ADÉLA Makes Her Case For Pop Stardom at Sold-Out Los Angeles Show: ‘I’m an Immigrant’

ADÉLA had a few things to get off of her chest in Los Angeles — and she did so with a little ballet, fiery hair choreography, some spicy dancing and a song that might have put her in some hot water with the local crowd.

The Slovak pop singer brought her Red Bottoms Tour to the Fonda Theatre on Thursday night (Oct. 8) for the first of two Los Angeles dates, delivering a 16-song set that highlighted why she’s quickly becoming one of pop music’s most compelling emerging names. The demand for ADÉLA in Los Angeles continues tonight (Oct. 9), when she returns to the Fonda Theatre for a second sold-out show.

With her signature bright pink hair, a hot pink ballet rail and pink and red lighting setting the tone, ADÉLA leaned into the vigorous performance style that has helped distinguish her since her days on The Debut: Dream Academy, the competition series that introduced her to a wider audience.

The sold-out show comes just weeks after the release of her debut album, PRIMA, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Two of its singles have also made their way onto the Billboard Hot 100: “Ain’t in LA,” which peaked at No. 27, and “Nicole Kidman,” which recently climbed to No. 11. At the Fonda, she brought those chart successes to life alongside other songs in the setlist that moved between the brash confidence of “KGB,” “Boys” and “NastyDirtyGross” and the more provocative pop of “Starving Artist,” “SexOnTheBeat” and “Superscar.”

A trained ballerina, ADÉLA has the flawless movement and performance instincts to make choreography feel very central to her artistry instead of just an accessory to it. Her fashion choices are just as much a part of the package, with a wardrobe of sparkling, barely-there separates and statement boots complementing her signature bright pink hair. The look also fits the visual identity of her collaboration with 5 Gum, which brought its Stimulating Style Collection to select stops on the Red Bottoms Tour.

A hot pink rail served as a focal point for her ballet segment and other choreographed moments, recalling the setup from her opening dates for Demi Lovato. The production itself was relatively stripped back, relying largely on the rail and a palette of pink and red lighting rather than some elaborate staging or visuals. That simplicity kept the spotlight on ADÉLA herself without any other distractions: her dancing, vocals and ability to carry a show surrounding her creativity, music and artistry.

And while the PRIMA material gave the night its backbone, ADÉLA also made room for a surprise. She typically performs an unreleased track called “Kiss Here” on tour, but for her Los Angeles audience, she opted for “Homewrecked” instead — a song she said she hadn’t been performing on the trek — as an apology for a certain lyric in her catalog.

The reason was clear when she introduced “Ain’t in LA” earlier in the set, the song whose title and main sentiment could’ve made for a pretty awkward moment in a city she now calls home.

“I have to say … the next song that I’m gonna sing is a little bit awkward,” she told the crowd, asking them to “please don’t boo” as she explained the inspiration behind a song that declares the “baddest bitches ain’t in LA.”

ADÉLA went on to share that she moved to Los Angeles from Slovakia a couple of years ago to participate in Dream Academy. Even though her journey on the show didn’t unfold the way she had hoped, she pointed toward the balcony, where her former castmates Megan Skiendiel and Lara Raj of KATSEYE and Emily Kelavos of Saint Satine were watching.

As ADÉLA pursued her dream of becoming a pop star, ADÉLA said she had grown fatigued by the way the industry seemed to celebrate the same people over and over again. That feeling, as she explained, inspired “Ain’t in LA” — a song that she framed not as a rejection of the city, but as an acknowledgment of the people whose contributions can go unrecognized.

“I’m an immigrant,” she said. “And you know what? LA wouldn’t be LA without who? The immigrants.”

Funny enough, ADÉLA recently spoke to Billboard about how she never doubted her success would happen. At the Fonda, that conviction feels less like an abstract promise than a very tangible reality.

Before closing the show with “Nicole Kidman,” ADÉLA took another moment to address the audience, this time sharing what she was manifesting for her future. Among her wishes was to make “Nicole Kidman” No. 1 on Spotify in the U.S. “forever,” to continue to perform for “so many years,” and — in a final nod to the evening’s earlier tension — hoping Los Angeles wouldn’t stay mad at her over “Ain’t in LA.”

The show very much felt like a victory lap for a debut album that has already found a sizable audience. Looking out into the crowd, you’d see hot pink outfits and tutu skirts scattered throughout, with newer fans and older fans cheering ADÉLA on. Alongside the artist, everyone seemed to be celebrating her breakthrough while she articulated the ambition, insecurity, and personal experiences that got her here in the first place. Her former Dream Academy castmates watching from the balcony offered a reminder of where her story began, but the sold-out room was a testament to the career she is building now.

And this was only her second headlining show in Los Angeles since playing The Roxy last year, so it already feels like a huge milestone. If the trajectory if PRIMA is any indication, it is unlikely that this will be her last time headlining in Los Angeles.