Live Review: Wafia w/ Buoy @ Corner Hotel – 05.10.2017

Few can so gracefully command the attention of a packed house at Corner Hotel like Brisbane-born songstress, Wafia. Gently taking the stage with her trademark tussled hair and hoop earrings, Wafia put on one of her best performance to date, proving that this is only the beginning of her artistic ascent.

I had seen Wafia a few times before. Once, during her ‘XXIX’ album tour in Melbourne and again, during her Ta-Ku and Wafia tour in Vancouver. Both times she was encapsulating, but restrained. While she is certainly a powerful vocalist, her freshness as an artist meant that with the backing of a full-band and vocal support, Wafia’s incandescent voice couldn’t quite be heard. For this show, however, Wafia was present in all her glory.

Beginning her set with The Raid, Wafia’s rhythmic beats compelled the crowd to take a step towards her. From the get go, the audience that was giving Wafia their full attention and as a result, she gave us her own. The round beats immediately swallowed the dimly-lit room and Wafia’s sultry vocals had established her place on the stage.

In a haze of purple lighting, she then played her new singles, 83 Days and Breathe. As Wafia moves toward high- energy, high-production music, I was concerned that her moody demeanour would be over-shadowed. However, if her performances of these songs is anything to go by, it’s clear that the girl can do it all. As the percussion rose during 83 days, Wafia’s vocals effortlessly cut through, slamming the audience with a mix of high energy and chill feels. She may still be brooding, but her stage presence has become clarified.

Wafia continued to play her newest singles, including Bodies and Only Love, a song that she described as, “about falling in love with a girl for the first time.” Again, the crowd gathered tighter together as Wafia played her most exposed gig yet.

By this point in the set, the crowd had well and truly filled out and the sweet, muggy room at Corner Hotel was packed with bodies and energy. Seizing the opportunity, Wafia played one of her best-known songs, Love Somebody, which immediately prompted the entire audience to sing together in unity. Stretching her microphone out to the audience and with most of us arm-in-arm, this was the highlight of the show.

As is tradition, Wafia then played her rendition of Mario’s, Let Me Love You. If you’ve ever been to a Wafia gig, you’ll know she absolutely kills the covers she does, whether it’s Frank Ocean or JoJo, and this time was no exception.

Closing the set with Heartburn and American Girl, rose lighting ascended on Wafia as the audience sung along to the songs that most likely introduced them to her. Her vocals rose and fell effortlessly, the production was smooth and most importantly, Wafia had managed to bridge the gap between audience and artist. She continues to deliver as a performer and as an artist, and if this gig shows us anything, it’s that she has plenty more to give.