A simple stage, a single box, a small, unassuming silhouette lit up by sudden lights. Screams.
Ado is here.
For those aware of the Japanese music scene, Ado is a name none can escape. With a completely anonymous identity, the young virtuoso is known for her deceptively powerful vocals and controlled delivery, taking inspiration from Japanese vocaloids. She is also the mastermind behind new horror inspired J-Pop girl group, Phantom Siita.
The tour titled "Hibana" [火花] translates to "Spark", and is her second world tour, with her first landing her in Troxy hall. "Hibana" definitely posed as a monumental upgrade, finding her at the O2 arena.
"So just like [a] small spark can one day can grow into a great powerful flame that lights up the darkness, I named this tour Spark - Hibana - with the wish that it will become a powerful spark, a turning point, not just for me but also for Japan as a whole and its culture," she said. "So even if I'm swallowed by the flames during hard times I will keep going until the very end to lead everyone towards happiness."
The concert started off with a glowing cube and a series of graphics "downloading" her onto the stage, until finally a familiar silhouette appeared in the box, opening with-
"正しさとは
愚かさとは
それが何か見せつけてやる"
-from her massive hit "Usseewa", leaving the audience absolutely exploding into a cacophany of cheering and applause before they could even take their first breath.
She moved on to other songs such as SPY x Family OP "Kura Kura", before finally greeting the audience with a "Are you ready London?!" and bursting into "Show".
Live, Ado's vocal talents were an absolute marvel. The talent radiating from the young star was astonishing. Everybody in the arena already knew what they were walking into, yet that didn't stop their jaws from smacking right into the floor. With little variation from the studio versions, her vocals came across more visceral. Or perhaps it was just the experience of witnessing her go from her sweet, honey-like tone to deep, primal screams that rivalled any metal screamer - for instance, like in "Aishite aishite aishite". In fact, for those into the rock and metal scene her screaming itself - absolutely wild, yet still controlled - was something to behold.
With no phones and cameras allowed, it meant it was just you, the music and Ado's thrashing form inside the box. For those familiar with her music - that's exactly how it's meant to be experienced. Feeling every beat and every scream resonate through your bones as she twisted and whipped around in the cube, dropping shoulder-first onto the floor (intentionally, though we were definitely fooled) yet still carrying every note with such perfect cadence everybody looked around asking "how did she do that?" That cube was her world in which she could do whatever she wanted, and we were just privileged to witness it. If she wanted to swim in absolute chaos, safe from the outside world? So be it.
Photo from @ado_staff
Besides, songs like "Elf" were made to be experienced live and raw, not through a screen, with the audience standing in complete awe and silence. And while the surprise "Chandelier" (yes, that Chandelier) cover was definitely unexpected, it didn't stick out too far from the rest of the setlist and was still artfully done.
Considering that Ado's form was the main visual point of the show, credit could be given to her hair and costume department. Since there were no facials - though, her vocal ability definitely had no problem carrying the relevant emotions - her sharp, controlled and sometimes dreamy movements worked hard to compensate. And while Ado herself did a great job conveying what she needed to through her chaotic gestures, the hair and wardrobe department definitely added to the intrigue of the visual aspect of the show. The silhouettes and lines they chose worked well with such movement, adding just the right accents without overpowering or fading into the background. But of course, we can't discuss visuals without commending the lights and effects team either for keeping up the futuristic idol-like vibe of the whole show.
With a heartfelt speech at the end, thanking fans and explaining the lore behind her blue aesthetic - that she would practice singing accompanied by the light of her blue computer screen in a closet - the show came to an end.
Overall, the concert was nothing short of breathtaking. From the absolute ethereal vocals in the ballads to the whiplash from the sudden screaming. Seeing Ado perform live is something that can only be explained by experiencing it, but if we had to use one word to describe her? Visceral. She didn’t just perform - she engulfed the venue in sound, emotion, and art. A performance like hers doesn’t just stay with you, but haunts you in the best way.
Favourites of the night were "Elf" and "Aishite aishite aishite", with "Usseewa" and "Episode X" as honourable mentions. We can only watch as the young star only gets bigger and better from here, and greatly anticipate her next releases. We wish her luck on the rest of her tour, and hope that she returns back on British soil soon.
Thank you Crunchyroll for the invitation.
Did you attend the concert? What did you think? Let us know, and be sure to follow KpopWise for more updates.