P&P Spotlight: Lyn Lapid

Recently, rising indie pop star Lyn Lapid wrapped the North American leg of her BUZZKILL world tour, shortly after releasing a stellar debut album of the same name. Equal parts sophisticated and conversational, Lyn's artistry embraces cathartic emotions and coming-of-age themes, deeply resonating with a packed room of passionate fans. Playlists & Polaroids had the privilege of attending opening night in Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory, and we can confirm it was one for the books.

Image & graphic design credit: Karly Ramnani

One surefire indicator that you're approaching a Lyn Lapid concert includes a sea of red outfits. That's because prior to the tour's kickoff, Lyn asked fans to rock this color scheme on social media, and they didn't disappoint!

Image credit: Karly Ramnani

Lyn's Filipino roots shine through in her work; so does her authentic perspective as a 22-year-old navigating friendships, romance, and self-discovery. She also highlighted her fully Asian-American band, consisting of Tyler (drums), Kayla (bass), and Jacqueline (guitar). Nothing compares to the feeling of looking up to stars that share parts of your identity - especially in the white-dominated pop space - so it's no surprise that several Asian-American members of Gen Z find a safe space in her music. In one especially heartwarming moment, Lyn acknowledged a fan's sign referencing her native language, which read "What's big sister in Tagalog? Ate!"

Image credit: Karly Ramnani

Songs such as "coraline" and "floater friend" speak to universal concepts; almost everyone can relate to isolation and desperately searching for a place to call home. However, even while sharing anecdotes specific to her own experiences, Lyn captivates listeners with compelling, diary-like storytelling. The crowd erupted at the first few notes of Lyn's 2020 breakout single, "Producer Man," both when it came on the preshow playlist and when she performed it. The track recounts how a manipulative industry professional preyed on her naivety. At this show, Lyn delivered a fervent rendition of it, continuing to shed light on this type of abuse, and inspiring anyone who's faced something similar to speak out.

Last but not least, what's a concert without at least one memorable, Wattpad-like artist interaction? Every show, Lyn dedicates the fan-favorite "poster boy" to one lucky audience member, and Santa Ana's "poster boy" brought the hype! The camaraderie in Lyn's fandom truly shows, as the crowd couldn't stop cheering him on throughout the duration of the song.

All pictures in the gallery above were taken by Karly Ramnani.

Lyn's powerhouse vocals, immaculate stage presence, and warm aura set her apart as one of the industry's most compelling rising stars. Playlists & Polaroids can't wait to see what she does next - and if you aren't already, now is a good time to get into her! If you need a little bit more convincing, listen to this playlist we've curated featuring Lyn and similar artists.

YOU'LL LOVE LYN LAPID IF YOU LISTEN TO: Laufey, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, beabadoobee, mxmtoon, Claire Rosinkranz, Aidan Bissett, Suki Waterhouse, Clairo