Live Review: Ayla + OK Badlands, The Young Art @ The Milk Factory 26.11.2015

Sunshine Coast local Ayla is finishing her year off the right way. After a stunning 2015, with the release of hit singles like ‘Waiting’ and more recently her debut EP When The World Ends, the young singer had every reason to head out on tour to celebrate.

Ayla is definitely picking up steam: she knocked her BIGSOUND 2015 performance out of the park, signed to Italy’s Ego Music, became the first ever female recipient of the Queensland Music Awards’ annual Billy Thorpe Scholarship, and released her debut EP, which she’s just finished touring all over the country.

The tour for When The World Ends wrapped up in sunny old Brisbane last Thursday, and the very next day Ayla headed to the triple J studios to record her Like A Version (which you can watch below). Her spot at the sweaty Jungle Love Festival over the weekend was surely the icing on the cake.

But before her crazy busy weekend, she took to The Milk Factory stage to perform an intimate and breathtaking show.

Brisbane group OK Badlands were the first support for the night, bringing their mesmerising indie pop to The Milk Factory’s cosy gig room. The five-piece group is fronted by Kate Gurren and Sally Latter, whose voices bring a magical, ethereal quality to their delicate and layered dream pop. One of their latest singles ‘Online TV’ was definitely a highlight, with the atmospheric song filling the room and trickling out into the streets.

Cairns/Brisbane band The Young Art took to the stage next with their charismatic indie rock. Sounding one part Temper Trap, one part Mumford & Sons, the four-piece confidently launched into hits like ‘Silvers Gold’ and ‘Mend’. They performed their 2014 track ‘Timbered Eyes’ without feature artist Emma Louise and still killed it, proving the vocal ability of singers Sony Sando and Casey Shipp.

Finally it was Ayla’s turn to take to the stage and she, along with her three-piece band, didn’t disappoint. Seamlessly weaving her way through the set, Ayla brought cruisy folk/rock vibes but also turned sultry at the drop of a hat. She’s not even 21 yet, but her voice has a depth and confidence that belies her young age.

She easily commanded the audience, playing hits like ‘Waiting’, ‘When The World Ends’, and ‘Wish I Was’ from her new EP. (Wonder if the alliteration is deliberate?). Her sound wavered between folk/rock and synth/pop, with the band easily dipping into both. The atmosphere in the room was electric when they performed ‘Heaven’, with the moody, darker track mesmerising the crowd.

At the heart of it all was Ayla’s voice, both soothing and resonating, bouncing around the room and filling up your chest. It was a beautiful end to her EP tour, but as her schedule for the last few weeks show, there’s a lot more in store for this young Sunshine Coast singer.

When The World Ends is out now and available HERE.