Natalie Jane at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Two years after her first ever headline, Natalie Jane brings the Sick to My Stomach tour to Shepherd Bush’s Empire. From 200 people in New York to 2,000 in London town, Jane has been on a rocketship journey since her time on American Idol. With soaring vocals and a sweet connection with her fans, the night was certainly an unforgettable one for her.

Before she’s even onstage, it’s a party on the floor. Treated to two opening acts and a stellar pre-show playlist, the energy in the room is already buzzing, excited for what’s ahead. When she storms onstage, the Empire goes wild, screams and stomping feet positively shaking the walls. She goes straight into Sick to My Stomach, and everyone goes wild. The song is almost grungy, with heavy drums, deep vocals smoothly switching with an impressive falsetto, and dramatic synths. It’s interesting enough to grab one’s attention immediately. 

Jane moves throughout the setlist quite quickly, letting the music do the talking. Tattoos and can i see you tonight? are crowd pleasers, and everyone sings along. She performs a cover of Crazy by Gnarls Barkley that really shows off her vocal ability as she’s able to push her voice up and down seamlessly. June is a lovely moment; Jane slows it down and sings the warm tune, all shoulders swaying in time.

Jane flows through different genres naturally, dipping her toes in catchy pop, rockier ballads, and even experimenting with tracks that would do well on the rave scene –  ucky and I’m Her electrify the room.

Towards the end she brings out a beautiful bouquet of roses and hands them out to people in the crowd as a way of thanking them. It’s clear she doesn’t take for granted where she is now, and makes sure to thank her fans every step of the way. Another admirable aspect of the show is the inclusion of a BSL interpreter onstage at all times. This kind of accommodation is rare, especially for a smaller event. Three interpreters take turns translating with so much care and energy – it was wonderful to see.

Jane closes out the evening with one of her most well-known songs, AVA, and it’s the loudest the audience have been. The extended reprise lets them go absolutely wild, and they carry on singing as they go out into the night.

Talitha Stowell
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit Natalie Jane’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Yucky here: