Smerz @ Stereo, Glasgow, 16 Nov

There’s a buzz unbefitting of a school night as the Stereo crowd waits for Smerz, the trendiest group of 2025, to take the stage. The Norwegian duo of Catharina Stoltenberg and Henriette Motzfeldt released their second LP, Big city life, in May to a host of rave reviews, glossy features and industry buzz. As the in-demand alt-pop stars clamber onto the stage, they appear unfazed by the hype surrounding them. Their infectious natural chemistry bewitches a crowd made up largely of Glasgow School of Art students and NTS Radio listeners, all of whom are too mesmerised to chat to one another or check their phones between songs.

Though Smerz have been releasing music together since 2016, tonight's setlist is comprised almost entirely of new material. While the music they play may be new, Stoltenberg and Motzfeldt’s experience shines as the pair glide across the stage, effortlessly switching between instruments and trading vocal duties throughout. They take turns singing, playing keys and fiddling with synths, a complex operation made to look seamless thanks to years of practice at crafting electro-pop bangers.

There’s a convivial atmosphere in the room as Smerz roll out Fiesty, during which the Glasgow crowd are walked through a typical Smerz night out, step by step. Conversely, you can hear a pin drop as Motzfeldt croons on the haunting A thousand lies before emitting an equally eerie end-of-the-night vibe on the album’s closer, Easy.

Big city life's standout single is You got time and I got money, a dreamy trip-hop love letter that featured on many a summer playlist and instantly became Smerz’s biggest commercial hit to date. Saved until the end, the opening drum beat instantly transforms the space into a karaoke bar. The once-restrained crowd comes together to cry out the line ‘Baby I want to see you naked, even though I love how you dress.’ It makes for a rather moving end to the night, and it's not hard to see why it will inevitably rank highly in a host of end-of-year lists come Christmastime.

Smerz and their two accompanying musicians make their way off just before 10pm. A set delivered cleanly, with audience interaction kept to a minimum, the strong connection forged with the crowd in just under an hour is a testament both to Stoltenberg and Motzfeldt's musicianship and the quality of their most recent work. High off the buzz of seeing the definitive sound of the summer, the crowd files out onto the Renfield Lane cobbles in search of somewhere to continue the big city night out that Smerz have kicked off.

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