Cobrah Brings BDSM Electropop To Chicago
Review and photos by: Cara Col
Swedish electropop star Cobrah took over The Riviera Theater the night of April 30th, performing to over a thousand local fans. Supporting her debut album, Torn, this international tour marks a more vulnerable exploration of the club dominatrix persona she has developed in her critically acclaimed EPs and singles. Through fetish, nude colors, and abrasive but playful sounds, Cobrah’s performance gave Chicago a celebration of queer music and BDSM expression.
Despite the gloomy and rainy weather, fans clad in drag, latex, and thick platform boots stretched down Broadway waiting for the doors to open. Inside, people mingled and sipped as they camped out for a good spot in the crowd.
The show was cohesive and easily flowed from one act to the next, beginning with the opener, DJ Latex. The mysterious DJ took the stage promptly at 7:00 pm, dressed in all black down to the gloves, fetish mask glistening under the bright stage lights. If you squinted, you could see the thin wireframe glasses placed delicately on their latex-covered noses.
DJ Latex played a well-curated set, clearly understanding their audience. They remixed classic club songs like Ciara’s “Level Up,” hyperpop hits like Charli XCX’s “Vroom Vroom,” and everything from Jersey Club to Jungle. By the end of the set, the crowd was singing along, dancing, and certainly warmed up.
By 8:30 pm, the floor was packed. The lights went out. The crowd roared, and everyone on the balcony stood up from their seats. Cobrah started the show with the hard-hitting and sultry tune “Hit Girl.”
Mic in hand, Cobrah delivered vocals and choreography, accompanied by two backup dancers dressed in a simple white bra and panty set and tights. In a nude latex corset, with long blonde hair flowing, Cobrah engaged in a sensual body language with her dancers, caressing them and entangling their bodies to form abstract shapes. Behind them, two large partitions, the color of cream, cradled a box made of the same partitions. The color choice and minimalism emphasized Cobrah’s BDSM-inspired philosophy. Fashion is the body, music is the set, and art is the experience.
After performing club anthems like “IG” and “Hush,” Cobrah performed the more vulnerable song “Torn” from inside the box. Lit up from behind, she became a twirling silhouette – a reference to her “Hit Girl” music video.
She explained her hesitation in including more vulnerable songs on the album. “I wondered, do you guys only care about sucking cock? Or do you care about the deep stuff?” She shared, tongue-in-cheek. The audience reaction communicated that they, for sure, want both.
Another moment of connection between Cobrah and her fans was when she introduced the song “Charming,” saying, “I always wanted to make a song where people put their phones up and sway them back and forth.” Hundreds of phones lit up the audience and remained up for the entire song.
Cobrah closed the show with fan-favorites “BRAND NEW BITCH” and “GOOD PUSS.” By the end of the night, the atmosphere felt electric. Cobrah created an intimate experience for her fans, one that reflects her newfound creative vulnerability and her developed artistic vision.
It is exciting to see how, after eight years, Cobrah continues to find new ways to grow as an artist and connect with her audience. She has worked to carve out a space in electronic pop music for herself, and Chicago clearly appreciates her for it.
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Gallery:
Photos © 2026 by: Cara Col
Tour Dates:
May 2, 2026 – Théâtre Beanfield – Montreal, QC
May 4, 2026 – Royale – Boston, MA
May 5, 2026 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
May 7, 2026 – 9:30 Club – Washington, D.C.
May 8, 2026 – Brooklyn Paramount – Brooklyn, NY
May 27, 2026 – O2 Forum Kentish Town – London, England
May 28, 2026 – O2 Ritz Manchester – Manchester, UK
May 29, 2026 – Corn Exchange – Brighton, England
May 31, 2026 – Melkweg – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jun 1, 2026 – Kesselhaus – Berlin, Berlin
Jun 3, 2026 – Élysée-Montmartre – Paris, France
Jun 19, 2026 – Metronome Festival – Prague, Czechia
Jul 2, 2026 – Jul 6, 2026 – Roskilde Festival – Roskilde, Denmark
Aug 21, 2026 – Lowlands Festival – Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Links:
Official: https://www.cobrahcore.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAMCOBRAH/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcobrah/
