The smells of Brisbane night markets waft around the Powerhouse, and the atmosphere is buzzing.
To commence the evening (4 March), Lupa J showcases her musical talents with live violin and mixing alongside stunning vocals.The stage falls black as Nakhane and the drummer silently enter. An eeriness falls on the venue. A monologue commences before suddenly the drums burst in shockingly, causing a few audience members to jump.
"You can kiss me if you want to," Nakhane’s stunning falsetto bursts in and they arrive. A jagged keyboard solo ensues. What an entrance.
They then don a shining black guitar, as they sing "I remember when I read you the Bible". The song falls silent, as they strum singular chords and sing about grandmother in a Jeff Buckley-esque moment.
They share a moment of connection with the drummer, before showcasing clean, catchy guitar riffs.
'Bacchanalia' has the seated crowd moving in their seats. "In everything, I look for a sign," they call longingly, atop piano chords.
The set flows cohesively through a delicate balance of danceability and deeply emotional storytelling.
After a brief introduction, Nakhane jumps into a soulful piano ballad interspersed with a sort of chanting swaying in intensity. The song moves from its dark intensity into glorious hopefulness, the ending marked by a pulsing drum solo.
In the next song, a crowd sing-along ensues as Nakhane remarks "Yes, it's quite catchy isn’t it?" The hopeful feeling continues in 'New Brighton'. The vocals are stunning and the song ends with Nakhane joyously dancing in front of the drum kit.
"If you take one thing from tonight, I hope it's that the world is full of joy," Nakhane takes a pensive moment with the audience. "I'm just checking my emails," they joke between songs a short time after.
A monologue from 'Angels In America' precludes their song about losing a lover, a mournful yet upbeat track.
"I read a review of my album, and they called this a 'dance or die' track so do that," Nakhane states for 'Do You Well'. "I want to see you out there in the light," they sing, and the track is triumphant. The entire crowd is up now.
"The sound guy taught me a new word. Knackers. For the jewels," they share their recent Aussie experience jokingly. "Also, I'm so sorry I waited until the second last song to invite you to dance."
The electronic set concludes, before Nakhane sings a cappella to close the set. A guttural note soars into the atmosphere, and it is gorgeous.
The encore is again an a cappella tune, before Nakhane departs. Gifted, captivating, and crude, Nakhane is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
Read our recent interview with Nakhane.
