Nobody does it like Remi Wolf

Of course, pop has never gone away, but this is the first year since the late 2000s in which pop stars have truly dominated after waves of tropical house, reggaeton, trap, mumble rap, stomp-clap indie folk – you name it. But rather than Lady Gaga and Katy Perry reigning supreme, we have Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo all among the world’s biggest artists. However, Wolf vies to be the most exciting of the lot with her tales of real life wrapped in technicolour lights and a shit-ton of flavour.

In some ways, her career trajectory feels pretty old-school; the 28-year-old has had to bide her time since forming her first band as a teenager – while she also had a spell as an alpine skier at the Youth Olympics. There was a venture onto American Idol when she was a high school senior that didn’t work out, but meeting and befriending producer Solomonophonic and attending the Thornton School of Music got the ball rolling.

Collaborations with the likes of Still Woozy and Dominic Fike cemented Wolf as an exciting name, merging pop, funk, soul, psychedelia and rock, and when she released her debut album Juno in 2021 it was acclaimed by critics. Travel in time three years, and Wolf has supported Rodrigo on her Guts world tour, released another album (Big Ideas) and has amassed an army of devoted fans in no small part down to her reputation as a formidable live performer who knows her way around a stage. Her voice, too, sets her apart with its sheer range, versatility, and unpredictability.

She’s often thrown into the bedroom pop bracket, alongside artists such as Clairo, Beabadoobee, Mxmtoon and Boy Pablo, but it’s Woozy, Fike, Omar Apollo, even Frank Ocean, who feel like more natural bedfellows given her genre-bending attitude and fresh take on pop. She’s described her sound as “funky soul pop” in the past, which certainly feels accurate, but at the same time, the bedroom pop categorisation is somewhat understandable – Wolf has got plenty of star quality, but manages to come over refreshingly relatable, too.

She has charisma in spades, and writes about everyday topics yet puts her own spin on things, taking you into almost another world. She focuses on what it’s like to be a twentysomething – fucking, fighting, struggling, thriving – but she’ll also discuss everything from Bovril to crypto bros. Part of the excitement is that you don’t know where she’ll go next as she juxtaposes neon funk with bracingly frank lyrics, and a heavy dose of fun.

Turning 29 in February, Wolf is, of course, still young. But in an industry where youth is one of the most marketable assets there is – Rodrigo and Eilish are both still in their early twenties and Lorde was 16 when she burst onto the scene with “Royals” a decade ago – she’s had to work her way up. So, while Wolf has played the UK before, including this year with Rodrigo, this is her first major headline tour here and, to be honest, it’s been a long time coming. Her fans have been craving it, and it feels like she’s been craving it too.

That is if her show at the Albert Hall – her first in Manchester – is anything to go by. She was supposed to play the Co-op Live with Rodrigo earlier this year but the show was postponed – and the reception she receives on a chilly Monday evening in this idiosyncratic old Methodist hall speaks for itself. The atmosphere is celebratory, maybe because Wolf is finally here, but also perhaps because she exudes so much joy.

Two albums (and three dog-themed EPs) in, she’s amassed a solid collection of hits to run through with her band, and as if to show her progression it’s those from July’s Big Ideas (“Cinderella,” “Toro,” and “Soup”) that come off strongest. Amid colourful, psychedelic lighting, Wolf shows off her drumming ability and dances around the stage while she sings. Her setlist spans her career thus far, from her first single “Guy” to those Big Ideas favourites.

She takes the audience through a range of exercises, 1,500 people stretching their arms and wiggling their fingers in unison and improvises a song about eggs, baked beans, and toast, prompted by suggestions from audience members, something she’s been doing throughout the tour – previously there have been songs such as “Yorkshire Pudding,” “Bonky Scissor Mommy,” “Smooch,” and “Gymnastics,” none of which would look out of place on one of her albums.

There aren’t any huge surprises in the setlist, aside from the full English-themed improv, but Wolf’s warm, engaging personality and genuine happiness to be in a room full of her fans mean that they’re all hanging onto her every word as she regales them with tales of embracing life, long-term and long-distance relationships, and having sex in a hotel. It’s a young crowd, and she could easily be their more worldly big sister. She’s been there, she’s done that, and she’s telling the stories.

There’s no shortage of high-quality pop at the moment, but Wolf is among those at the top of their game. For an hour and a half, we’re firmly in her universe – and there’s nowhere better to be. That’s because nobody is doing it like she is right now, and those in Manchester, let alone the world, are richer for it.

Setlist

Cherries & Cream
Cinderella
Pitiful
Liz
Kangaroo
Alone in Miami
Sexy Villain
Michael
Eggs, Beans and Toast (improvised song with crowd)
Wave
Toro
Guy
Disco Man
Soup
Photo ID