Exuberant, Bold, Unapologetically Gay: Hayley Kiyoko, Live in London

“Lesbian Jesus”, the crowd chants, as the LA artist hops on stage, showing off her signature hip moves to the irregular rhythm of the high-pitched screams. “The neighbours must be so confused right now!” She laughs, throwing a rainbow-coloured balloon off the stage. Her smile bright and genuine, her stage presence charming and energetic: even after a few seconds in her presence it is not hard to see why Kiyoko has become the undiscussed lesbian icon of our generation.

On the second London date of her Expectations tour, the former Disney star that bewitched the internet with the LGBT+ anthem “Girls Like Girls” in 2015, shows her true, confident, breath-taking self. As she sings, the crowd shares her emotions, amplifies them, and relieves them. From being young and closeted to coming out, unrequited love, and her first heartbreak, Hayley Kiyoko’s lyrics are unashamedly personal.

Opening the set with the summertime vibes of “Under the Blue” and the hit “What I Need” (featuring Kehlani), Kiyoko makes a statement, taking pride in her first album and its success. She has evolved from the This Side of Paradise EP days, and her fanbase is growing up with her. Dreamy, sexy, romantic, and sassy, her new album deals with complex emotions through an infectiously positive attitude. But “Lesbian Jesus” does not forget her roots, and neither does her fanbase.

The loud, tone-deaf, tireless crowd joins Kiyoko’s voice to the electropop melodies of “Girls Like Girls” and an emotive acoustic version of “This Side of Paradise”, then proceeds to impeccably sing along to the fast-paced chorus of “Curious”. In the first rows, everyone waves a pride flag to the rhythm of each song; at the back, girls jump, dance, and kiss. Closing with the empowering notes of “Gravel to Tempo” from her second EP “Citrine”, the Californian artist sends a message of interior strength and hope.

“During middle school and high school,” she says, as the blaring I-love-you’s of her fans turn into a religious silence, “I had not come to terms with my identity yet, so I would dream. In my dreams, I could do anything I wanted, be anyone I wanted to be. I would look forward to being asleep just so I could dream.” Face paints start melting, hands are held tighter, a few smiles and nods attempt to mask a sadness that is painfully familiar for everyone in the crowd. Then someone starts clapping again. Someone else shouts. Everyone joins them in a heart-warming crescendo – there is no such thing as loneliness at a Hayley Kiyoko show.