Back in April 2025, Atlanta-born artist Mariah the Scientist gave fans a taste of her newest album, Hearts Sold Separately by releasing a series of exclusive, behind-the-scenes TikToks of lead singles ‘Burning Blue’ and ‘Is It a Crime’ featuring Kali Uchis. When Hearts Sold Seperately eventually arrived in August 2025, Mariah herself described the album as a “war for love”, with songs like ‘United Nations + 1000 ways to die’, and ‘Eternal Flame’ framing her experience of love as an emotional whirlpool of great heartbreak and deep love.
Fast forward to January 2026, and Mariah the Scientist arrives in Manchester for the second stop of her Hearts Sold Separately tour, taking to the stage at Manchester Academy 1. With the album still fresh in listeners’ minds, there was a clear anticipation in the room to see how its sound would translate onto the live stage.
The atmosphere was brought early on in the night by Toronto-based talent Chxrry, whose set provided a sensual and intimate vibe. Currently signed to XO Records, a record label founded by The Weeknd, there were clear influences of his sound running through her set. Tracks like ‘Favorite Girl’ and ‘Main Character’ translated particularly well live, her trap-leaning, atmospheric sound having audience members swaying in the crowd.
Credit: Tarimobowei Tobolayefa @ The Mancunion
What stood out most, though, was her stage presence. Even as an opener, her vocals were strong and cheers from the audience could be heard as the crowd reacted positively to even the smallest of moments. It gave the set a real sense of progression, as each track was met with increasingly louder reactions, building the momentum as the performance went on. Shortly after Chxrry’s set, the lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and a sea of phones lit up the audience – attendees were ready to be pulled into the bittersweet world of Hearts Sold Separately.
Accompanied by a live ensemble, Mariah the Scientist opened her set with the dramatic two-part song ‘United Nations + 1000 Ways to Die’ which immediately set the tone of her set. The track unfolded with a distinctly theatrical intensity, its cinematic weight, carried through rising instrumentals, lead to moments of speechlessness and quiet wonder within the crowd. Even so, her energy was matched effortlessly as fans sang back every word in unison.
Credit: Tarimobowei Tobolayefa @ The Mancunion
Moving through the set, Mariah pulled from across her catalogue, weaving together the different eras of her work while maintaining a steady sense of anticipation throughout. Tracks like ‘Always n Forever’ from Ry Ry World and ‘Different Pages’ from To Be Eaten Alive were met with immediate cheers, offering moments of familiarity that deepened the crowd’s engagement. Alongside them, newer songs such as ‘All I want + In Pursuit’ and ‘Rainy Days’ provided a bittersweet tone, reinforcing the album’s emotional core.
The endpoint of the night came with Mariah the Scientist returning to her two defining singles, ‘Is it a Crime’ and ‘Burning Blue’. The transition between the two was seamless, with an acoustic passage acting as a bridge, gradually building tension in a way that felt almost cinematic before easing into the final track. The endpoint of the night came with Mariah the Scientist returning to her two defining singles, ‘Is it a Crime’ and ‘Burning Blue’. The transition between the two was seamless, with an acoustic passage acting as a bridge, gradually building tension in a way that felt almost cinematic before easing into the final track.
By this point, Mariah and the crowd felt completely in sync, with those in attendance echoing every lyric back to Mariah. ‘Burning Blue’ felt especially striking in this moment, its imagery of fire and frost, devotion and detachment translating vividly live. At one point, Mariah The Scientist leaned into the crowd, splitting the room into two to see which side could sing the chorus louder, creating a clear sense of connection between herself and the crowd.
As the song came to a close, the band extended it into a lingering instrumental, prolonging the magical atmosphere. During this, Mariah moved along the front row, signing merch and taking photos, closing the night in a way that felt both personal and connected.
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