The rain had just stopped when Cecile Believe took to the stage at Parc-Jean-Drapeau’s Fizz stage. The first artist to perform on Saturday afternoon, she transformed the lingering humidity into a moment of pop and electro communion.
At 4:15 p.m., as the clouds were just beginning to clear, Cecile Believe kicked off the Fizz stage lineup at the Palomosa festival. Known to the general public for her work with SOPHIE on Oil Of Every Pearl’s Uninsides, the Montreal artist gave a performance that showcased the full range of her voice, capable of navigating between power and fragility, with flashes of vulnerability that touched the heart.
The first few songs, including a recent collaboration with Daniel Avery and Andy Bell (Ride, Oasis), plunged the audience into an ethereal atmosphere, supported by dream pop layers and haunting vocals. The crowd was quickly swept away: on Ponytail, fans sang along in unison, their faces lit up with emotion.
The highlight came with “Blink Twice”, the title track from his latest EP Tender The Spark, released in 2024. Between midtempo basslines and nocturnal beats, the track electrified the crowd, who moved fervently to the music. Later, “Bitch Bites Dog”, taken from Plucking A Cherry From The Void, brought back a visceral intensity, before the conclusion came with “Show Me What”, produced by A. G. Cook, leaving the audience feeling light and transported.
In a minimalist setting bathed in red, Cecile Believe needed nothing more than her voice and her generous stage presence to captivate the audience. Her performance was a reminder of why she already occupies a unique place in today’s electronic pop scene, even if she has yet to be discovered by a wider audience.
