Since last Friday (the 6th of June), I’ve been listening to The Explorer, the new single released by Dora Jar. The song begins as an innocuous tune, which, after a couple of seconds, grabs your hand and draws you into a melancholic experience that is also full of hope. In The Explorer, Dora Jar’s vocals grow throughout the track and explode towards the end, bringing tears to your eyes and covering your whole body in goosebumps.

And just five days after its release, on the 10th of June 2025, there I was at St Luke’s in Glasgow for Dora Jar’s European Tour. The venue was already packed two hours before the main act, filled with fans taking photos of Dora in the hope of getting an autograph, many dressed as woodland fairies.

As a supporting act, Dora Jar brought with them Holdan Sutton, an indie artist from Los Angeles, who mesmerised St Luke’s with his “sad songs” (as described by Holdan himself during the set), accompanied by an acoustic guitar and incredible vocals.

But it was at 9pm that the venue truly came to life. Dora Jar appeared from the pulpit near the stage, opening with Timelapse from her album No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire, greeting the cheering crowd. She then jumped onto the stage, mesmerising the fans with her voice. Soon after, she began leaping all over the stage to the notes of She Loves Me, tossing her feathered jacket into the air and spinning and twirling around her band, kicking towards the lights.

Dora Jar carried the set with songs from her EPs, singles, and album. She looked completely at ease on stage, knowing exactly how and when to joke with the fans. It was clear she was having a great time—and wanted everyone around her to have one too. During Bumble Bee, one fan showed her two little crocheted bumble bees. For Puppet, she played with her band, dragging her guitarist first and then her bass player onto the floor, where they continued singing and playing for the entire song. And just before performing Lagoon, she brought Holdan Sutton back on stage for a magnificent duet where they danced and sang together.

Then she launched into The Explorer—and the venue erupted. Everyone in the crowd already knew the song and sang along to the very end of this beautiful tune.

Dora continued with hits like Ragdoll and Lucky, and returned for a much-needed encore with Behind The Curtain and No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire, during which the venue lit up with phones and bouncing fans.

I must admit, I never expected to have so much fun. I thought I’d find myself at a quiet gig—still good, obviously, but more mellow. I’ve been following Dora Jar since I missed her supporting Gracie Abrams last March at the OVO Hydro, and I’m convinced she’s on the path to something huge. Her latest single, along with Lucky, which also came out this year, is already a beautiful hint of what we can expect from her in the future.

Article : Marco Cornelli