Haiden Henderson – The Garage, London: rising star turns raw emotion into rockstar spectacle

Alan Bryce
Sep 26
3 min read

The Garage - London - 23rd September 2025

WORDS / IMAGES ALAN BRYCE

Haiden Henderson – The Garage, London: rising star turns raw emotion into rockstar spectacle

Haiden Henderson, formerly known simply as Haiden, has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in alt-pop. Born in Northern California and raised by a single mother, Henderson’s journey to stardom was anything but linear. He initially pursued aerospace engineering but later pivoted to music after transferring to USC’s Thornton School of Music—a decision that changed the course of his life.

His early singles, such as “Unless” and “Sorry to Your Next Ex”, gained traction online, particularly on TikTok and Instagram, where his raw lyricism and catchy hooks resonated with a young audience. His debut EP, Good Grief!, surpassed 25 million streams, while his follow-up, Choke on My Heart, featured breakout tracks like “Fresh Blood” and “Pretty Little Addict.”

Henderson’s music blends pop, rock, and alternative, often described as “a one-man boy band with a rockstar edge.” His lyrics explore themes of heartbreak, self-doubt, and youthful chaos—wrapped in infectious melodies and cinematic production.

The Garage is heaving tonight. As Haiden Henderson’s Tension Tour hits London, the 600-cap room thrums with anticipation. Henderson’s built a following off genre-bending tracks and viral anthems, but tonight he proves he’s more than a playlist darling: he’s a performer with both bite and vulnerability.

LA electro-pop shapeshifter Flavia opens the night in dazzling style. Her set is a whirl of synths, beats and theatrical flair, flipping between sultry ballads and empowering bangers. Far from filler, she commands the stage with charisma and warmth, leaving the crowd buzzing before the main event.

Then Henderson arrives. He tears straight into Tension and the room erupts — his “Haider Nation” screaming every word back at him. From there, it’s a set built like a rollercoaster: Love Sucker, a Twilight-inspired satire wrapped in dark pop, slams into fan favourites Dump Him and Sorry to Your Next Ex. Later, Broken In, Fresh Blood and Pretty Little Addict showcase his knack for marrying confessional lyrics with stadium-sized hooks.

The surprises hit hard too: the unreleased Parasite hints at a darker, experimental edge, while a moody, guitar-soaked snippet of Umbrella reimagines Rihanna through his own lens. Viral hit You Don’t Even Like Me unites the room in collective heartbreak, before Killed the Kid and Bleachers send it surging again. By the time Hell of a Good Time and an acoustic One Track Mind close the night, Henderson has proven himself both frontman and storyteller.

Between songs, he’s unguarded — cracking jokes about his “simp tendencies,” telling tales of break-ups, and acknowledging the Twilight memes that fuel Love Sucker. It’s messy, funny, real — and that’s exactly why the connection feels so strong.

Tonight, Henderson isn’t just showcasing tracks. He’s marking a moment: an artist in evolution, blending pop accessibility with rock grit, and hinting at bigger stages to come. The Garage might be intimate, but he plays it like an arena — and the crowd leaves believing he’s on the cusp of something huge.

Setlist highlights: Tension, Love Sucker, Sorry to Your Next Ex, Parasite, You Don’t Even Like Me, Hell of a Good Time, One Track Mind.