Written by Israel Lerma
American singer, songwriter, and self-producer Quadeca is currently on tour for his newest project, Vanisher, Horizon Scraper. Quadeca underwent a fascinating evolution as an artist, initially posting videos on YouTube that showcased different rapping techniques and FIFA content. At some point, he deviated from his YouTube career to fully pursue a music career. With this third-ever tour, and second time in Houston, Quadeca came to town and delivered.
On October 27th, 2025, American singer, songwriter, and self-producer Quadeca came into town, playing downstairs at the White Oak Music Hall. The door opens at 7 pm with the opener, kmoe, coming out exactly an hour later. Coming out of Vancouver, British Columbia, kmoe has a unique underground sound that combines hyperpop and indietronica, getting people moving. His first time in Texas, kmoe is an up-and-coming artist who just released his critically acclaimed debut album, K1. He opened with "Aired out", a hyperpop track that sets the tone for the rest of the set. For one of his last songs, his unreleased track "Heat Death" was played for us, surprisingly. An emotional song, about regret and bringing someone back to your life, I found this to be my favorite song of the set. The constant "back", accompanied by soothing synths, and the bright purple lights' constant flashes emphasized the emotional side of K1. I'm very excited to see what he will do on his upcoming project, as I assume 'heat death' could be a potential single. The next song, "Carpet," was a defining moment where he encouraged the crowd to clap along to the song. It was a moment t
hat started slowly but grew to a fast, intense tempo. Kmoe's constant movements, hair swaying, and excitement pushed the crowd to start moshing throughout the night. For his last song, he played a track on which he is featured on Jane Remover's debut mixtape, called Homeswitcher. Jane Remover, known for her hyperpop, is a significant influence on the current underground music scene. I see her as a notable influence, as saving to conclude the set is a nice homage. As the lights dimmed for the first time, this song was the wildest, most extreme of the night. Jane's production on this song is incredible, and kmoe's uniquely smooth vocals, combined with the microphone filters, make it stand out. Screaming out the lyrics "I just fall silent when it starts to hurt" and "31st we talk on the 16th" were emotional culminations for kmoe, as the pain heard through his voice resonated with the crowd.
Once kmoe concluded his set, Quadeca's crew set up his famous lamp, a wireless lamp created by a couple, Daniel and Ashley, who were at the Houston show and were shouted out by Quadeca. Quadeca set focused on his newest album, Vanisher, Horizon Scraper, but played all his classics from his previous projects, Scrapyard and I Didn't Mean To Haunt You. His diverse catalog took us everywhere from instrumental self-produced songs focused on synths and flutes to slower songs with a choir background. As soon as the clock turned nine, the band came out and the first vocal humming on "NO QUESTIONS ASKED" had the crowd and me hypnotized. The addictive humming, accompanied by Autumn's high notes and pristine flute playing, helped the song flow. (Interestingly enough, Quadeca shouts out Autumn later, recalling a story of how they met at the White Oak years ago, when she was still working here, and her recruitment to the band was all fate.) The lights throughout the song emphasized the instrumentals coming in and out. This trippy song featured a live piano, guitar, and drums, with unpredictable moments that heightened the song.
Quadeca then reveals himself to the audience with his clear, beautiful vocals, wearing the Vanisher, Horizon Scraper outfit he wore in his hour-long movie made for the album. This dark blue, branded with the album's logo, suggests that he is a captain in his life, uncertain about his future.
As soon as the reverse drums start to hit, and the siren synth hits, "AT A TIME LIKE THIS" captures the crowd's attention, a slow song that plays into a climactic buildup of the hitting sirens, Quadecas's first rap of the night. Pulling out his guitar, Quadeca plays RUIN MY LIFE with some sweet vocals, which had the crowd rocking back and forth. Everyone sang along, as his stage presence felt so welcoming, and the lights flashed orange, as if we were around a campfire, singing along. After such a calming, warm-hearted moment, he threw it back to his previous album, Scrapyard playing "GUESS WHO?", an incredible experimental rap song that had the crowd turnt and jumping! With his eyes closed, Quadeca slips into his excited flow state, hesitating not at all.
The most powerful moment of the show was when he played "Abandon Me" from Corpus Christi legend Kevin Abstract's album Blush. As the producer and solo vocalist, Quadeca leaves a mark on this song. As the synths and static hit, his live singing hits all the notes and brings out all the emotions held within. The theme of the song is about a lover not abandoning them after all their mistakes. Seeing Quadeca stationary, jittery at the end, followed by the live guitar solo, reveals an inner side of a performer he is not afraid to show. We hear the vulnerable emotions throughout the song as he sings, expressing his gratitude that this person remained with him. As my favorite song, this one hit me personally, as it is one that everyone can relate to. The feeling of someone staying with you is something we all tend to question, and I am pleased Quadeca played this song to express that gratitude.
A couple of songs after, he played a fan favorite THUNDRRR, screaming out the lyrics. Hyping the crowd up, followed by the tickling clock as a drum, led to the biggest mosh of the night. The "Bring it out of Me" line had the crowd pumped, as I could feel all the energy being released in the room. Forgone by Quadeca was the concluding moment that all fans loved. He played this song solo on the piano and sang the whole 7-minute song all to himself. It was a neat touch with the spotlight hovering over him, and the background lights representing a bloody moon. Another vulnerable moment we see is as he sings his heart out; all the fans remain silent and enraptured as he plays the last of the night.
Quadeca is such a fascinating artist, and it's fantastic to se
e how the set evolved. Bringing in a live band enhanced all performances and kept the crowd excited. From the orchestral rap of MONDAY and DANCING WITHOUT ME, to the indie pop singing of Abandon Me, to the experimental high-pitched U DONT KNOW ME LIKE THAT and Sisyphus, every song played had its own identity. Quadeca's vision of transitioning from a content creator to a respected artist in today's generation is coming true. A self-producer, masterer, and filmmaker, he is a one-person visionary who created this fantastic project for the world to share. His one-hour film visually showcases his vision, something that we, as fans, should all take the time to check out and admire. His stage presence is natural, as he knows how to move, what to say, and how to get the crowd to interact and mosh at those exciting moments. As my first-ever concert review, I will never forget the night Quadeca and his band provided. The amazing live sounds, set design, and placements, along with the fans (shoutout Cody), who are so welcoming, left a vivid memory that I will continue to admire.