Live Review: Dylan - Koko, London 07/11/2022
Endless post teen pop bangers take over Koko thanks to Dylan dancing away every move in her book!
Following the effervescent showdown that Beren Olivia presented and what can only be described as an extraordinary performance by Ewan Mainwood, whose vocals not only filled the immensity of the venue but also transmitted a sense of nostalgia and euphoria, an extraordinary show took place at Koko, London on Monday 7th Nov.
Koko, the iconic venue, which has just been refurbished, was witness to a one-of-a-kind spectacle that only someone who has done their rounds in the UK (and internationally) could deliver. Without a doubt, if we needed to pick someone who’s perfectly suited for this, we’d most certainly mention Dylan, UK’s pop-rock darling, whose career has taken off in an unprecedented way in the past few years.
From the very start of the show, a series of heart-shaped strobes gave light to a tall, confident figure whose sole object was to entertain while sharing her vulnerabilities with the crowd. By the third or second song, it is clear that fans have been saving themselves for the explosion that Dylan is about to facilitate. Whether it is via her incredible dance moves or her unbelievably timeless lyrics. Fans will not only connect but proactively encourage others to become fans; which is kind of interesting knowing the fact that Dylan made a call to action on the spot saying “If you were dragged to this gig, I hope I can fulfil your expectations”. — This goes without saying she not only fulfilled them but she actually surpassed them.
Dylan had been going through her mastermind era even before THAT was a thing. Her interactions with the crowds on platforms like TikTok, made a seamless conversion of immediate fans that have not only showed up to her shows but have actually made ‘fan plans’ ahead of them. This was immediately proven during her performance as fans held hundreds of signs showing messages of support and encouragement everywhere in the venue.
Beyond having captured an audience that’s as devoted as the Harry Styles one, Dylan has proven to be able to sound herself with big names in the industry, including Ed Sheeran (who she opened for recently during his UK/EU tour). She, however, lives up to the expectations without forgetting who she is writing for — herself. Although her songs are incredibly relatable, theres a big part of them that include a direct reference to her life or her influences which are hard to capture yet solidify her status as one of UK’s most exciting acts of 2023.
With more headline shows in 2023, we can only hope that more bangers like “No Romeo”, “Girl Of Your Dreams”, and “Nineteen” are on the pipeline. And, closing a year as successful as 2022 was for Dylan, we’re more than certain the fans she’s acquired as of today will follow her for decades (and that includes us, we shall follow her for decades as well).
Words by Nicole Otero
Photography by Sam Strutt
