Watch Self Esteem debut new songs at theatrical ‘A Complicated Woman’ London show
Rebecca Lucy Taylor gave 11 new tracks their live debut at her first show at the Duke Of York's Theatre The post Watch Self Esteem debut new songs at theatrical ‘A Complicated Woman’ London show appeared first on NME.
Self Esteem has debuted 11 new songs at the opening night of her “theatrical presentation” of her new album ‘A Complicated Woman’.
The singer-songwriter – real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor – is due to release the 12-track record on April 25 via Polydor, the follow-up to her Mercury and BRIT-nominated ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ in 2021.
In January, she announced plans to bring the new album to life in the form of a stage show at the Duke Of York’s Theatre in London, and on Wednesday night (April 16), she played the first of the special shows.
Self Esteem played the entirety of the new album, including ‘Mother’, which she had aired a few times on her last major tour, as well as the 11 other tracks that make up the record – all of which were receiving their live debut.
In addition, a number of familiar favourites made the setlist, including ‘Fucking Wizardry’, ‘I Do This All The Time’ and ‘You Forever’.
“Thank you so much for coming last night luvs,” Taylor wrote on Instagram after the show, along with a clip from the show. “Real dream come true stuff for baby Becky. We go again 7:30 tonight who’s in?”
self esteem gigs are BACK great day for lesbians all round (me) pic.twitter.com/5BQNykv7a4
— amy ⚢ (@cstlescrumbling) April 16, 2025
The show was split into four acts – Exorcism, Stamina, Men (Messy) and Balance – and it saw Taylor take to the stage clad in the long, restrictive clothing that adorns the new album’s cover. “Please be upstanding for the world’s most confusing House Of Games contestant and Bake Off failure, Self Esteem,” were the words that greeted her to the stage.
Amid the show’s high-energy choreography routines was the backing to ‘69’, the song on which Taylor recites a list of sex positions, while there were breathers in which the singer chatted with an audience that included Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer: “If I was the male frontman of a stadium band then I’d sit down with a pint and play a few songs on an acoustic guitar, but I’m gonna stand up,” she quipped at one point.
Jodie Comer with James Hankins at the opening night of Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem A Complicated Woman at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London April 16, 2025
photographed by hankins_ via instagram pic.twitter.com/k76912s67U
— queenie (@jodiemcoma) April 17, 2025
Self Esteem played:
‘I Do And I Don’t Care’
‘Mother’
‘Lies’
‘69’
‘You Forever’
‘Logic, Bitch!’
‘Prioritise Pleasure’
‘Fucking Wizardry’
‘The Curse’
‘In Plain Sight’
‘What Now’
‘Cheers To Me’
‘If Not Now, It’s Soon’
‘Focus Is Power’
‘I Do This All The Time’
‘The Deep Blue Okay’
Created by Taylor and Tony award-winning designer Tom Scutt, the “unique” performance is described as “an ambitious quasi-theatrical experience that harnesses the power and energy of a gig but presents it through a theatrical format”.
Scutt also directed ‘A Complicated Woman Live’, which features choreography by Stuart Rogers, and musical direction by Mike Park.
Self Esteem will give four more performances of ‘A Complicated Woman’ at the Duke Of York’s, on Thursday (April 17), Friday (18) and two shows on Saturday (19).
The artist has said the new album was made “for stadiums” after taking inspiration from the likes of Coldplay and Biffy Clyro. “I don’t know how the album’s going to get received, but then I’m also like, ‘I don’t give a fuck’, because I’ve made what I want to make,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a massive challenge, being a 38, 39-year-old woman putting a pop record out and getting it where it needs to go.”
She will be going on tour throughout the UK and Ireland starting this September. Kicking off in Birmingham, she’ll travel through to Edinburgh, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dublin, Manchester, Bristol and Brighton.
There’ll also be two shows at the O2 Academy Brixton in London and a huge homecoming gig at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. See the full list of dates here and find any remaining tickets here.
The post Watch Self Esteem debut new songs at theatrical ‘A Complicated Woman’ London show appeared first on NME.
