Chloe Qisha brought her new mixtape, Fantasize, to a sold-out House of Yes in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, giving fans an intimate look at one of pop’s most exciting rising stars. I’ve been loving everything Chloe has put out in the lead-up to Fantasize and watching her bring it to life was a fantasy come true.
Qisha has a clear vision of who she is as an artist, and it makes her all the more captivating to watch. She is fun, new, witty and knows how to take charge. There is something refreshing about the world she has built around her music, a world I felt lucky to be a part of for one night.
The intimate venue, House of Yes, felt underground while also feeling like you stepped into Chloe’s own world. Because where else would you want to debut the first performances of “Fantasize,” if not in a red and black lit up theater in Brooklyn. The mood was set as soon as we pulled up and shuffled inside.
With Luis Fernando holding down the DJ booth, the crowd danced through the anticipation before Qisha finally emerged in a red corset top, with the stage illuminated in a deep scarlet glow. She opened with “Mama!” and got the party going with “Question of the Day,” immediately setting the tone for a night that rarely slowed down. Weaving in and out of hits and unreleased “Fantasize” tracks, the night felt like a true IYKYK type moment. It was a release party that the crowd won’t stop fantasizing about.
The unreleased project made up a significant portion of the set, with six songs from “Fantasize “joining established favorites like “So Sad, So Hot,” “21st Century Cool Girl” and “Baby Girl.” Despite the new material, there was no shortage of singalongs. The crowd seemed to know every word and felt ready to listen to the new material on repeat.
Between songs, Qisha chatted with the crowd about a romantic fixation that had inspired much of her songwriting. She described being so infatuated with a guy that she found herself writing song after song about him, only to discover that he was interested in a boy of his own. She delivered the story with a straight face, almost as if she were presenting evidence in a courtroom. By the time “He Likes Boys” arrived later in the set, the audience was ready for the punchline “He likes boys, and so do I.”
One of the night’s biggest surprises came when Qisha introduced her band, affectionately calling them “these delicious boys!” They soon launched into a cover of ABBA’s “Does Your Mother Know,” sending the room into another round of singing and dancing. Earlier, Fernando had played “Dancing Queen” during his DJ set, so the cover felt like a natural continuation of the night’s feel-good atmosphere. For a few minutes, House of Yes became a room full of strangers united by the universal language of Swedish pop.
Since releasing her debut single in July 2024, Qisha has gone from playing her first sold-out show that October to supporting major artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Coldplay. Now, with a sold-out Brooklyn show and a new mixtape on the way, she feels like an artist on the verge of something much bigger.
Being able to see her in a venue as intimate as House of Yes felt like a privilege. The room was packed, the crowd was loud, and the energy never let up, but there was still a sense of closeness that made the night feel special. Everyone was singing along, dancing and sharing in the excitement of an artist who seems destined to outgrow rooms like this.
Right now, Chloe Qisha feels like pop’s best-kept secret. Her style is distinctive, her songs are addictive, and her personality gives her music a life beyond the recording. But secrets like this do not stay secret for long. With Fantasize arriving October 30, Qisha is ready for a much bigger audience. If Wednesday night’s sold-out show was any indication, she will not be waiting much longer to find it.
