Alt-Pop Rising Star Artemas Closes off UK Tour With Explosive London Gig: Live Review

Earlier this week Artemas ended the UK leg of his tour with a sold out show at the iconic Kentish Town forum. While somewhat familiar with some of his music, admittedly I was unaware of his seemingly cult following. For those unaware, Artemas - full name Artemas Diamandis is a young alt pop artist who's managed to translate his Tiktok rise into real, tangible success - outside of the algorithm. With ‘i like the way you kiss me’ peaking at number 3 in the UK Singles charts followed by the triumph of his debut album yustyna and now sold out tour Artemas is clearly cementing his success. 

The former cinema in the North West of London housed a diverse mix of fans, as I entered the venue on the cold Monday evening alongside some eager fans - the excitement was clear - greeted by Willow Kayne already performing to packed stalls.  

The evening kicked off with a high-energy set from Kayne performing in front of a giant white curtain, her unique fusion sound and punk-pop sensibilities immediately ignited the crowd. A noteworthy performance setting the stage for Artemas, leaving the crowd buzzing with anticipation. 

It’s important to note that Artemas’ Kentish Town closing show followed a cancelled gig the night before in Birmingham due to vocal stress - not that you would be able to tell from the performance though of course made for an even more eager yet understandable crowd. 

The audience erupted as the silhouette from behind a curtain began with ‘i always kinda knew you’d be the death of me’ - an emotionally intense ballad, as the song reaches crescendo and the curtain falls, the already cheering crowd begin to roar. Revealing Artemas accompanied by his band. 

Image Courtesy of Gianluca Bottoni @gianbottoni

From the first track it is clear that his signature production style - a digitally modulated vocal which is almost always pitched up is pretty much unapparent in his live performances allowing the audience to experience his discography in a different way. The almost raw vocal makes for a sultry sound as well as an impressive showcase of his vocals navigating between breathy vocal techniques to at times a high register belt - Artemas’ vocals are unquestioned. 

As he continues to make his way through his debut album - the crowd knows every word, singing each chorus back to him louder than the last. The majority of the songs boast a dark, moody sound alongside some salacious content with his performances often being compared to that of The Weeknd - this was no different. With the audience under his control Artemas continues the set, sprinkling in some quick covers in between his signature tracks including a rendition of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’. 

For me a stand out moment of the night was ‘if you think i’m pretty’ though more specifically the stripped down version before the main event - the slower tempo and sparse arrangement makes for a completely new sound which i am a huge fan of, it was also a great way to build anticipation among the audience. 

Another highlight was Artemas’ ‘how could u love somebody like me’ his latest single. Melancholic and tender on record but transforms completely on stage - triumphant and almost celebratory, definitely a powerful track.

Image Courtesy of Gianluca Bottoni @gianbottoni

After flinging off his jacket in true heartthrob fashion and humbly thanking the audience while reflecting on his eruptive rise to fame, onlookers eagerly wait for the finale. There is no question of what song will close the show - Artemas’ ‘i like the way you kiss me’ is an earworm to say the least. With 2.3 Million videos using the song on Tiktok and a staggering 1 Billion streams on Spotify alone it’s no secret that this is his biggest hit. As the song begins he reloads it quickly to really get people going. As we all triumphantly chant the words to this song he darts around the stage - the pandemonium suits him. 

As he disappears into the shadows off stage and the lights turn on I realise, I see the appeal. A dynamic performance, including strong vocals and great accompaniment.