How Holly Humberstone built her home away from home in Mexico City

There’s no place quite like home. Unless you’re the English singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone – in that case, there’s the Éxito Concert Hall in Nápoles, Mexico City. On October 3, Humberstone played her first live show in the Mexican capital, with DHL helping make the performance possible and delivering her familiar touring set and props, including her signature flower bushes, clock tower and scroll banner.

Designed to manifest Holly’s complete creative universe in Mexico, the event transformed the venue into an immersive space for her fans to listen and connect. And, in case you’re somehow unfamiliar, that fanbase is vast. After winning the Brit Award for Rising Star in 2022, the musician and keen lyricist has only gone from strength to strength, releasing the albums Paint My Bedroom Black (2023) and Cruel World (2026), and collaborating with the likes of Sam Fender and MUNA.

The trip was also an opportunity to discover the city’s rich creative culture and meet some of the local artisans who make it so distinctive. With that in mind, the local artisan Tania Gonzalez also hand-painted a dramatic stage backdrop for the October show. This was inspired by the visuals from Holly’s Cruel World album campaign, but also Xochimilco, a historic borough located in the south of Mexico City (and, thanks to its historic palaces and waterways, a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Mexican heritage also shines through in an accompanying short film from DHL. Written and directed by Diogo Lopes, and produced by the all-female production company Violeta Films, based out of Mexico City, the film captures Holly’s creative exchanges and encounters alongside everyday moments from her time spent in the city. Think: a spontaneous dance with locals in Ciudadela Park, or a meeting with a laudero who makes and repairs guitars.

The film also includes short animated sequences using handmade puppets, partially inspired by a nicho made especially for Holly by the Mexican artist Maria Teresa Romero Gamero. The nicho is a small handmade shrine box holding personal stories, people or memories – this one memorialises Holly’s own time in the city.

Needless to say, her fans have also come away with their own special memories from the performance, and luckily we managed to capture their feelings firsthand. Below, they share some of their thoughts with Dazed Club photographer Claudio Mansour.

What’s your favourite Holly song?

“Red Chevy”.

How would you describe her music in three words?

Deep, ethereal and sentimental.

Tell me what makes her special to you.

I think one of her greatest strengths is her songwriting. The way that she perceives a simple emotion is very unique to her.

What’s your favourite Holly song?

I think it’s one from her previous album, “Flatlining”. It really helped me through a very weird stage of my life. And from this album it’s “To Love Somebody”.

Describe her music in three words.

I would say honest, girly and kind of enchanted.

What makes her special to you?

I think she has vulnerability, like a lot of songwriters from her generation. But she’s also not afraid to show a darker side of her life. That’s what makes her stand out for me.

Noe, what’s your favourite Holly song?

“To Love Somebody”

Describe her music in three words.

Love, connection, Holly.

Gustavo, what’s your favourite Holly song?

I love a lot. I love “Cruel World”, I love “White Noise”, I love “Red Chevy”.

Describe her music in three words.

Hot, sad… horny.

What’s special about her music?

She’’s melancholic and nostalgic, but at the same time she’s ready to rock.

What’s your favourite Holly song?

“White Noise.”

Describe her music in three words.

Relaxing, beautiful and emotional. 

What’s your favourite Holly song?

“To Love Somebody.”

What three words describe the music for you?

Feels like home. 

Why is she special?

I say Holly’s music feels like home because it’s very warming. It gives me hope.