Art is so captivating because it provides people with an outlet to express the human condition in their own unique way. It also gives others the chance to connect with said art in order to find new ways to explore their own experiences and the emotions surrounding them. Upon hearing New Constellations’ “Hot Blooded”, I was transported to the exact place of convolution the writers wanted me to be. The track reminisces about who a current partner used to be, yet copes with the change by understanding that it isn’t their fault; set against shimmering synthesizers and a light guitar riff, it evokes the artists’ emotions at the time of writing. Having become a fan of the Portland, Oregon, duo’s dream-pop sound, paired with their raw writing style, I knew I had to attend their upcoming show at the El Rey Theatre.

Vox Rea opened the night with a setup of two mirrored DJ decks in the middle of the stage, something I originally thought would be quite limiting. Instead, the two sisters, Kate Kurdyak and Lauren Kurdyak, traded off being the focal point of the show. Both had moments exploring the stage while leading with their vocals, and Kate added live violin multiple times. Their sound - airy both in vocals and in soundscape - created the exact atmosphere necessary to prime the crowd for the night’s headliner.

Childhood friends Harlee Case and Josh Smith have an inspiring glow to them in the form of this successful project: New Constellations. When the duo took the stage, this glow filled the room and gave the crowd a sense of weightlessness. Case’s powerful vocals and magnetic stage presence, paired with Smith’s storytelling between songs and ability to anchor the performance, were what shone on the way to a masterful set. This group does seem to thrive on the live atmosphere, as their renditions of tracks like “Think It Over” and “Dandelion” rivaled their studio recordings in quality. Toward the end of the night, as the drums and synths of “Hot Blooded” slowly kicked in, Smith delivered a politically driven message about human rights, ending in an emphatic “Abolish ICE”, which was met with a roar from the crowd and led into the duo’s smash hit. An emotional, extended performance of the song that has skyrocketed this group toward the forefront of dream-pop fandom was the perfect way to cap off a truly joyful night in Los Angeles.