Mariah the Scientist's "To Be Eaten Alive" Tour

Mariah The Scientist’s show wasn’t just sold out— It was “SOLD TF OUT.” Marathon Music Works bolstered the artist’s high attendance with a custom sold out sign at the box office. Hours before sundown, Mariah’s Nashville-based-bed-of-scorpio’s were wrapped around the block—and they came “To Be Eaten Alive.” Her newest concept album is a potent blend of all things love, sex, and a woman scorned. Her visual themes pull from The Met Gala’s Heavenly Bodies exhibit with a subtle nod to old Hollywood glamor and the femme fatales of iconic cinema. Mariah’s sex & soul positive discography has long since resonated with listeners, but her latest visual symbolism has created an unrivaled buzz amongst her fanbase. 

Red leather, black latex and soft touches of femininity lined the halls of Marathon Music Works where Mariah’s influence was palpable. Mariah The Scientist uses her struggles, highs, and woe’s to divulge in the essence of womanhood and create a shared space amongst her majority female audience. The opener “Good Times” is rhythm, blues, and reminiscent detailing parts of a past relationship that felt like heaven before that love turned hell. Mariah walked on stage in a swarovski dripping dress that would’ve put Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr President” dress to shame. Not only does she exude elegance in her performance, but her voice can only be described as ethereal. Her control over her instrument is apparent in her effortless riffs and runs. Her soulful timbre is in the leagues of modern icons like H.E.R, Solange, and Ariana Grande. Backing the songstress were projected scenes from the artist’s favorite films like “Kill Bill”, “Risky Business”, and “Waiting to Exhale". Each song correlated to certain scene in each movie whether it’s Tom Cruise crushing Cameron Diaz’s heart then crashing their car or Angela Bassett setting fire to her ex’s car. 

A flashback from the artist’s first album “Beetlejuice” sent the audience into a fever. A longtime popular record about the bittersweet romantic fallacies that befell the singer, is a content heavy and passionate track that has a longstanding spot on Mariah The Scientist’s setlist. A great first listen track for first time fans and a religious live experience for Mariah’s dedicated and down bad fan base. Mariah ended the night on a romantic note with a fitting encore track titled “From a Woman” that acts as this album’s lead single. Slow burning and simmering like the rekindling of a relationship, “From A Woman” paints a picture of how beautiful and fulfilling a woman’s love can be when it’s reciprocated and treated with respect.

- Isabella Ellis

Photos Courtesy of Lillie Hollabaugh (For Bell Music Magazine)