Beneath London’s Denmark Street, in the intimate, sweat-soaked surroundings of Yungblud’s B.R.A.T Cave, Arabella Lucia trades the full-band electricity of her usual performances for an acoustic set that puts her voice, songwriting and personality firmly in the spotlight. For the self-proclaimed Rockstar Princess, this is an opportunity to reveal the vulnerability beneath the punk-rock attitude, and to show just how much she is developing as an artist.
Arabella Lucia @ B.R.A.T. Denmark Street
At just 19, the Armenian-Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist is already carving out her own space in the alternative scene. Having built an early following through social media, particularly TikTok, she draws on punk, alternative rock and contemporary pop to create a sound that refuses to sit neatly in one genre. Tonight, however, there are no crashing drums, distorted guitars or elaborate production. Armed with an acoustic guitar and accompanied by a fellow guitarist, Lucia has nowhere to hide.
That doesn’t mean the theatrics are abandoned. She arrives looking every inch the Rockstar Princess, dressed in a prom-style dress complete with corset and tiara, offset by a trusty pair of Dr. Martens with pink laces. Part fairytale princess, part punk-rock outsider, she looks entirely comfortable occupying the space between the two.
Opening with Nice Girls and Tough Act, Lucia quickly establishes that stripping back the arrangements doesn’t mean sacrificing attitude. With the instrumentation pared down, her voice takes centre stage, moving between delicate vulnerability and the gritty, defiant delivery that has become a defining feature of her music.
Her latest single, Steal My Shimmer, follows, offering another glimpse into the world she is building ahead of her forthcoming debut EP. Rooted in confidence, individuality and refusing to let others diminish your sense of self, its themes feel particularly appropriate in a performance that is as much about personal growth as musical progression.
One of the evening’s most thoughtful moments arrives with TLC’s 1999 hit Unpretty. Before performing her interpretation, Lucia reflects on the song’s lyrics and the continued relevance of its message more than 25 years after its release. In an age of filters, unrealistic beauty standards and relentless social media pressure, its exploration of insecurity and self-worth speaks to a new generation.
Lucia brings her own alternative-rock sensibilities to the R&B classic, avoiding a straightforward recreation and instead making its sentiment feel personal. It is a reminder that beneath the playful princess imagery and punk-rock attitude is a songwriter who understands the importance of emotional connection. Taking an established song and giving its message a fresh voice is no small accomplishment.
From there, the set moves through Hostage You Call Baby and GIHYKL, exploring further sides of her musical personality before a fitting tribute to the artist whose name sits above the venue. Her cover of Yungblud’s Zombie carries added significance in these surroundings. Performing one of his songs in a space created to give emerging musicians and alternative communities somewhere to belong feels like more than a simple nod of appreciation. It is also a reminder of the importance of artists creating opportunities for those following in their footsteps.
As the evening approaches its conclusion, Lucia turns towards another important part of her identity: her Armenian heritage. For Armenian, she welcomes a flute player onto the stage, introducing traditional Armenian-inspired textures into the performance. It is a beautiful change of pace and a moment that feels particularly personal, offering a glimpse beyond the Rockstar Princess persona to the person behind it.
Her Armenian-Canadian background is more than a biographical detail; it provides another musical language through which she can explore her identity and develop a sound distinctly her own. In such an intimate setting, the opportunity to see this side of her emerge is especially engaging.
There is something uniquely revealing about watching an artist strip their songs down to little more than a guitar and a voice. Every vocal inflection becomes more noticeable, every lyric carries greater weight, and the smallest moments of hesitation or emotion are brought into focus. That vulnerability can be daunting for even seasoned performers, let alone someone still navigating the early stages of a career.
Yet Lucia handles the challenge with an earnestness and confidence that suggest an artist growing increasingly comfortable with both her music and herself. The acoustic arrangements inevitably lose some of the raw electricity of a full-band performance, but they offer something equally valuable: the chance to hear the foundations on which her bigger ambitions are being built.
By the end of the evening, the underground venue has become a wonderfully chaotic mixture of sweat, pink princess crowns and Arabella Lucia merchandise. With moisture practically dripping from the ceiling, it is a far cry from the polished fairytale suggested by her outfit. But perhaps that’s precisely the point. Rock music has always thrived on contradictions: beauty and aggression, confidence and insecurity, vulnerability and defiance. Lucia embraces all of them without feeling the need to choose one over the other.
She may have found her first audience through the small screen of TikTok, but performances like this suggest that much bigger stages could be waiting. The challenge will be retaining the honesty and connection that make these smaller shows so special as the audiences grow, the production expands and the demands of the music industry increase. If she can hold on to that emotionally open approach while continuing to develop her sound, there is every reason to believe her musical fairytale is only just beginning.
And judging by tonight, the future looks bright. Very bright. And almost certainly pink.
With Steal My Shimmer already released, Lucia’s next chapter is just around the corner. Her debut EP is scheduled for release on 13th November 2026, preceded by a full-band launch show on 12th November. Having seen what she can achieve with little more than an acoustic guitar and her voice, it will be fascinating to hear these songs come to life when she turns the volume back up.
-
Arabella Lucia @ B.R.A.T. Denmark Street (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)
Live review and photography of Arabella Lucia at B.R.A.T Cave, Denmark Street, London by Henry Finnegan/Finneganfoto on 22nd October 2026. Instagram: @finneganfoto | Facebook: @finneganfoto
Alicia Witt At Crazy Coqs: Somewhere Between Heaven And Earth
Share Thing