Lauren Sanderson and Sizzy Rocket bring mad energy to The Vera Project

Lauren Sanderson opening her set at The Vera Project. // Photo by Lydia Ely

As The Vera Project slowly filled up with chattering teenage girls clad with vans, denim, and freshly dyed hair on Saturday night, I could feel the beginnings of an enthusiastic crowd. Lauren Sanderson first gained a significant audience on Youtube with a popular Ted Talk about teenage mental health and her covers of various hip-hop and pop songs. Her social media presence is imbued with vibrantly colored pictures, boldly phrased assertions, and the hunger of youth.

Sanderson’s opener, Sizzy Rocket, shared a similarly spirited presence during her 45-minute set. Born and bred in Las Vegas, Rocket has a rebellious electro-pop feel to her sound — similar to Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” era (minus the queerbaiting). Rocket bounded onto stage to the opening notes of her newest single, “Juicy Fruit,” her voice bouncing along to the emphasized kick drum of the summery tune.

Rocket quickly won the crowd of teens over. With lyrics focused on the ups and downs of adolescence and dance moves reminiscent of Lorde’s one-part-spastic, one-part-balletic style, she seemed like the cool, older friend that teaches you how to properly take shots and who then gives you your first stick-and-poke tattoo. While the flow of the show was a little disjointed — Rocket ran into technical difficulties about two-thirds of the way into the show — her clear vocals and passion for the moment shone through.

A few times throughout her set, Rocket paused to connect with her audience and said a simple, “I see you; I hear you; I feel you.” When Rocket called on Seattle’s riot girls to help her out on the chorus of the second-to-last song, “Girls to the Front,” they happily obliged. By the closing song, “Bestie,” a rebellious electro-pop anthem about crushing on your best friend, the crowd had fallen for Sizzy Rocket — glittery eyeshadow, checkered vans, and all.

The mood was eager during the 15 minute break between sets. Lauren Sanderson’s cult following, freshly revved up by Rocket’s lively set, had come from all corners of the Pacific Northwest for this show; girls came from Canada, all over Washington, and even from Alaska to experience the charismatic musician in real life. As she ran on stage with her drummer around 9:00 p.m., the building anticipation erupted into screams that could rival a Justin Bieber fangirl circa 2010.

Breaking into the first verse of her song “Shut Em Up,” a track featuring a trap beat and Sanderson’s femme-punk style rap and Rihanna-reminiscent voice, Sanderson made good use of her stage. Her presence held the same endless energy as Rocket’s: Sanderson ran, crouched, and jumped her way through her set, pausing frequently to speak on heavier topics also addressed in her music, such as mental health, self-motivation, and universal love. Sanderson’s set was less about the perfection of music than the emotion behind it. There were voice cracks and notes missed here and there, but, somehow, the flaws felt at home in Sanderson’s music, especially combined with the semi-DIY feel of the show that personalized Sanderson.

Sanderson was on stage for about an hour, performing songs like “Electric,” “Written in the Stars,” and “Better Anyway,” as well as a mashup of some of her Youtube covers: “Black Beatles,” “Deja vu,” and “Fake Love” were some recognizable tunes. She also pulled Rocket back on stage for a stripped down duet of Sanderson’s “The Only One.” Before Sanderson vacated the stage at the end of her performance, she left the crowd with the message she preached her whole show — one that is echoed on the tongues and inked on the bodies of her young fans — “follow your fucking heart.” The chants demanding an encore began before Sanderson could even leave the stage, ending in one last performance of fan favorite “The Only One.”

Sizzy Rocket opened for Lauren Sanderson at Saturday’s show at The Vera Project.

Rocket at The Vera Project on December 1st, 2018.

Much of Rocket’s music sounds built for summertime parties, but she shared a few emotional moments with the crowd as well.

Rocket singing to the crowd.

Rocket hyped up the crowd for Sanderson, bringing her high energy and in-the-moment attitude.

Rocket cooling off during her final song of the night.

Lauren Sanderson opened her set at The Vera Project with “Shut Em Up.”

The crowd reflected Sanderson’s enthusiastic energy throughout Saturday’s show.

Sanderson achieved internet fame through Youtube and has maintained a cult following through her continued expression of values such as love, acceptance, and following your dreams.