Audrey Nuna delivers a powerful performance at Gröna Lund despite sparse audience

The American rapper and R&B artist Audrey Nuna has in a short time established herself as one of the most exciting names in alternative hip hop and R&B. With nearly 26 million monthly listeners on Spotify and an appearance on "Golden" from the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters, she has reached an audience that few new artists can match. The song has surpassed 1.8 billion streams on Spotify alone and gained even further traction when David Guetta released an official remix.

On Tuesday evening it was time for her very first performance in Sweden as she took the main stage at Gröna Lund.

It is unusually sparse in front of the stage. Admittedly, dark clouds hang over Stockholm during the evening, but the rain never comes. Whether it was the weather forecast or something completely different that kept people at home is just speculation. Regardless of the reason, it feels odd that an artist with such a large international impact is playing for such a small audience.

However, this does not seem to affect Audrey Nuna noticeably.

Early in the show, she mentions that this is her first concert in Sweden. She also had time to explore Gröna Lund before taking the stage. Several of the park's rides were tried during the day, but one in particular stands out.

– It was insane!

The comment about the rollercoaster Insane is one of the evening's few longer bits of in-between chat, but it's enough to create a personal connection with the audience.

The evening's setlist offers a good cross-section of her catalog. "Comic Sans" and "Mine" set the tone early with heavy beats and an impressive flow. "Lock It", "Baby Blues" and "Cellulite" then show how naturally she switches between aggressive rap verses and melodic segments. It never feels like she tries to fit into a specific box – Audrey Nuna has found her own expression and sticks with it.

Her stage presence also stands out. Audrey Nuna moves in a way that feels entirely her own. The movements are jerky, intense, and unpredictable, almost as if her body is following the music rather than any rehearsed choreography. At times it looks almost random, but it quickly becomes a natural part of her expression and enhances the raw energy that permeates the entire performance.

At first, the audience feels somewhat reserved, but Audrey Nuna never gives up. Slowly but surely the response grows, and when hands begin to clap in time with the music, she stops to thank those who follow along. It’s a small detail, but it shows how much she appreciates the people who actually made their way to Gröna Lund.

One of the evening's nicest moments comes just before "Baby OG". Audrey Nuna steps down into the pit in front of the stage and meets the audience up close. She repeatedly thanks those at the front, agrees to selfies, and takes time to greet several of her younger fans. For a few minutes, the boundary between artist and audience disappears completely before she returns to the stage and starts "Baby OG".

From there, the concert continues with the same intensity. Audrey Nuna never lets the sparse crowd affect her energy. On the contrary, it feels like she gives even more to the people who did choose to remain in front of the stage.

After a total of 56 minutes the concert ends with "Superhuman". But it hardly feels like the crowd is ready to say goodbye. Calls for an encore are heard immediately, and several seem to hope to hear one of her biggest songs, "Golden". But it never comes.

Instead, it's the guitarist who alone returns to the stage and hands out a few guitar picks to the audience before the stage finally stands empty. This is the evening's last little gesture to the loyal fans who stayed for the entire show.

It leaves a small feeling that something was missing. Not because the concert itself did – Audrey Nuna delivered a unique stage presence, strong connection, and genuine appreciation for the audience – but because "Golden", the song currently being played worldwide, felt like the obvious closer that never came.

At the same time, it's hard to leave Gröna Lund with anything but a positive impression. Audrey Nuna never let the audience size affect her performance. She gave her all from the first to the last song, ensuring that those who actually stood in front of the stage got a performance that felt both personal and genuine.

If this show demonstrated anything, it's that Audrey Nuna is ready for a much bigger Swedish audience. Hopefully, it won't be long before she's back – then she certainly deserves many more people in front of the stage.