Northcote Social Club’s band room is one of the few venues big enough to showcase a stellar act while still creating an old-school, intimate vibe. It was the ideal space for the talented Sydney artist Ngairre, who created a perfect electro-soul storm in a teacup.
Kicking things off was support act and Melbourne local boy, Yeo (pronounced Yo). The artist provided an unexpected and refreshing start to the evening’s festivities, armed with a keytar and a sweeping 80s electronic style, which had the crowd dancing along and happily devoting their energy to the support act.
The multitalented Yeo gave an honest set, layering creamy pop samples with instrumental proficiency during songs like ‘Covered In Gold’. In short, he was pure fun.
The crowd, now fully charged, gave a cheer as the pint-sized soul goddess that is Ngairre (pronounced nie-ri) emerged, shimmering in a feathered headdress and bringing her unique static-babe energy to the room.
It seems fitting that the singer’s national tour should be named Uranus, as there is undeniably something otherworldly about her performance. Backed by her three-piece band (in full matching mod outfits), Ngairre wasted no time launching into the set with her signature power and style, her voice filling every pocket of silence in the room.
There’s no question that she has one of the most incredible and unique voices in Australian music today. The only evidence of typical tour fatigue, often evident in a band’s final leg, was her extended interactions with the crowd. That said, she was always humble and down-to-earth.
Each cosmic track in her collection provides an energetic and sensory overload, displaying an effortless control and force of life.
The singer explained that her new single ‘ABCD’ was inspired by a close friend from her home country of Papua New Guinea, who “died of a broken heart”. The painfully beautiful song spoke about the devastating effects that the issues of intertribal marriage can cause within the communities. Captivated and moved, the room fell silent, spellbound by the singer’s tragic ballad and by the versatility and contrast achieved in this slower soulful moment.
Before long, the crowd were awake again, exiting the outer-body experience and returning to the room where a sea of electronic dancing ensued. With her band not missing a beat and Ngaiire displaying her full range and ability to put on a energetic live show, it was exciting to see such sincere, powerful, and original music being created before your eyes.
The songs from her album Lamentations, such as ‘Fireflies’, were instant crowd favourites, her voice clean and unwavering, drawing everyone in and igniting the room. Her final song for the night was the collaboration track with Hiatus Kaiyote’s Nai Palm, the undeniably great ‘Dirty Hercules’, ending the night with an eruption of intergalactic proportion.
Minds were blown. Nights were made. If you’re not already orbiting around this insanely talented artist, it’s time you changed course, or possibly solar systems.
