Kittie might find something in the Violent Vira discography that resonates with their taste.
She opened her set with the leading single of the project, Saccharine, a perfect choice to capture and explode the energy in the space. The band behind her was impenetrable and skillful. The crowd was immediately captivated by her charming and sassy stage presence backed by an impressive vocal range and gut-wrenching screams. My personal favorites to hear live were Saccharine, Burn Me with A Bible, and Sex Narcissist. While most of the setlist was right from the new project, she blessed us with some of her older singles in an encore performance. These included the deeply emotional song, Luka, and one of her most popular, God Complex. Anyone who is looking to go to a well-produced, high-energy concert should consider going to a show on this tour. You’ll also be able to see Violent Vira early next year when she goes on tour with Kimdracula.
