Nessa Barrett is on a roll. Fresh off the release of AFTERCARE DELUXE — an expanded version of her acclaimed 2024 album AFTERCARE — the alt-pop princess is in the midst of a globe-trotting tour, most recently playing the historic Brooklyn Paramount on February 17.
The Brooklyn show landed on the heels of a major moment: Lana Del Rey sharing Barrett’s viral single “LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU” on Instagram a few days before, a full-circle moment for Barrett who has long cited Lana as a core influence. The energy at the Paramount reflected that buzz. Fans filled the venue, screaming every lyric back as Barrett delivered a set that balanced raw emotion with the kind of dark-pop edge she’s perfected
Just a few years ago, Barrett was posting TikToks from her bedroom, first gaining traction in 2019 with moody lip-syncs and snippets of her early music. Since then, she’s carved out a space as one of alt-pop’s most exciting new voices, evolving from viral star to a fully-formed artist with a distinct sound — dark, sultry, and emotionally raw. With nearly a billion views on TikTok and a growing list of hits, she’s become a staple in the alt-pop scene, all while staying true to the vulnerability that first drew fans in.
“We’re almost halfway through the US leg of my AFTERCARE tour and I am having the time of my life,” Barrett tells PAPER. I have the best crew traveling with me and we’re also enjoying the cities that we are in together. I can’t wait to continue to bring this show around the world this year.”
Now, Barrett takes PAPER behind-the-scenes of her Brooklyn Paramount show, sharing intimate moments, pre-show rituals, and everything that made the night unforgettable.
Soundcheck time.
Before every show, I do a quick soundcheck with my band. I usually sing “Blue Valentine,” my “Glory Box” cover and “Russian Roulette.” This helps warm my voice up and makes sure everything sounds perfect for our show.
Here’s my name getting mounted on the wall of fame.
Me and Max, my drummer have a handshake we do backstage before every show.
Another pre-show ritual with my team. I say a prayer and we all say, “Sluts on three,” for good luck.
I worked with Noah Barrios on visuals for the show and my LD Jon is the best. I’m really proud of my creative team for coming together and bringing the AFTERCARE world to life on the stage.
My stylist Rachel and I worked on building a closet of looks and pieces for my tour inspired by burlesque. It allows me to also continue to be creative on the road with my fashion depending on what vibe I want for the night.
This was less than five minutes after I walked offstage. There is no better feeling than playing a great show with amazing crowd energy.
My and my band posted up in our green room. My guitarist dan was the first musician I ever met and has been with me since the beginning. We decided to add keys to this show and Jeremy has been such an amazing addition.
I sold out the Brooklyn Paramount!
One of my favorite songs to perform live is “Glitter and Violence,” and I love hearing my fans scream the lyrics back at me every night.
For my NY shows, I did an outfit change for the first time for the encore, and it was so fun and unexpected. I definitely want to continue to find ways to continue to surprise my fans.
Thank you PAPER for following me for my sold out Brooklyn Paramount shows.
Photography: Kristen Jan Wong