Live Review: Oklahoma rising star, MOTHICA, makes her Scotland debut with a sold-out King Tuts show.
Bursting on to the scene in 2015 with her debut EP Mythic, MOTHICA has built her name in the music industry with no record label or publicist, earning the title of a self-made artist.
Her debut single, Starchild reached over 100,000 listens in the first 24 hours on Soundcloud, and every release since has pushed that record even further. MOTHICA’s pop style is influenced by a various rock genres and has seen her release three studio albums, with her latest, Kissing Death, reaching new heights and filling the hearts of her fans.
Plus, after MOTHICA’s recent feature on Scene Queens’ track The Rapture (but it’s Pink), she has become one of the most talked about names in alternative pop music.
Announcing her Kissing Death tour at the start of the year, sold out banners were instantly plastered across the board, ticking off iconic venues whilst doing so.
European shows are far from new territory for MOTHICA, though she reached a new milestone by selling out Glasgow’s iconic King Tuts Wah Wah Hut for the ninth and final night of her European tour on September 28th.
Selling out the venue is an statement in itself, but to do so on your first ever visit to Scotland shows volumes on the love within the country for what she does - and what better way to mark your Scottish debut than to do it on the last Saturday night of the tour? It was a match made in heaven, that’s for sure.
The night’s opening act were no strangers to Scotland and even teased a return to the city that’s set to be announced soon.
The Leeds-based band, Artio are rising up through the music scene with their electronica-infused, alt-rock sound. Celebrating the recent release of their debut album Babyface, this tour with Mothica has been the perfect opportunity to showcase exactly what they’re all about.
Singer, Rae Brazil controlled every second of the set with perfection, strolling about the stage whilst the rest of the band laid down some sick breakdowns and punching riffs. A small bundle of fans in the crowd screamed out every lyric word for word, inspired many in the venue to dance and jump along in unison, building up the atmosphere perfectly.
The overall flow of the set was flawless and showed the extremely high level that the band are at, even in the early stages of their career. Artio made a point that the show was a safe space for anyone no matter their gender, race, or sexuality and this went down exceptionally well with the crowd, filling the room with even more love than before.
The set was a good mix of old and new but was ultimately a showcase for their newest record, Babyface, that is truly on a level of its own.
Artio sang their powerful tracks Sertraline, Babyface and You Set My House on Fire from the album before closing off with the insanely heavy 2023 single, Pyrokid, a song that really did set sparks off in the room. It was a set that showed the future of the alt scene is in safe hands with bands like Artio building their own path.
Next to take the stage were the Atlanta-based glam rock four-piece, Starbenders.
Having only played in the UK a handful of times, it was pleasing to see fans spread across the room. These guys brought a different feel to a very diverse lineup with their captivating, spellbinding presence. The sheer power of lead singer Kimi Shelter's voice was undeniable, and she commanded the stage with a raw and untamed energy with her soft toned voice and deliveries of rough screams.
With a catalogue of music spanning over 8 years, it brought the four-piece that additional challenge of what to bring to the table as supports for the main act, however they managed to produce a stellar set, firing out their best work including recent single, Tokyo that was only released 2 days prior.
The whole show was mesmerising to watch. Their ability to blend elements of rock and mysticism seamlessly added so much to how they execute their live show with the performance, showing their versatility in mixing a glam style and aesthetic with punk and old school rock vibes.
Their set was exactly what you want from a support band: to keep the crowd’s attention and prove exactly why they were brought on this tour.
With the venue more than warmed up, it was time for tonight’s star attraction, MOTHICA, to take the stage.
Having heard the screams of the fans and witnessed the sheer demand this show had, it was incredible to think this was MOTHICA’s first time on Scottish soil. Later in the night, the singer revealed that she was part Scottish, which made things feel like a special homecoming in many ways.
Entering the stage draped in the loosely hanging red fabrics of her incredible fit, she danced her way into the light during the opening notes of The Void. There was an immediate connection between the fans and herself as she opened with a mixed set of earlier work from her 2021 EP, Forever Fifteen and her new record, Kissing Death.
MOTHICA then threw in her much-loved cover of Bring Me The Horizon’s Can You Feel My Heart, a different take on a classic stadium-sized anthem, which went down a huge treat with the crowd who sang their hearts out like it was Mothica’s very own tune.
Mid-set there was an emotional and heartwarming moment where she opened up about her battles with depression and addiction when growing up, explaining how she later wrote, Forever Fifteen. A song that’s open and honest about everything that’s shaped MOTHICA into who she is today, the track and the story behind it hit home for many in the room, building that personal connection she has with her fanbase.
Prior to the show, blue love hearts were given out to each fan - a fan project to show the love that everyone in the room had for her. During Forever Fifteen, a beautiful sea of hearts spread over the crowd, making this moment extra special.
During the set there was also the added in comedy from guitarist Alex Russo who had been given a mic for the first time as he mentioned his undying love for the Scottish delicacies that are Irn Bru and Braveheart.
The energy in the room was electric from start to finish, showing the love had from both ends of the barrier and the passion that MOTHICA and her fans have for each other.
Every song was sung straight from the heart and with 100% commitment, even to the point that the crowd over took the volume of the sound system.
“It’s okay to feel a lot of things: being sensitive is your superpower” said MOTHICA before cracking on with the beginning of the encore.
Smash hits Casualty and Sensitive concluded the show, before MOTHICA dedicated the final tune to who she would describe as a Scottish legend: Shrek! Setting the crowd into one of the biggest sing-a-longs of the night, the show ended on a high with Smash Mouth’s iconic track, All Star, a fitting way to close off what was the perfect show.
Indicted into a long list of iconic bands who have sold out King Tuts on their first attempt, MOTHICA is a truly iconic name within the music scene in Glasgow and beyond.