Amy Shark
Qudos Live Arena
Sydney, Australia
June 12, 2021
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Between the time when I first saw Amy incarnate at the beginning of her career when she still performed under the moniker Cushway within the confines of a pub show and tonight’s incarnation at one of the biggest indoor live venues that terra australis has to offer, lie worlds and her ascent to a confident performer that has achieved mainstream success on a massive scale, specifically with her latest album Cry Forever.
Needless to say, her show and delivery has been polished and grown in scale quite a bit along the way, with the lion’s share of tonight’s higher energy offerings offerings seeing her trademark sombre song writing paired with what has become radio mainstay danceable pop beats.
Pervaded by engaging, warm and at times self-effacing banter, the moments that stood out for me during the set were when the rawer, indie / pop punk components of her song writing DNA shone through.
It was during the songs with lyrics spawned by frustrations and the more tumultuous times of her existence before her career has taken off with Platinum-selling hits, that she emanated the charisma that is needed to make a show on such a great stage a unifying experience.
A evening that was the celebration of a determined artist who managed to organically cultivate a following for her original music and despite having arrived at an arena level, was testament to the fact that she has never attempted to distance herself from her songs.
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image from artist website
