Heartfelt farewell: FEMM’s ‘Last-FEMM-Isation’ moves London

FEMM, the cult electronic pop and dance hitmakers, made a triumphant return to London for ‘Last-FEMM-Isation’, two intimate performances in the heart of the city. These sets marked the duo’s final international stage appearances and the concluding chapter in their remarkable decade-long journey.

Carried onto the stage in their signature mannequin fashion, adorned in the latex school outfits they first donned in their 2014 music video for ‘Kiss The Rain’, RiRi and LuLa ignited the set with the pulsating beats of ‘We Flood the Night’.

The setlist, a fusion of classic hits and newer tracks, showcased their evolution over the last decade. The infectious rhythm of the crowd-favourite ‘Come&Go’ got the audience moving. It was the track ‘Sugar Rush’, where LuLa and RiRi, laughing and dancing together, started to stray from the mannequin act, revealing their human side, showcasing not only their vocal prowess but also their emotional depth.

A spotlight moment arrived as the two took turns gracing the stage for renditions of their first-ever solo tracks from their last-ever EP ‘CHERRY’. First up was LuLa with the bittersweet pop ballad ‘Butterfly to the Moon’, followed by RiRi’s powerful rendition of her EDM anthem ‘Living in the Spotlight’. Both performances allowed the girls a chance to prove to fans their individual strengths as solo artists.

The venue then filled with resounding cheers as they pivoted into their viral hit ‘Fxxk Boyz Get Money’, underscoring FEMM’s enduring popularity since their breakthrough release. The latest single, ‘CHERRY on TOP’, preceded their emotional interlude. LuLa, visibly moved, momentarily struggled during the MC session. However, with Riri’s support and the encouraging cheers from the crowd, she gathered her strength for the poignant finale, ‘Crawl Away’.

In a touching departure from tradition FEMM returned to the stage, not for an encore, but for a final emotional MC, expressing gratitude to their devoted ‘Agents’. RiRi assured fans that even though they would be taking a step back, “you can still listen to the music!”. Additionally, the duo announced two surprise music videos scheduled for release by the end of 2023, promising a fitting conclusion to their celebrated career.

FEMM’s ‘Last-FEMM-Isation’ afternoon performance, though brief, was profoundly sweet. It served as a testament to their distinctive fusion of pop, dance, and rap, leaving fans with indelible memories. Though the time in the international spotlight has come to a close, the culmination of their journey awaits on Christmas Eve at ‘HIMM & FEMM’ in Tokyo. This exclusive event, in collaboration with fancyHIM, carries special significance as fancyHIM played a pivotal role in discovering and supporting the duo since 2015. It will undoubtedly be a heartfelt homecoming for the duo, surrounded by those who have championed them throughout their transformative years.

Photos by Charles Shepherd

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