The mononymous Moroccan Canadian singer Faouzia came back to Royale for the first time since 2022. Her return was a celebration of her long-awaited debut album, Film Noir, which was released late last year under an independent label.

There was no opener for the evening. Instead, Faouzia and her backing band performed an hour-and-a-half long set that required no extra support. The setlist was comprised almost entirely of newer songs including a complete performance of Film Noir supplemented by singles like “Ice” and “Fur Elise.” She only performed “RIP, Love” and “Minefields” off of her 2020 EP, CITIZENS, and she surprisingly omitted her popular 2019 single, “Tears of Gold”.

Although Faouzia’s first tour through Boston four years ago saw Royale at partial capacity, this latest show was visibly sold-out. Fans crammed themselves where there was precious little space, and the sweatiness of the event did little to temper the energy in the room. Fortunately, the strength of Faouzia’s vocals overpowered even the loudest members of the highly enthusiastic crowd. While many of her songs highlight the impressive dynamics of her voice, there were moments throughout the show where phones suddenly appeared in anticipation of the biggest flourishes, like during the final verse of “UNETHICAL.” It’s no wonder why Faouzia placed so highly when she competed on the Chinese TV series Singer in 2024. From that international fame, she has garnered a healthy following abroad, but for the time being, Faouzia still feels like a hidden gem here in the states.

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