The crescent moon on Thursday, March 14 cast a soft glow behind the purple-lit sign of LA’s Moroccan Lounge, complementing the city’s skyscrapers, to set the backdrop of Katherine Li’s sold-out debut headlining tour: love, k the tour. Eager fans lined up outside, their anticipation palpable, as they queued like a snake, wrapping the sidewalks leading up to the venue. The indie-pop Chinese singer-songwriter concluded her tour with two back-to-back sold-out shows in LA. Just three days earlier, on March 11, the Toronto-based artist celebrated her 21st birthday.

A sea of fans, many accessorized with bows and ribbons in their hair, waited for the show to start. Nicole Han, an LA-based pop singer-songwriter opened for Katherine along with her guitarist and drummer. Nicole debuted in September 2021 with her first single “Aftertaste.” Setting the mood for the night, the singer-songwriter graced the stage, creating cheers from the LA crowd. Nicole showcased songs from her debut EP, so it goes…, to the soft, serene melodies of "running shoes," and to the upbeat pop-punk energy of "WANNABE." She jumped around, pointing the mic to the crowd to sing along, generating a lively atmosphere that brought a wave of nostalgia reminiscent of 2012 with her cover of Katy Perry’s hit song, “The One That Got Away.” Nicole performed her recent release “I DON’T FEEL A THING ANYMORE” about healing from a past relationship. Ending her performance, Nicole sang “how dare you,” a song delving into the aftermath of a relationship, where one partner moves on without regard for the emotional wreckage left behind. 

Entering the stage from behind the door’s drapes, Katherine greeted the audience with waves of excitement, acknowledging her fans. Opening her set with “If I Weren’t Me,”' she set the tone for the evening and continued to perform many songs from her recently released 2024 Album, love, k. The crowd joined in unison during the chorus of “Like Me Like Me,” filling the room with energy as they sang “or like me like me.” Pausing between songs, Katherine engaged with her fans, creating memories of laughter and connection.

A memorable moment arose when Katherine asked a fan about their crush, only to be met with a surprising response: “Actually, it's not a crush, I just want to talk about my boyfriend,” the fan replied, sparking laughter throughout the crowd. Katherine playfully responded in a soft, high-pitched voice, “I am so jealous. Man, Miracle [fan’s name], why you gotta do this to me?”

What followed was a story filled with unexpected turns as the fan shared their journey from having a crush to dating, leaving both Katherine and the crowd wide-eyed with surprise. In a heartfelt gesture, Katherine dedicated her next song, “Happening Again,” to the fan.

In between songs, Katherine was sweet and relatable, sharing stories about her songs, that left endearing impressions — followed by hints on her setlist. While telling about a crush she had, one she knew wouldn’t work out, she said she felt like, “Hey man, you don’t like me, but like, I bet we could be perfect together. Please, like, I’m begging you, please. Could I convince you?” The piano then transitioned into playing the intro to “Could I Convince You.”

Later in the show, Katherine performed an acoustic cover of “Stay” by Rihanna. Continuing to the next song, she sang an unreleased track titled, “Misbehave.” From discussing crushes and girl-next-door vibes to exploring the realm of hopeless romance, Katherine teased her next era of music, which she humorously described as “being angsty and doing bad stuff but not too bad [laughing].” Fans erupted into cheers and oohs as Katherine delved into the meaning behind the song. The rock-infused track marks a departure from her usual style, weaving a narrative of change and rebellion inspired by the allure of a crush. One of the lyrics is: “I’m smoking cigarettes because that’s what you do. I misbehave because of you.” After ending the song she made the crowd break into laughter as she said, “Guys, don’t smoke it’s bad for you. No cigarettes, no cigarettes.” 

Bringing the night to a close with an encore of “I Just Wanna Know,” Katherine left the stage, her heart overflowing with gratitude. The next day, she graced the Moroccon Lounge with one final show, wrapping up love, k the tour on a joyous and heartwarming high note.

“Hopeless romantic/Yeah that’s me/And someday love won’t be something I just make believe” 

- “More Often Than Not” by Katherine Li

What song of Katherine’s do you resonate with? Did you attend the love, k the tour? Let us know by commenting below or reaching out to us on Instagram or X (Twitter).

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Edited by Martina Yee