Love, LA
By Abby L
On Sunday, April 6th, excited fans, local students, and friends gathered in the historical Roxy Theatre on Sunset Avenue to celebrate up-and-coming LA artists in a vibrant tribute to the city's music scene. Led by an all-female team of university students, Love, LA began with cryptic and eye-catching Instagram posts to catch the interest of music lovers around the city. The show was designed primarily as a fundraiser to give back to LA after the destruction caused by the Eaton fire earlier this year.
All proceeds from Love, LA were donated to Altadena Girls, a nonprofit organization dedicated to leading teenage girls impacted by the Eaton fire back to normalcy. Started by 8th grade Avery Colvert, now the youngest ever recipient of the TIME 100 Impact Award, Altadena Girls began by collecting essential items, along with other items that many girls had lost in the fires. At their temporary pop-up location, young girls impacted by the fire were able to have a shopping experience, completely free of charge, to replace what they had lost. Now, Avery has begun to establish her new permanent building in Altadena that will house additional resources for girls, including mental health services, dance studios, and study spaces. Love, LA's mission was to give back to the city by uplifting upcoming artists, while also supporting such an impactful organization.
The Roxy Theatre, since its opening in 1973, has housed many iconic performances from (then rising) artists, including Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, and Tyler, the Creator.
Opening Love, LA was Nicole Han, an LA-based pop artist. She currently has two EPs out titled "so it goes…" and "Sweet Timing", released in 2023 and 2024. Her set was a short and sweet acoustic performance, including a cover of Olivia Rodrigo's "pretty isn't pretty".
Next on the setlist was Mikayla Geier, an energetic Canadian alternative indie pop artist with roots in ballet dancing. She stunned the stage in a red dress and matching arm drapery – DIY'd the night before – and performed a fantastic set. Her debut album "here we go again…" was released last year. Her unique sound and performance brought great energy to the stage!
Hosted only a month and a half after her first-ever headline show, Tristan performed a captivating set to conclude Love, LA. Her new single "DAMN!" came out less than a month before the show, so her fans were eager to hear it sung live since its release. Tristan, despite only having moved to LA in the past year, expressed her deep connection to the city and her excitement in giving back to her new home after the fires in January. She performed a great set, featuring many songs from her 2024 album "IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT".