Qveen Herby + Malibu Babie @ MTelus▪

This year, I’ve been going to a lot of shows where I’ve never heard of the artist or any of their songs, and so far, I haven’t been disappointed.

On Thursday, November 14, the Mtelus was transformed into a magical fantasy world full of symbolic props and super-positive big goddess energy. It was a completely different crowd from what I’m used to. The fans were mostly women (mothers and daughters, which I love to see) and a lot of LGBTQ folks, dressed in sequins and Qveen Herby’s signature black-and-white stripes. I wore my black-and-white striped socks in solidarity.

Have you ever walked into a place and immediately felt uplifted? Every single person at the venue had an elevated vibration that was amplified by the presence of a powerful force: the power that is Qveen Herby.

I was the only photographer there, so I chatted with some fans while waiting for the opener. They all looked like children on Christmas morning—except most of them confessed to being witches. Do witches celebrate Christmas?

Supporting artist Malibu Babie started off the night with an incredibly energetic set. The crowd immediately perked up, dancing and hooting. Starting off behind her drum machine and then bouncing to the front of the stage, it took me a few seconds to remember that I was there to take photos. I mean, I’ve never seen anyone who looked that fabulous up close. Big blonde hair, pink bikini, furry boots, and a killer body. Accompanied by DJ Vince Rossi in an electric blue spandex bodysuit, they opened with “Barbiegurl,” and I knew it was going to be a hella good night.

I’m not familiar with her work, and it’s not exactly my genre, but I can appreciate her energy and enthusiasm. Especially when she told us that she moved to LA and wanted to become a producer, but no one took her seriously because she was a woman and her style was not “right.” She was told to tone it down, but she always considered herself a little different—not exactly a black sheep, but a pink sheep. So she said, “FUCK THAT!”

Malibu Babie never gave up on her dreams and just kept working harder, topping the charts and collaborating with artists like Katy Perry.

Her stage presence was bold and sexy. When she wasn’t twerking and running across the stage, she was asking important questions like, “Did you know that only 3% of producers in the music industry are women?”

And actually, yeah, I did know because I interviewed the CEO of Music Publisher Canada.

Malibu Babie has bragging rights, as she proudly announced that she was the first female producer to debut on the Hot 100. DJ Rossi added, “Now more than ever, we need to be celebrating women.”

My favourite track was “Cash Millions.” Malibu Babie even said, “I think we manifested some money.” The contrast between her girly voice and pink outfit with her powerful messages was quite refreshing.

She ended her set with her latest single, “Baddie Bakery,” then asked us to get the vibe more elevated to summon the queen—which we did. And then we waited.

At some point, a digital timer appeared on a large screen, counting down the minutes until Qveen Herby would arrive. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation. There was a lot of smoke, and the lights were dimmed, but I was close enough to see the coffin being wheeled in. Then it went completely dark, and shrieks of excitement pierced my ears. As the eerie organ intro began for “The Show,” the Qveen emerged from her golden coffin. Now that’s how you make an entrance.

The entire show was choreographed and executed with magnificent precision and skill. The props, storytelling, visuals, and vocals were all next-level. Qveen Herby took us on a magical journey full of catharsis and transformation while being entertaining as F.

I truly appreciated her attention to detail, from her graphics to her costume changes. Starting off with long hair and a white flowing blouse, she later changed into a short hair and black-and-white schoolgirl dress. The striped stockings remained throughout the whole show—even at the very end when she had on red sequined shorts and was her boldest, bad-bitch self. I’m not a superfan, but I believe the stockings represent her authenticity and how she has always remained true to herself through all her struggles and changes.

There was so much symbolism and drama in her performance. From the shadowy figure who tried to break her confidence to the red telephone and the surreal images on the screen, every single detail made us all feel like we were with her on that fantastical voyage.

Very early on in the show, she stopped and stared into the crowd, basking in all the love. With a huge and lovely smile, she told us, “The vibe is immaculate.”

Not only can she sing, but I dare you to find another woman who can rap as quick and sharp as Qveen Herby. If Eminem and Lady Gaga had a love child, it would be Qveen Herby.

There were too many special moments to list, but a few that I can remember include the entire audience singing along to “Sade In The 90’s,” the beautifully soulful vocals in “F Myself,” the dance party during “Vitamins,” and, of course, “Sugar Daddy.”

What I loved the most was the positivity and importance in her message, especially now. All her lyrics are super powerful and motivational, so I get why she has so many devoted fans—including me, who needed to be reminded: