In just her second show as Julia Wallace and first with a backing band, Julia Wallace proved why she is already a world class talent, blowing away the Barbes crowd at the launch of her debut EP, Place in Mind, on the night of 8 April.

In support were two of the finest local live acts around. Tanaya Harper’s crystalline vocals, impactful lyrics, and personal stories set the scene beautifully for the slowly growing audience. A mainstay of the local scene, she demonstrated all her grace and skill in her solo performance on the night. Up next were Smol Fish, a personal favourite of mine. Featuring razor-sharp lyrics and infectious melodies, delivered with a charming stage presence, Smol Fish had the whole crowd dancing appreciatively, even inviting somewhat of a singalong for their two singles ‘Sad Girl Summer’ and ‘Cry All the Time’. I could not have chosen two better opening acts myself.

(Tanaya Harper, Smol Fish, and Julia Wallace - photos by Stoney Webb)

Accompanied by a seven-piece band, Wallace’s sound was blown into stratospheric proportions. She described her live sound as ‘epic’ in my recent interview with her, and that word is very fitting. Her arrangements were world-class, eliciting chills throughout her incredible set. Opener ‘Place in Mind’ signalled what was to come, starting with a hushed piano melody before exploding into life about midway through the song. Wallace’s songs crescendo and swell, delivered with powerful vocals and memorable instrumentation.

Her set of course featured the four tracks from her EP, with ‘Place in Mind’ the hair-raising opener and ‘You’ll Love Her Again’ serving as the closer. Sprinkled throughout the set were some new tracks, which all sounded extremely promising. Her second song for the night, ‘Next Year’, was a particular highlight for me and got me very excited for future releases. As her penultimate track, Wallace creatively reimagined the classic Hunters and Collectors anthem ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ into a slow-burn piano-based torch song, turning a song that is essentially about a one-night stand into a stirring and emotive experience. This creativity just highlights her musical prowess. I cannot wait to see how far Julia Wallace will go. If there’s any justice in the world, she will become a household name worldwide very soon.