Baby Queen at Lafayette for BRITs Week War Child 2024

Every February, War Child’s Brits Week, a collection of intimate shows from popular artists, takes over venues around the UK to raise support for conflict-ridden countries and populations around the world. Baby Queen and her cult following lend themselves perfectly to the cause.

Vulnerable, raw and in tune with her fans, the South African-born singer puts on a spectacular display at Lafayette in King’s Cross. With a stage presence reminiscent of the punk scene of the 90s, she gets up close and personal with her audience while she sings about the trials and tribulations of a girl growing up in the modern age. There is a lack of nerves and fear noted by the songstress as she delivers a rousing set of tracks, mostly from her 2023 album Quarter Life Crisis.

The energy is fierce early on, with the album’s title track opening the show and the grungy Kid Genius following. It isn’t long before the singer is on her knees, face to face with the crowd, belting out every word alongside them. It is a joint effort that continues through the evening; a joyful collaboration. While vocally not the strongest at times, and not helped by the venue’s muffled sound, Baby Queen’s connection to her audience provides an evening of entertaining escapism. Notable moments see fans throw confetti at the stage during the hard-hitting Buzzkill and a small bottle of tequila – which is of course downed shortly after – gifted to the singer mid-set.

Her songs read like diary entries, with many verses performed in the realm of spoken word. This is most apparent in the softer moments. A Letter to Myself at 17 is a beautifully moving segment of the show, inspired by the singer’s move from South Africa to England at a young age. Telling the crowd she won’t keep singing until phone lights illuminate the room, they happily oblige. There are jokes, off-the-cuff ramblings and a confession that Baby Queen and her band hadn’t rehearsed for this show, but it seems that no practice is necessary for an artist who understands her own appeal so well. In the words of the queen of babies herself, “There’s nowhere else I’d rather spend a random Wednesday.”

Katherine Parry
Photos: Richard Mukuze

For further information and future events visit Baby Queen’s website here. For further information on Brits Weeks for War Child, visit the website here.

Watch the video for the single Quarter Life Crisis here: