Hosting a gig atop Sydney Tower for Vivid Sydney was no gimmick. The panoramic views on offer at the Eye Live Project were more than breathtaking, and while the Vivid festival was coming to a close beneath us, if you never got around to exploring the city’s light displays in full, this was the best spot to see everything all at once.
The night kicked off with the sensual and danceable – though admittedly repetitive – sounds of DJ Samrai, adding a pop sensibility that kept the party going all the way around. But soon the crowd grew impatient for Thandi Phoenix, after what felt like a lifetime of soundchecks and mic tests.
When Phoenix eventually arrived onstage to a warm reception from the buzzing audience, it was clear that the best part about this show was its extreme intimacy. Phoenix – performing on a stage that had no barrier between her and the crowd – launched into a pop machine dream, her soulful voice bouncing off the glass panels and into the hearts of the faithful.
Her most well-known and successful cut ‘Tell Me Where The Lovers Have Gone’ was recited so beautifully by Phoenix and her live band, it really showed this Aussie talent can roll with the best of them when it comes to diva showmanship.
Phoenix is one to watch, a rising star in this city’s bustling soul scene. What it’s been missing lately is a leader, and there’s no one better right now than this electrifying performer. After a showcase set of little mistake but much mystique, it won’t be long before this young act is a Sydney seat-filler.
Thandi Phoenix played the Vivid Eye Live Project at Sydney Tower on Friday June 16.
