It’s soft-pop spring, The Tulips come to Orange County
By Sofia Hopkins
May 4, 2025
Photo by Samantha NavarroSanta Ana, California – Soft-indie pop duo, The Tulips, sold out the Constellation Room on May 6, bringing an upbeat energy to the small venue while breaking the barrier between live music and TikTok virality.
Reminiscent of artists like The Marias, The Sundays, and Clairo, The Tulips showcase a dreamy sound complemented by their synchronized dances, non-serious and outgoing attitude.
The night began with artist Sung Holly, who took the stage for her first-ever show that happened to be opening for The Tulips.
“I flew in yesterday, it’s so nice to meet you. It’s my first show ever and I’m fucking nervous,” Holly said as she began playing her unreleased song “The Bends.”
Holly’s nervousness was quickly overshadowed by the audience’s supportive cheers as she continued her set with several crowd-pleasing covers such as “Prom” by SZA and “Here’s Where the Story Ends” by The Sundays.
The lights changed to pink and green hues in preparation for The Tulips, Andrea and Julia, two best friends from Southern California.
Like any good pop duo, the girls paid just as much attention to their outfits as they did their music.
The Tulips have themes for each show and requested that their fans wear pink and green attire to match their stage outfits.
They wore matching pink and green dresses and hair gems that complemented Andrea’s signature pink glasses and hair.
The Tulips began their song “do you even know?” and requested that their audience dance to the dreamy synth alongside a call and response during the bridge.
Julia explained the group’s history and said, “Three years ago to this day Andrea and I first hung out and met at the Constellation Room to see Lizzie McAlpine, and now we’re playing sold out shows, what the fuck,”
The Tulip’s unreleased songs “Talk” and “You and I” brought low melodies, swaying hips, and the overall feeling of falling into a dream.
Naturally, the duo paid homage to The Marias with a cover of “No One Noticed,” showcasing their signature omnichord and acknowledging their TikTok virality before the song.
“So you guys may have found us on an app called TikTok. Our lives literally changed when I was gifted this omnichord. Are there any Marias fans in the house,” Julia said.
As Andrea and Julia played the omnichord together, they captivated the room with a cover that preserved the originality to that of the Marias.
Andrea, who is a preschool teacher by day, revealed that two of her students were present at the show.
“They’re in the back, they’re petals hardcore,” she laughed before singing “Pretty Funny,” a song about seeing your ex in a club with somebody else.
The duo sang their singles “Joel” and “Sick!”, which gave the audience stories of a lost friendship and being angry at the world. They also performed their most popular song, “still love you (todavia).”
The Tulips taught their audience the dance for “still love you (todavia)” in true Chappel Roan style by slowing down the choreography and giving a proper step-by-step routine.
This song truly broke the barrier between The Tulips’ TikTok fame and their musicality, and it was clear fans wanted more as they shouted “Otra, otra,” when the duo said goodnight.
The request for an encore was fulfilled as Julia quickly returned with an acoustic guitar and Andrea with a tambourine to cover “Coincidence” by Sabrina Carpenter.
Andrea and Julia closed out their set with their song “favorite apple,” featuring the lyrics “1000 tulips, is that too much to ask for?” and a mosh pit that the artists joined in on.
The duo’s music feels like lingering conversations after hours of time spent with a longtime friend and offers a fresh note of nostalgia that the crowd seemed to appreciate.
The Tulips’ niche, whimsical aesthetic and attention to detail has the potential to carry them much further than TikTok, and it’s clear that we can expect much more from the duo as they continue their journey in the music industry.