House chart-topper, Becky Hill at the Riviera Theater - Chicago

I went out on a somber Tuesday night and made that my entire personality…it was a brisk November evening, but that didn’t stop me from wearing my favorite tight mini dress and lacy tights. The crunching of the golden autumn leaves crunched underneath the weight of my white Doc Martens as I made my way across the street to the venue. After all, it was going to be an evening of many firsts.

First time reuniting with old friends. First time accidentally slurping on some 100% spirits, first time dancing under the strobe lights for hours…and feeling as though you’re floating on air. That had been the perfect ethereal experience of a live Becky Hill show at the Riviera Theater in Chicago on November 19th.

My stomach filled with butterflies as the velvet rope was dropped to let us through…

Who is Becky Hill? No, she’s not my long lost sorority sister with whom I’d reunited that night. Although she might as very well be because her music speaks to me on so many levels. From hearing her collaborations on songs with artists like Sigala, MK, and Oliver Heldens, I couldn’t get enough of the vocal range and lyrical capability.

When is this girl going to give us an album of her own to showcase her own artistry? She is, dare I say, a slow burning chart topper with an incredibly captivating and electro-coded voice. Her performances were coupled and thereby complimented with the sounds of a live orchestra. A Becky Hill show is that of many firsts. It was the first time for me to be so enthralled by a singer’s vocal intonation, but also to see such a beautiful marriage between the dichotomy of progressive house synths and live trumpets…emphasizing how incredibly beautiful and versatile music can be.

Chicago showed up for Ms. Hill like no other as they filled the room with excited screams and pumped their fists and swayed under the strobe lights singing along to nearly every song, whether upbeat or a slow build, it was a night full of dynamic people, unequivocal collective understanding to sport faux leather and lots of glitter.

I was lucky to hear some of my favorite tracks off of the “Believe Me Now” record and almost destroyed my vocal chords as I sang along to the beginnings of “Swim” and “Darkest Hour” and “Never Be Alone”. When I first heard this album earlier this year, there was not a minute where I didn’t imagine my long hair swaying under the technicolors of the strobe lights. I brought that vision to life last night.

There was also no shortage of nostalgic tracks in collaboration with many electronic music veterans such as David Guetta and Meduza; “Lose Control” and “Crazy What Love Can Do” and “Remember”.

We also brought back songs from Only Honest on the Weekend album such as my favorite anthems, “Last Time” and “Make It Hard to Love You” which are the perfect dance hopping tracks.

Becky Hill’s stage presence as well as connection with the audience between every track is endearing. She really has a way of speaking to a room full of people, yet making it intimate enough so that it feels personal. She showcased her entire discography in a beautifully, house-heart throbbing way…I can’t be the only one who wants to hug the bass speaker whenever there is a sequence of electro-house boppers and yet, the reciprocity of the bass energy was so strong that it hugged me on the inside.

You can expect a night full of swaying, dancing bodies, technicolor visuals, beautiful dresses, live instruments and love in the air at the Do You Believe Me Now? Tour…it made that cold, somber November night that much warmer.

Becky Hill, our Chicago house hearts salute you and welcome you back anytime.