Can the “Tube Girl” Help Ayesha Erotica Make a Comeback?

This piece originally appeared on October 5, 2023 in Sound Signal, our biweekly newsletter that identifies emerging artists, scenes, and trending tracks, crafted by the world's best writers and curators. Sign up here to never miss our take on what's next in music.

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In August, 22-year-old law student Sabrina Bahsoon, aka “Tube Girl,” was traveling home on the London tube when she asked a stranger to film her for a TikTok video. He declined, so she filmed herself dancing and lip-syncing to David Guetta and Nicki Minaj’s “Where Them Girls At,” her hair billowing thanks to an open train car window.  

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The video now has 11.8M views on TikTok, and videos using the hashtag #TubeGirl have been viewed 907M times. Bahsoon’s confidence in a public space and self-described “delusional” energy has resonated with thousands of users who recreate the format to ameliorate their social anxiety or flaunt their style. Other cities have paid homage to Bahsoon (like New York City and Warsaw), while artists like Troye Sivan and Omar Apollo have collaborated with her to promote their music.

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Bahsoon has become somewhat of a musical tastemaker as followers wait in anticipation to see which songs she features (She’s even curated an official Tube Girl playlist on Spotify). On September 5, she featured a mashup of Ayesha Erotica’s “Yummy” and Mo Beats’ “Righteous,” which got 17.6M plays. Erotica, who is a pioneer of hyperpop, has kept a low profile after a career marred by controversy. This summer Erotica reemerged—just in time for a co-sign from one of TikTok’s most visible creators.

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In 2015, the enigmatic musician began releasing music on SoundCloud and produced for artists like Miss Prada (aka Joanne the Scammer), Slayyyyter, and That Kid. But in 2018, she announced on Instagram that she was quitting music. On July 7, musician Chase Icon posted a video featuring her first public appearance since 2019. On August 18, Erotica performed in Los Angeles and said she’s entered a new musical era—one hopefully with a lot less drama.

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Most of Erotica’s biggest hits precede TikTok’s mainstream popularity (one of them, “Literal Legend,” was even played at the 2021 AMAs), but their euphoric hyperpop production and emphatic, confident lyrics are a recipe for shortform success. Still, no trend is perfect: The Tube Girl trend and Erotica’s lyrics have faced some criticism, but Bahsoon’s carefree content is seemingly enough to give Erotica a second chance.

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