As she was the sole opener for Carly Rae Jepsen, I expected a good show from Empress Of. Not everyone can meet the standards to open for CRJ, a pop princess with multiple hits under her belt and one of my favorite albums of 2022 (stream The Loneliest Time). But I did not know too much about Empress Of before going to see her. I was only familiar with a few of her songs, and two of those were features. The day before the concert, I listened to Empress Of’s EP Save Me and saved every song except the title track. My favorites, “Dance for You” and “Turn the Table,” are dance pop anthems exploring the theme of reclaiming parts of oneself that have been given to someone else. Conversely, my initial least favorite, “Save Me,” was more experimental and resonated less with me.

So when she opened with that song, I was not expecting her to blow me away. Her captivating stage presence and confidence turned “Save Me” into one of my favorite songs of the night. After “Save Me,” Empress Of went into “Give Me Another Chance,” reminiscent of the sound of a star-studded nightclub. Empress Of’s vocals stood out amid pulsing rhythm and smooth synths of the song. The club atmosphere was also present in the sound of “U Give It Up,” a dance anthem that worked surprisingly well in the vast space of the Aragon Ballroom.

The set for Carly Rae Jepsen equipped the stage with a variety of instruments for a full band, adorned with clouds and stars hanging from the ceiling. While this set did not match Empress Of’s performance, it didn’t need to. The focus on stage was on Empress Of and her music, and occasionally shifted to her DJ, who was her biggest hype woman. Aside from noticing the support from her DJ, I gave Empress Of all of my attention during her set. Between her energetic hair flips and carefree dancing, I was entertained.

A few of her songs, such as “Love Is a Drug,” had less exciting song production and choruses but were still fun to listen to live; conversely, “Woman Is a Word” had contemplative lyrics, but the repetitiveness of the song was less appealing in a live rendition. One slower song, “When I’m With Him,” demanded less energy from Empress Of; I found those less exciting compared to songs like “Dance for You” and “Turn the Table.” Those songs were already my favorites from her new EP, and seeing Empress Of perform them only made me like them more. Hearing “Dance for You,” you can’t help but dance along with the drums when she confidently sings, “Forget I used to dance for you.” She displayed the versatility in her sound further when she transitioned to “Turn the Table,” a song with more house elements. This was great to hear live as well, even though it differed from a few of the previous songs. Both songs are incredibly catchy and fun, and she gave them a new life in a crowd ready to dance.

Halfway into Empress Of’s set, she let the audience know that her effortless performance was not as easy as it seemed. She pointed out the gradual change in her appearance, saying, “I walked on here with straight hair, and now it’s curly.” If she was tired and sweaty from all the energy she was exerting in her performance, it didn’t show in her voice or movements. She was constantly dancing across the stage, showcasing not only how fun her songs were to dance to but also how much she wanted to be performing in the moment. It was nice to see the affinity she had for her own music, which doesn’t always come through in an artist’s songs.

While some of the drunk white millennials present were unimpressed and clearly only there for Carly Rae Jepsen, most of the audience seemed to enjoy Empress Of’s set. Her set kept much of the sea of fans content until CRJ came. Even if they were not established fans, her music was easy to get into in a concert setting. She knew how to engage the audience, but even as an opener, she did not show any nervousness or uncertainty in her performance. I was expecting a lot from her, but she really had nothing to prove to the audience. Her songs are great on their own, and she put out confidence and energy that was easily reciprocated by anyone in the audience who wanted to have a good time.

Empress Of is at her strongest when she sings about putting herself first and knowing who she is. Her discography is full of a variety of introspective songs about love, loss, and womanhood. I knew before the concert that Empress Of was talented, but before I saw her perform, I have to admit that I underestimated her. Empress Of’s ability to put on a show while also inviting you into the atmosphere of her sound is simply breathtaking. And with the stage name of Empress Of, it only makes sense that she encompasses a magnificence in her performing that befits royalty. Her new EP has shown she is a force to be reckoned with in dance pop, and her power to make you dance with her live performance only further proves that she is here to stay.