Stepping into The Peppermint Club feels like traveling back to the roaring 20s, with its vintage charm, which set the perfect stage for a night of rising stars. On Wednesday, April 9th, IZYE, Aldre Williams, and Heather LaRose lit up the venue for Breaking Sound, one of over 100 monthly showcases highlighting emerging talent.
First to take the stage was IZYE, dazzling in a yellow fishnet dress and red fur coat, her powerhouse vocals immediately commanding the room. Between her songs, she shared the sweet story of how she realized she used to work next door to The Peppermint Club, feeling like she’s come full circle.
Next up was Aldre Williams, sharp in a rich brown suit and spotted tie. He shared the spotlight with his creative partner-in-crime, Pharao, whose standout snake-print cowboy boots added flair to their soulful, spoken-word-driven set.
Before the night was over, Heather LaRose hit the stage. She stunned the audience with her gorgeous pink dress decked with roses. LaRose also wore roses in her hair and rose-themed jewelry. “My name is LaRose, so I felt like it was the perfect theme for tonight,” she joked with the crowd.
With the club packed with her closest friends, family, and curious newcomers, she opened her eight-song set with her single “Betty Cooper,” immediately setting the energy with her vibrant stage presence. Dancing and jumping across the stage, LaRose kept the crowd engaged between songs, cracking jokes and sharing stories that seamlessly segued into the next track.
Even with technical difficulties happening prior to her song The Valley, she knew how to entertain the audience. She began singing the theme song of the popular sitcom, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, cleverly changing the lyrics mid-way through to smoothly transition into the story of how a girl once stole her notebook and got other kids to bully her. What began as a downbeat tale took a humorous turn as she quipped that it led her to music school, and now, while the bullies are stuck in cold New York, she’s living her best life under the LA sun.
She kept the momentum going with high-energy performances of “2 Young 2 Die” and “Party Girl Tears,” before jumping off stage to join her friends in a dance party during her latest single, “Unhealing.” “You gotta have friends like that. Gotta have friends that’ll hype you up,” She said as she rejoined the band onstage.
To end the night, she asked the audience to participate in the song with her, doing a call and response. “Loser Behavior,” which was meant to be the finale, however, when the song came to a close, the crowd wanted more. At their urging, LaRose returned for an encore, performed an acoustic version of an unreleased single, named after the popular rom-com, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
The night at The Peppermint Club wasn’t just a showcase, it was a celebration of artistry and connection.
