Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate: Demi Lovato has one of the best voices in modern pop music. That’s a fact. But last night at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, the It’s Not That Deep tour put that powerhouse instrument to the test against a heavy barrage of thumping EDM beats, intricate dance choreography, and a dizzying new aesthetic.
The night kicked off with a surprisingly fierce opening set from rising Slovak singer-songwriter Adéla. Fresh off her stint in the Dream Academy universe, Adéla proved she is ready for the arena spotlight. She commanded the stage with razor-sharp choreography, quick outfit changes, and a voice that easily filled the massive venue. Her setlist, highlighted by the fiery “Superscar” and the emotional “Homewrecked,” was a masterclass in setting the tone. When she debuted her unreleased track “Boys,” the Seattle crowd ate it up. If last night was any indication, Adéla won’t be an opening act for much longer.
By the time Demi took the stage shortly after 9:00 PM, the energy in the arena was buzzing. The show is neatly divided into four acts, charting Lovato’s transition from their previous rock-heavy eras into the slick, club-ready realm of their latest album, It’s Not That Deep (Unless You Want It To Be).
Act I launched with a rapid-fire trio of new tracks—”Fast,” “Kiss,” and “Frequency.” Flanked by a troupe of energetic dancers, Demi embraced a heavy dance-pop persona. It was visually stimulating, though occasionally the heavy backing tracks and club-thumping techno arrangements threatened to overpower the very thing we all came to hear: the vocals.
However, whenever the synths dialed back, Lovato absolutely soared. Act II brought a dramatic, vocal-forward rendition of the classic “Heart Attack” and the soaring “Tell Me You Love Me.” The crowd, which had been happily bouncing along to the new material, completely erupted during these familiar hits. The newer synth-heavy arrangements of older tracks were hit-or-miss—”Confident” worked surprisingly well as a club banger, but other reworkings felt a bit disconnected from the raw emotion that made them great in the first place.
The indisputable highlight of the evening arrived in Act III. Stripping away the heavy production, Demi delivered a show-stopping performance of “Skyscraper.” It was a stark, beautifully raw reminder of their resilience and unmatched vocal control. This emotional peak was followed closely by newer standout tracks like “Ghost,” proving that Lovato can still find that sweet spot between vulnerability and radio-ready hooks.
As the night drew to a close with Act IV and the encore, the atmosphere felt like an extended VIP club night, ending on the high-octane crowd-pleaser “Cool for the Summer.”
The Verdict
The It’s Not That Deep tour is exactly what the title suggests: an invitation to stop overthinking and just dance. While the heavy electronic production sometimes masks the raw vocal talent that is Demi’s true superpower, the sheer joy radiating from the stage is infectious. Lovato looks happy, confident, and completely in control of their current era. Add in a stellar, scene-stealing opening performance by Adéla, and you’ve got a night that hits all the right pop frequencies.
