Alessia Cara
Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW
May 7th
Around the midpoint of Alessia Cara’s first Sydney show in a decade, the Canadian singer-songwriter, bouncing with infectious energy, whips the crowd into a frenzy with her monster 2015 hits “Stay” and “Wild Things”. The fact these and other songs from her beloved, Juno Award-winning debut album, Know-It-All, get the all-ages crowd amped up is completely unsurprising.
What is surprising, however, is the fact that most of the songs that lead up to these fan-pleasing moments are taken from her fourth album Love & Hyperbole, released only a few months ago. It’s unusual to front-load a show with new tracks – which are typically a signifier to get a drink, go to the bathroom, or chat to a friend – but even more unusual that they are performed and received with as much enthusiasm as the tried and tested anthems.
It helps that Cara, the Grammy Award recipient for Best New Artist in 2018, is a masterful pop singer-songwriter, capable of traversing a wide range of genres with ease, from dance-pop to pop-rock to the neo-soul, funk, and jazz inflections of her newer material like “Go Outside!”, “Run Run”, and the summer-tinged highlight “Slow Motion”.
Proving there’s more to her skill set than running around the stage while singing flawlessly and never losing breath, Cara grabs both acoustic and electric guitars and plays like a pro on “Get to You” and the more chilled out “You Let Me Down”.
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She’s ably backed by a four-piece band – all decked out in maroon, perhaps to match the colour scheme of Love & Hyperbole’s cover – who expertly glide through the genre-hopping set, playing with a tight groove at certain points, and a slinky looseness during others.
While most of the gig has a joyous party vibe, Cara isn’t afraid to get serious elsewhere, discussing her past struggles with mental health. She introduces her biggest hit, “Scars to Your Beautiful”, by saying the song reminds her of why she “started writing music in the first place.” The self-love anthem connects with the crowd through her relatable, heartfelt lyrics; it’s a special moment where the bond between artist and audience is at its strongest.
This palpable sense of connection creates a sense of inclusiveness, and the crowd enthusiastically singing back-up on “Somebody Else” is a highlight – even for those in attendance who may not be overly familiar with Cara’s catalogue.
It doesn’t quite make sense to witness such a huge talent perform in such a small venue, but we’re lucky to be in the hands of a true pop star who manages to keep the audience enchanted throughout the show. It feels more like a house party full of like-minded people; the kind of sensation that is rarely felt in a stadium-sized environment.
Cara’s return to Australia after 10 years has clearly been worth the wait for fans – here’s hoping it doesn’t take another decade for her to perform here again.
Find more information about Alessia Cara’s upcoming tour dates here.
