Femme and Elliphant live in Toronto

by Jackie Willson

European talents Femme and Elliphant took the stage at the Hoxton last Friday and proved that originality and talent is hard to find, but easy to maintain when you have such an amazing fan base. The venue was packed with die hard fans from the minute the doors opened, and each artist was appreciated in their own way. For once, it was not all about the main act, it was just about the music.

Femme opened the show (on time) with an electrifying stage presence and a personality so adorable that it was hard not to like her. She had her own original style that matched her voice perfectly. It was refreshing to see a young artist own the stage and still be able to engage the audience and appreciate her fans. It was obvious from the minute she same on that she had a true following of all ages and she certainly appreciated it. Though her set was short and sweet, it was a great introduction to who she is going to be as an artist. Embracing her motto of “Girls, Beats and Bass,” she demonstrated this throughout her whole performance. She also stayed behind to support her tour mates, dance on booths, and meet her fans. Femme was more than happy to shake your hand and flash a charming smile.

Next to take the stage was Elliphant. Originally from Sweden, Elliphant is one of the most honest, raw, and original artist touring right now. Her sound completely different from Femme, with a mix of reggae, electronic, and pop. All eyes were on her and didn’t waver until she stepped of the stage. Though it was hard to establish why such different artists are touring together, especially since Elliphant’s sound is much more mature, it did not take away from the show. Everyone from 14 to 24 enjoyed the performance and appreciated the talent. Elliphant was able to own the crowd and was certainly not shy. She is who she is, and that seems to be just enough.

Being an all ages show with such an eclectic group of talent was a little hard to wrap your head around, but after seeing everyone perform it became more obvious that maybe that was the point. Each artist had their own style, their own sound, and their own dedicated fans.