Halfway through her tour with Fletcher, rising pop artist Maude Latour opened two sold-out shows in Nashville in a packed Marathon Music Works. She previously came to Nashville on her “Twin Flame” tour and to perform at Vanderbilt’s 2023 Rites of Spring. The Dutch-American artist went viral during COVID-19 lockdowns for her single “One More Weekend,” and she recently released her first full album, “Sugar Water.” This album was the focus of her opening set for Fletcher, but old fan-favorites still made the list — to her fans’ cheers and apparent glee.
Latour’s set opened with bone-shaking drums before she appeared onstage in a mesh top and sparkly shorts. After a quick bobble where her mic-pac fell out, Latour played “Cursed Romantics,” the most popular song from her new album. The crowd clapped along to the bridge before Latour spoke to them between songs.
“[Nashville], you rocking with me? Ready to have fun?” Latour asked.
During the next song, also from “Sugar Water,” Latour pulled the crowd into the music by crouching low and singing directly to them. She paused as the crowd sang the lyrics of “Officially Mine” back to her during the chorus. Once again, during “Too Slow,” she engaged with the crowd before they shouted the lyrics back at her. The tension between Latour and her fans was palpable as her coming-of-age songs and lyrics were full of the rawness and angst of young love.
Latour asked the crowd a question before singing a song from earlier in her discography.
“One more question: [Is] anyone in this room gay?” Latour asked. “This song is for gay people, for queer friendship and protecting trans people.”
“Lola” has more of a punk feel than Latour’s later tracks, but her cosmic-pop felt threaded through the whole set.
Returning to her album “Sugar Water,” Latour played “Whirlpool,” reaching out to the crowd and reading signs from her biggest supporters, who appeared to be right in the center of the venue. They sang and jumped along to the music, mirroring the artist on stage.
Latour then paused to share her experience on the tour so far.
“Every day I walk around the city [the tour stops in], and I look for the gay people, and I can’t find them. Then, I got to the Fletcher concert, and they’re all here,” Latour said. “Being here surrounded by other queer people is so magical. I hope tonight is a place to be free, be with your beautiful friends and listen to our queen Fletcher.”
The atmosphere felt like none other I had experienced in Marathon. Strangers sang in unison and showed love through smiles and dancing together. The theme of love continued as Latour played “Summer of Love,” which she wrote about falling in love with her girlfriend.
The vibe shifted again for “Cosmic Superstar Girl” as Latour’s voice became ethereal and breathy. The wistful lyrics about falling in love in a modern-age also conveyed how fleeting those moments can be.
Finally, Latour played “One More Weekend,” only the second song not on her new album. The entire venue sparked with the popularity of this closing song and seemed to bounce as the crowd bopped along to the catchy melody, engaging the room from wall-to-wall. Latour thanked her fans one more time and left the stage as a buzzing crowd awaited Fletcher’s set.
