Over the last year, we’ve seen a heavy resurgence of the style of music that dominated the 2010s. Regardless of the genre you listen to, the sound has begun to sink into every crack and crevice. Whether you’re hearing the nostalgic pop sound, upbeat club classics returning to the mainstream radio, or even catching a glimpse of the demanding pop punk genre, it is undeniable that music listeners everywhere are yearning for a modernized version of the 2010s music.
At the crux of this reawakening is the up-and-coming singer, songwriter, and producer, Nate Sib. He’s currently taking the scene by storm, being on a steady incline of success since his debut in late 2023 with his single ‘Why can’t you see’ which promptly ended up on the NHL 24 soundtrack. Since then, Sib has signed to Republic Records and has been busy consistently releasing new music, successfully pushing himself further into the mainstream. On May 16th, he released his highly anticipated EP for us, a 7-track project that is roughly 15 minutes long.
[ for us Album Cover ]
for us, alongside Sib’s other projects, “incorporate offbeat production, dubstep, and distortion into pop”, creating this sound that stands independently within Sib’s broader associated genre, something that cannot be said for other artists who feel simply like a copy and paste of each other's work. Alongside having a widespread appeal to those who enjoy EDM and genres adjacent to that, Sib's work has been heavily compared to that of Justin Bieber within his early career- just the only difference is Sib has a little more edge and tighter pants. But to go as far as to say Sib is just an “American Justin Bieber” would be a massive discredit to his work and the career he's been building, especially as Sib has something unique and raw, bringing something to the table that nobody else has dared to at the moment.
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In late April, Nate Sib announced he would be doing a North American Headlining Tour. It would be 5 dates that spanned across a few major cities, with Sib hitting Chicago, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, and Oakland. Unsurprisingly, all the shows sold out quickly, leaving fans who slept on getting tickets to either face the resale prices or accept defeat this time around. Luckily for us at UV Mag, we had the opportunity to attend Sib’s sold-out show in Toronto at the Drake Underground, so we’ll be breaking down everything that went down in the venue for you here, live and direct.
Stepping into the venue, I was shocked to find how small the Drake Underground was. I had been told that it was a 250-cap venue, but it didn't quite feel like that. It felt far more intimate. From the very back of the venue space, you could see the stage clearly, minus what was blocked by taller heads, with the distance being comparable to that of a small swimming pool. By the time I arrived, the venue was nearly at its capacity, with the pit being completely packed, wall to wall, body to body.
Despite everyone having their backs to me, I was still able to catch a good glimpse of the crowd, making a mental note about the three main types of people who were attendees of the show. The first was the "baddies", girls who were dressed to the nines, as if they were just at Toronto's Fashion Week, which was happening a few streets away. With their vintage purses, tight jeans, and full glam makeup, they put my outfit to shame, making me wish I had put a little more effort in. The other two types of people were the men who hung around the venue. Some of them looked better suited for a frat house, as they were dressed in polo shirts and backwards caps. The other group were dressed in copious amounts of leather and denim, fitted in a way that made them look as if they were auditioning for a spot in Sib's entourage.
Though I was still slightly intimidated by everyone due to their cool outfits, I found myself growing more settled amongst the crowd once I started eavesdropping. Quickly, I found that though these people looked like models, they were still your average fans. A few of them discussed Sib as a performer, recounting his opening set he played back in January for 2Hollis, Sib's close friend and collaborator. Others were having completely off-topic discussions, with the group to my left discussing Paul Mascal movies and the one to my right a Spider-Man video game soundtrack.
Listening to these conversations I found was a good way to pass the time, especially as Sib had settled on using ambient music for the pre-show playlist, giving his fans absolutely nothing to dance or sing-along to. While someone attending the show solo may be frustrated by this, I did believe the ambient music was a good way to encourage fans to chat with one another, forming a community space rather than being drowned out by music or being forced to pull out their phone and mindlessly scroll as they can't even hear the person next to them.
[ Kimj via Instagram ]
As the lights dimmed, the cold blue lights were replaced by this intimidating and looming red, signalling that the show was officially about to begin. Stepping out onto the stage was the opener, kimj, who is a producer, solo-artist, and DJ who exists in a similar music space to Sib. Though you may be unfamiliar with his name, you may have heard his producer tag pop up in some of your favourite artists' songs, as he's produced for SEBii, ericdoa, and even Sib himself on the bulk of his discography. After learning this, it made sense for kimj to have hit the road with Sib, with their pairing emphasized by the fact that the two have been rumoured to be currently working on Sib's next album, which is allegedly a full-length album. However, working together or not, I was absolutely ecstatic that kimj was the opener, as I was blown away by his skill and had a lot of fun during his set.
Something was commanding about the way kimj existed on the stage. Even though he was simply standing behind a Pioneer DJ deck, the majority of his face covered by a mask, and not moving much beyond what he needed to, his demeanour oozed pure confidence. You could tell that he wasn't afraid to be up on stage, even though being an opener can be an intimidating experience. He seemed professional, effortless even, as his hands moved across the board creating his variety mix of techno and EDM, captivating the crowd with his builds to rewarding beatdrops.
There was never a dull moment during his set, which came as a shock, as I often find that any DJ, regardless of caliber, will lose a crowd now and again, whether it be due to a bad song choice or the crowd simply becoming bored with the same style of track. If you looked around the venue during kimj's set, you'd find people swinging their hips and hair to the beat, jumping up and down, and frat flicking high up into the air. There was a group who kept getting the crowd going by shouting along 'aye' to the beat, creating this bundle of excitement that some openers miss out on due to crowds not paying attention to their set.
A moment that had everyone floored was when kimj, during one of his last songs, outstretched and raised his arms up towards the ceiling, doing so as the beat rose. It made it seem as if he was commanding the beat, summoning the sounds coming out of the speaker like a sorcerer. When the drop finally hit, the venue erupted with cheers, with some people going "that was so f*cking cool" directly after the moment happened.
By the time kimj’s 30 minutes were up, I was confused about where all the time had gone. This was the first time in a while where I had been so deeply entralled by the opener that I didn’t have the mental debate of pulling my phone out to reply to a few DM's or had the passing thought of "When is this possibly going to end?". I wasn't the only person who felt this way either, as there was a buzz of praise that slowly spread across the venue, all the way from the tip of the stage to the entry doors, with some conversation even making it out of the venue, hitting Twitter a few hours later. kimj clearly left a lasting impression on the crowd, and if you're attending one of Sib's later shows, I would encourage you to arrive early enough to catch kimj's full set.
KEEP UP WITH KIMJ
[ Nate Sib & Kimj via Instagram ]
With the lights fading to black again, casting a shadow across the venue, fans turned their attention away from their conversations and back towards the stage, with some scrambling to pull their phones out to capture the beginning moments. Everyone in the venue was greeted with the familiar electric intro of Sib's 'tonight', the lead single off his recent EP. Immeditely I thought that this was the perfecct opening song, as it not only established the mood for the night sonically, but it gave Sib the opportunity to make the decloration of “It’s just you and me tonight, let’s leave it all, leave it all behind”, giving this clear incentive for fans to neglect everything else going on in their lives, let loose, and have a good time.
As if they were born for this, the crowd instantly understood what they needed to channel tonight, as they picked up on the lyrics in a flash, picking their feet off the floor and jumping along to the heavy bass. Their energy was pulsating throughout the venue, not shying away from getting a little chaotic, even though a nice restaurant and hotel were only a few feet above them. The crowd had this way of making specific lyrics stand out that in a way, blew my mind, as everyone was staying on key while jostling themselves around. I'm sure that everyone above the venue could hear the commotion below loud and clear, especially the lyrics “I probably got photos with your b*tch” and “I’m having visions while you just pop prescriptions”.
Fans kept up their energy for ‘down’ and ‘1’, with people at the back of the pit using the extra space to try their hand at some hardstyle dancing, while those up towards the front of the stage kept up with the jumping from before, as they didn't have a lot of space to move around fully. A particular pocket of guys stood out immensely within the crowd, as regardless of the point in the set, whether the moment was fast or slow, they were giving their absolute all for Sib, showing up far more than some of the others within the venue. Glancing over at them from time to time, I could see they weren't even familiar with all of the lyrics, yet didn't let that hinder them from having a good time. It was refreshing to see behaviour like this, and I found myself and others gravitating towards them as they were openly and unconditionally bringing the party.
The crowd seemed to chill out a tad during ‘strike’ and ‘wish’, with everyone moving their attention away from dancing to give their full focus to Sib's performance. Watching him, I noticed there was something liquid about the way Sib moved across the stage, as if his movements flowed out of him organically, making him addictive to watch. He never loitered too long on one side of the stage, giving everyone an equal ability to catch his performance clearly.
[ Nate Sib in Toronto via Instagram ]
Sib kept his microphone firmly in his right hand, using his left to help dramatize his movements. Often, he would clutch his free hand towards his chest, throw it up in the air, outstretch it towards the crowd, or even use it to cover his eyes from the blinding stage lights. It added this visual element to the performance that made the stage feel full with his presence, even though Sib was the sole being there. He also tapped into this crowd work that I've seen become increasingly common among artists in Sib's scene. Multiple times during the set, I caught him making heart hands to the crowd or even getting close enough to high-five and interlock fingers with fans who had been lucky enough to score a spot pressed up to the base of the stage.
‘hold on’, ‘banger of the year’ and ‘don’t fall’ seemed to pick up the lost energy, with the same standout group from earlier deciding that it was finally time to open up the pits- something I had heard fans complain hadn't been getting done earlier on in the set. While this pit was significantly smaller in comparison to the one opened towards the end of the set, it still gave people the opportunity to put their phone down and actively engage with the music, showing that they were here to have fun and enjoy Sib's music rather than get a quick clip to pot on TikTok later. Unfortunately, just as quickly as this pit started, it had to end, as someone had bumped into a girl who was holding a glass beer bottle, sending it to the floor, leading to glass shattering all across the venue. Surprisingly, the show wasn’t stopped to get things tidied up; the girls just swept it off to the side with their feet, and the show carried on as if nothing happened.
During ‘u and i’, ‘take it slow’, and ‘memory’, I found myself growing increasingly enthralled by Sib’s vocals. I've always found his vocals to be digestible, with his voice carrying this smoothness that is so incredibly listenable. This trait translates from the studio into Sib's live performances, as he sounds nearly identical and maybe even better live. Something about the way he sings is effortless, ethereal even, it all being a friendly reminder of his pure talent. From voice alone, it's clear that performing is something Sib was destined to do.
When 2Hollis had said, “His [Sib's] voice is like an angel”, he wasn’t kidding. Sib’s voice is unmatched.
‘typical’ and ‘keep it up’ were two of my favourite performances of the night, as they’re both songs I tend to actively seek out when listening to Sib’s discography. There’s a simplicity behind ‘typical’’s beat that makes it an easy listen, something everyone can indulge in. On top of this, I find the way Nate sings the lyric ‘So tell the other girls, I want you in my whole world’ incredibly bewitching. Sometimes I find myself even replaying the track over again just to hear how his vocals trail downwards, and I wish I had captured a better video of the moment live so I could replay that as well.
Contrasting this is 'keep it up', a track that is sonically more ambient. It relied on these layers that feel spread out amongst the speakers, creating this dreamy landscape rather than being central, harsh, and direct. When played through the venue speakers, this cinematic atmosphere was created, and I'm sure it could be felt throughout the entire venue.
Sib deciding on the three-track run of 'go', 'only1', and 'secret' for his setlist was absolutely perfect. While each track is vastly different from one another production-wise, bringing something fresh into the mix, they also manage to maintain a similar energy level, one that completely engages the crowd. So many people were familiar with these lyrics in comparison to some of the other tracks, which was a relief, considering Sib had asked the crowd at one point why we were so quiet. Luckily, Sib himself looked as if he was enjoying himself throughout these tracks, seeming uplifted by the fans singing along
Sib introduced the next song with a bit of a speech, talking about how this was his first song that was properly released into the world, jumpstarting his career. ‘Why can’t you see’ clearly has a special place in Sib’s heart, and it seems the fans hold a similar sentiment, as everyone in the venue knew every single word, passionately singing alongside Sib. It felt like this moment of community, as if everyone was connected and united through the track. This is something that Sib has expressed he strives for when creating music, so it must be rewarding to see his hard work paying off.
During a moment of downtime, somebody in the crowd shouted “play ‘famous’”, and almost as if it was a manifestation, the song kicked in a few seconds later. The crowd carried their upbeat and communal vitality into this performance, opening a smaller pit off to the side of the stage, the first one we'd seen since the beer bottle incident earlier that night. For the entire length of the track, I found myself getting completely lost in the moment, not quite remembering everything that was happening. It didn’t feel like a concert anymore, but instead an intimate get-together. If you closed +your eyes, you could invinsion yourself at a hardcore backyard or college party, one that your friend had invited you to, promising that the ‘live music act’ that night was better than last time, gushing about how a friend of a friend had told her “he’s the next big thing!”.
As Sib gave a short thank you to the crowd, he slipped off into the side stage, leaving everyone dazed and confused. Without missing a beat, a voice echoed through the venue, chanting “One Last Song!” over and over until the entire venue was repeating the mantra, determined to get Sib back on stage. It didn’t take long before the music kicked back in, the familiar beat of ‘tonight’ kicking in over the speakers for a second time that night. The intro was extended this time, though, giving fans the opportunity to open the biggest pit of the night, the edges of the circle touching the venue walls in an instant. Everyone was rowdy, bouncing on their heels as they waited for the beat drop to give them permission to move in.
Sib’s voice could be heard over the speakers, commanding us to “open it, open it!” even though there was physically nowhere else or people to push to. Once Sib finally touched back down onto the stage, fans were ready to mosh, with the entire venue becoming a mix of sweaty bodies tossing each other around, pushing and elbowing, yet somehow being mildly respectful to those who weren’t interested in getting involved. In the midst of bodies, I could spot two other figures on stage with Sib who were chucking water into the crowd, one of them possibly being kimj, and the other I couldn’t tell. Either way, all the artists on stage seemed to be absorbing the power from the crowd, spinning around and dancing as if they themselves wanted to hop into the crowd and party in the pit.
As ‘tonight’ ended and Sib disappeared for real this time, fans seemed to look a little lost, unsure of what they should do with themselves after this experience. A few were quick to head towards the venue doors, pushing their way up the small staircase, while others loitered around the bar, waiting to grab some free water. Once I finally made my way out of the venue, I found the street to still be packed with concert attendees, each recognizable by their stylish outfits and the lit cigarettes pressed between their fingers. I myself loitered for a moment, taking in the scenery and the show that had just happened. Gazing up towards the dimly lit sky, listening to the soft hum of Sib’s ‘back & forth’ play out of a trashy iPhone speaker, I gave a silent prayer into the smoke-filled air, begging the universe to have Nate Sib return to Toronto for another show soon.
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