Distracted

BY DESIREA CORBETT

“If we see the superstar in ourselves and we see the superstar in others, we can make the world a better place.” Maris shared these words of wisdom with the crowd at Racket in NYC on Thursday night — but honestly, the message was clear long before she or Caroline Kingsbury even stepped on stage.

From the moment you walked into the venue, it was obvious this wasn’t going to be a typical show. Guests were getting glitter stars painted on their faces, and instead of a traditional opener, the audience was invited on stage for karaoke. Someone may or may not have gone up there, looking very much like a deer in headlights, and absolutely butchered “I Touch Myself” by Divinyls… strictly for journalistic purposes. We don’t need to talk about it ever again.

But being on the other side for a change — hot lights in your face, crowd cheering you on no matter your skill level — was a surprisingly unforgettable experience. And honestly? A quiet little lesson in self-love.

By the time the show officially kicked off with “Give Me a Sign,” the song that sparked this entire collaboration between Maris and Caroline, the audience was already hyped and free of any inhibitions. The crowd — dressed like aliens, space cowboys, and celestial beings of all kinds — sang along at full volume as the duo belted their hearts out. From there, the two artists traded off, each performing three or four songs before handing the mic back to the other, keeping the energy flowing all night long.

Audience participation didn’t stop at karaoke. One especially sweet moment came when Caroline invited a few fans on stage to dance along with her while she performed “Alabama” — a song about coming out in Florida, during a time when acceptance didn’t come easily. You could feel the emotion radiating from both the stage and the crowd.

Another standout was during Maris’ song “Chameleon,” which explores the idea of shapeshifting to win someone’s affection. She asked the entire audience to turn on their phone flashlights and hold them up — and in that soft, glowing light, the room shifted. It was beautiful, and emotional. Then, at the end of the song, she asked everyone to hug themselves, think back to who they were at sixteen, and say out loud:
“I love you just the way you fucking are, bitch.”

Midway through the night, Maris and Caroline shared the stage again for a quick audience Q&A and then led the crowd in a group singalong: a stripped-down, acoustic cover of “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan — heartfelt, fun, and totally fitting.

And because Maris is apparently part performer, part magician, she managed to swipe five phones from fans during “Missing Me,” filmed herself singing while holding all of them in one hand, and returned them all without dropping a single one. Icon behavior.

The night ended the same way it began — with “Give Me a Sign,” closing the loop on a show that was so much more than just a concert. Maris and Caroline Kingsbury didn’t just perform. They created a space — joyful, inclusive, loud, and loving — where everyone in the room was invited to show up exactly as they are. A place where the star inside each of us could shine, even just for one glittery, unforgettable night.