Pop star Lauv to perform at Legends

Pop singer-songwriter Lauv will perform at Legends Nightclub on Friday at 9 p.m.

Tickets for his upcoming concert sold out halfway through the first day of sales on Thursday Sept. 27. Such a sellout is a rarity for the Legends Nightclub venue, hinting at Lauv’s popularity and the promise of a great performance.

Lauv, which means “lion” in Latvian, is the stage name donned by 23-year-old artist Ari Leff. Leff was born in San Francisco. His family moved to Atlanta and then to the small town of Wayne, Pennsylvania. He attended New York University from 2012 to 2016, where he honed his songwriting skills.

From the start, Lauv’s work talked about heartbreak. He wrote his first song, titled “Parting Ways,” at 13-years-old, which discusses a breakup although he had not yet been through one. He realized that he wanted to perform after his refusal to sell “The Other,” a ballad he wrote in 2015. He signed with Prescription Songs before his senior year at NYU. His somewhat reminiscent and melancholy style of songwriting led him to co-write “No Promises” with Demi Lovato and Cheat Codes and gained him a feature on DJ Snake’s “A Different Way” in 2017.

Toward the end of 2017, along with his eponymous EP, Lauv released his first big hit, “I Like Me Better,” an upbeat piece full of hope and optimism. He released his first full-fledged album ”I met you when I was 18. (the playlist)” in 2018. His most recent releases are the two singles “Superhero” and “There’s No Way” featuring Julia Michaels. “Superhero” was inspired by a note from a fan named Martin.

Lauv has taken on an honestly emotional persona through which he shares genuine feelings ranging from happiness to sadness and everything in between. He captures the complexity of relationships and love through relatable lyrics and electronic sounds, creating music that speaks to the human experience of these things.

His insight into and understanding of romance evidences itself in his carefully-crafted songs that capture the initial romatic feelings of butterflies and nervousness to those that arise in the aftermath of a breakup, such as nostalgia, longing and tragedy. His first album follows this pattern in a beautiful and logical arc.

Both Lauv’s words and work reflect upon his desire to display his true self. His charismatic character pervades his social media accounts. Instragram depicts his artistry through photos. Twitter provides a glimpse into his mind through his emphatically expressed thoughts.

Lauv’s setlist for his Legends performance could contain any of the previously-mentioned songs as well as his new arsenal of hits from “I met you when I was 18. (the playlist).” Some of Lauv’s notable other songs are “Never Not,” “Paris in the Rain,” “Chasing Fire,” “Getting Over You” and ”The Story Never Ends.”

No matter the song selection, Lauv will light up Legends with his energy, letting his personality shine. He is sure to evoke all kinds of emotions with his bubbly songs and tearful ballads.