Wafia: Live at The Orchard
It was perhaps the most perfect of days, sunny with Perth’s trusty afternoon breeze, spent chilling out at the decked out Urban Orchard courtesy of Bar Pop with great tunes and a drink in hand. It’s how Sunday sessions are supposed to be spent, whether you prefer lounging on the grass or putting on your dancing shoes. This is all part of Bar Pop’s Live at the Orchard events that are happening each weekend over December. On Sunday, Brisbane-based songwriter and vocalist Wafia and home-grown Angus Dawson were set to take the stage for a free show as part of the opening weekend.
Since getting major attention covering Mario’s lamenting love song “Let Me Love You” two years back, Wafia has signed with Future Classic, working with Ta-Ku on his shake-up of Kanye’s “American Girl” and with Japanese Wallpaper for “Breathe In”, and collaborating with Charles Murdoch on his latest. Last week, she released her debut EP XXIX, from which “Heartburn” has been getting some airplay on triple j since premiering on Good Nights with Linda Marigliano. She started her string of domestic shows in Perth the other night, and what a night it was.
Opening for her were locals DJ NDORSE and Angus Dawson. Angus set the mood with danceable sad boy music, tales of loves lost and disappointment laced with carefully-constructed electronic beats. DJ NORSE followed with upbeat/summery reworks of classic 90s songs, getting everyone to sing a long and ask who the real Slim Shady is. Wafia’s set was packed with songs from her new EP. Stretched to five to six minute pieces of brooding electropop, electronic beats moved and blended together seamlessly with her silky vocals, transporting us from one dream state to another on a giant marshmallow cloud.
As the sun set over the city and the fairy lights began to twinkle, she gave us a sneaky preview of an unreleased track “fresh off the press”, so fresh that it has yet to receive a name. When her set was up, the audience was begging for more, but she didn’t return, and I’m hoping it’s because she didn’t have more originals up her sleeve. It’s likely that we’ll be seeing more and more of Wafia in the coming year, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.
It was a Sunday Session as they should be. You can find details of upcoming shows as part of Bar Pop’s Live at the Orchard here.
