A sea of pink floods the lobby.

A quiet hum of chatter fills the room as a sea of people sipping on cocktails in their finest clothes takes over. Furs, blazers, lace, silk, heels, loafers – this could easily be a ‘70s jazz club.

That’s the Sophia Galaté effect: Innovatively timeless.

The Chicago (by way of Malibu) native made a stop in Chicago on her first-ever headline tour on Friday, March 20, in support of her album For My Own Entertainment. Galaté captivated a sold-out crowd in her signature pink aesthetic.

While some artists take their time on stage to capture the excitement of a live show, Galaté brings you into the world of For My Own Entertainment from the moment you set foot in the venue. In addition to traditional artist merchandise, such as sweaters, shirts, and vinyl records, perfume samples, drink containers, and crossword puzzles were placed on the pink tablecloth for fans to interact with before the show.

For My Own Entertainment by Sophia Galaté — For My Own Entertainment – Sophia Galaté

Galaté spent her early adulthood in Chicago, and often pays homage to the city’s influence on her personal and professional life.

The audience was filled with fans of her music from the beginning of her career to fans who recently discovered her from viral videos, as well as friends and family.

Chicago singer itoldlexi opened for Galaté with a series of songs that described uniquely Chicago experiences, as well as playful anecdotes about songs that showcased her talent and ability to bond with the crowd.

About 30 minutes later, Galaté’s crew – consisting of some of her closest friends – set up a table dressed in a pink tablecloth, the magazine-like cover of For My Own Entertainment, a glass container, and a bedazzled tumbler filled with tea (a starry upgrade from her pink one at Lincoln Hall in August).

Magenta lights dawned on the stage as Galaté stepped out in a dazzling dress and customized microphone. She began her hometown show with “For My Own Entertainment,” the titular track. The crowd erupted in cheers, pulling their phones out to capture Galaté like the star she is.

Galaté continued to engage with the crowd after the first couple of songs, switching into a more jazz-focused tone with “Jet Ski Driver.” She spent the first part of her set on an elevated white circle next to her microphone stand, decked in a pink boa. While some artists are expected to put on an over-the-top show, Galaté’s live show feels grounded, powerful, and honest. Every interaction, note, and prop becomes a moment to be cherished and remembered as genuine artistry.

Galaté explored several tracks more in-depth than the recordings, from adding riffs and trumpet to certain tracks to inviting some of her oldest friends on stage with her. The For My Own Entertainment, and Yours Too! Tour is an earnest explanation and exploration of Galaté’s craft, providing a level of insight into what it takes to be an artist in the modern world.

While Galaté noted at the top of the show that much of the setlist would be from the album, she slowed things down for an intimate, stripped-down cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

She turned the rhythm up with her hit “My Girls,” which features Sierra Sellers, and invited “girls who just wanna have fun” on stage with her for the song. Although Sellers was not present for the show, Galaté performed her verse. (She’s right, the rap is sexy.)

About halfway through the set, Galaté announced we were entering the “vulnerable” part. Several songs in the back half of Galaté’s set focused on her impressive vocals and band. The honesty, vulnerability, and intimacy resonated with the crowd, from cheering fans in the front row to swaying ones in the back.

Galaté surprised the crowd with a rendition of her debut song “Body.” The track is incredibly transparent, following her journey of recovery, self-acceptance, and confidence. “Nobody loves Sophia more than Sophia,” Galaté said of how people perceive her excitement, but she was quick to note self-love’s vitality.

Galaté took the glass container from her table and brought it to the front row, introducing the crowd to the “fishbowl game” she played throughout the tour. The container held scraps of paper on which Galaté hand-wrote lyrics to various songs of hers. An audience member selected one, correctly guessing the lyrics to her viral hit “Room In My World.”

She surprised fans with an acoustic cover of the song. She played piano while Nico Segal joined her on trumpet.

Galaté truly makes the show about her audience – and has fun while doing it.

She played her 2021 song “Frank’s Interlude” and brought “the Frank” on stage, the crowd erupting into cheers and applause throughout the song. With several hometown family and friends in the audience, it truly created something so charming yet thrilling. (So much so, a fan approached “the Frank” after the show to ask for the “lore.”)

Galaté wrapped the show in a white ensemble, switching out of her sparkling pink dress, and took center stage once more. She played a jazz-esque version of “Should I Tell You” and a rendition of “Intimate Feeling” that showcased her breathtaking vocal range before closing out the show. Galaté finished by thanking her fans and various people on her team, from name-dropping band members to old friends to venue staff, before mingling with fans after the show.

The tour title, For My Own Entertainment, and Yours Too!, is more than a clever play on words. It upholds a major theme in Galaté’s album, creative process, and life: Creating art for yourself. The crowd – from the back of the room to the front row – enjoyed the show as much as Galaté. It’s a massive reason the audience stays after Galaté’s shows; her music stays with you after the show.

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