It’s not every day that a siren washes up on the Philippines’ coastal shores, but that’s exactly what happened as Snoh Aalegra managed her heavily-awaited debut in the country, booking Alabang’s The Filinvest Tent last May 30, 2024.
Produced by Karpos Entertainment, the Iranian Swedish-born musician serenaded those in attendance with her signature soulful melodies. Complex Philippines managed a front-and-center seat of the spectacle that is Snoh Aalegra, with a recap of her debut show in Manila.
The dim-lit Filinvest Tent generated an intimate atmosphere that sat perfectly with the setting, noting a variety of food and beverage options for the early-concert goer as doors opened nearly two hours before her set.
Dressed in a white long-sleeve topped with an All-Over-Print teddy bear vest, a denim skirt, and scrunched sequined leg warmers that draped over her cherry Mary Janes, the clock struck half-past eight as Aalegra began with 2019’s “Whoa” and “Situationship,” expressing her gratitude to the crowd’s energy following “IN YOUR EYES.”
“You can be anywhere but you chose to be here tonight, and I don’t take that for granted,” Aalegra says, addressing her audience.
Commencing a near hour-and-a-half-long karaoke session, the Grammy-nominated artist breezed through the majority of her tracks, populating the evening with stripped and album versions drawn from her near decade-discography that were nostalgic for most. And while she managed to successfully choreograph an emotional roller coaster in Manila, Aalegra was seemingly in “those feels again,” experiencing a bittersweet moment with her fans.
“I want to thank you guys for showing me love and your beautiful energy…I might just say that you guys are the best crowd that I ever had,” she mentions.
She departed briefly from the stage only to return for her encore consisting of Whoa’s blissful “Find Someone Like You” and “I Want You Around”—the sweet cherry on top (just like her Mary Janes on foot).
If I were to describe her performance, “fleeting” would be an understatement at best. Throughout her 17-track setlist, she managed to procure endless roars with the crowd echoing every line in unison as if they were placed in an endless trance that kept getting stronger (and better) with time.
Surely, she was their “summer,” but possibly for others, she’s their entire year.
