Vibrant sequins and glitter shimmered under a disco ball as indie pop artists MARIS and Maude Latour took to the stage, delivering performances revolving around themes of love, relationships and self-discovery.
The show at Parish, a live music venue in Austin, was part of Maude Latour’s “The Sugar Water” album tour. Having previously played at Parish on her last tour, Latour’s return drew familiar faces, including long-time fan Adryan Reyes.
“I honestly love every time that we come because not only is her stage presence great, but the openers are (also) great,” Reyes said. “The crowd is just such an inviting crowd. There is no animosity whatsoever as soon as you step into the room.”
Reyes attended with his boyfriend, Chris Linares, and Chris’ brother Alex, who echoed similar sentiments.
“It was, honestly, a free space, safe space. Honestly, everyone came to dress to impress, and it was very welcoming.” Chris Linares said.
Both MARIS and Maude Latour integrated fashion into their performances. MARIS began the night donning an astronaut-style white jumpsuit before revealing a colorful print leotard underneath. Latour similarly wore a vibrant teal leotard, later adding a sparkly long veil before switching to a shimmering silver leotard for her final performance.
“The thing that has stood out to me the most from the tour is just the glittery faces,” Maris Maddux-Ward, who performs by the stage name MARIS, said in an interview with TSTV News. “More people on this tour have been showing up with star makeup or showing up cosplaying from some of the music videos I put out.”
MARIS alluded to the glittery star drawn on her face as part of her signature look.
Her music, like her aesthetic, offers a safe space for expression and connection. She recently released “Give Me a Sign,” a song about the uncertainty of being drawn to a woman and questioning whether the feelings are mutual or if she’s just seen as a friend.
“I hope at the end of the day I will be as vulnerable as possible in my lyrics and what I’m going through,” MARIS said. “But I simultaneously love to dance, and I love to release pent-up energy through movement. So I want them to simultaneously listen to my story through my lyrics but also shake a bit of ass.”
Both performances engaged closely with the audience. MARIS displayed fan-made posters on stage and challenged attendees to meet someone new in the crowd. Latour’s performance took her interaction a step further, inviting a fan onstage to dance and even stepping into the crowd to perform a song.
Attendees Lia Smith and Melissa Simpson first discovered Maude Latour when she opened for Fletcher, another pop artist, and have since formed a deep connection with her music.
“We were blown away,” Smith said. “We listen to her almost every day now. Some of her songs have become our songs.”
Smith also reflected on the concert’s inclusive environment.
“We are older than the general demographic here so looking around and seeing the younger queer population connect to the music is incredibly touching,” Smith said.
