Benee
16th October 2020
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Georgette Singer. Photography by Doug Peters.
Red flickering lights on a white drop sheet amp up the crowd. Benee appears wearing a casual, yet deliciously cool, ensemble and the audience – young, old, and everyone in between, absolutely lose it. Stella Rose Bennett, or as we all know and adore her, Benee, took to the stage as if she was born to do it. Without fear and without hesitation, it’s an absolute breath of fresh air to see a young woman step out and so unapologetically be herself.
She’s just so cool.
Wearing black and red glitter angel wings, Benee opens the show with ‘Tough Guy’ while a grungy array of lighting and smoke fills the stage. As she disappears behind the white screen, all lights fade away to reveal her shadow in between two large barren trees. Her fans scream louder as the sheet drops to the ground revealing her three-piece band (who are all sporting various animal ears) and the full stage set. The spooky silhouettes in her set match the lyrics of her first song. I can’t help but admire the perfection of a mid-October show, just as we approach Halloween, with this eerie set design. Benee asked all her fans via social media to dress up in the best and most outrageous outfits each night to attend her shows – and they did.
What better way to celebrate stepping down from alert level two to alert level one, in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), than to enjoy a night out with Aotearoa’s best young and upcoming singers?
Benee has been busy writing her debut album, ‘Hey u x’. Recently announced on her Instagram story, this album will drop November 13th and fans were treated to not one but three new songs off the album at her concert last night. ‘All the time’ was the first new song she performed with fellow kiwi singer Muroki, who also opened for Benee beforehand. His mix of reggae funk and soulful futuristic sounds warmed the entire arena in the hour prior. Welcomed back to the stage to perform alongside Benee, the pair sounded great together. Spoiled by the sheer professionalism of these young artists, we were also treated to some of the best vocals heard at a live gig. Benee’s tone was unmatched, and when I closed my eyes, I could easily be fooled into thinking I was listening to one of her singles, as her live vocals were simply outstanding.
As each song began, the set evolved and new graphics played out on the large LED screens, often with live videos of Benee interacting with the crowd. We also saw a red background with a female alien dancing as the song ‘Monster’ played out. Another new song (and my personal favourite for the night), ‘If I get to meet you’, was accompanied by blue and turquoise imagery of swimming fish. Then, after disappearing for a small break, she reappeared in a full silver tin space girl suit to sing ‘Drifting’. Grooving around every corner of the Spark Arena stage, Benee showed us all how to enjoy life.
It’s no secret who Benee is voting for. “Party Vote Green!” she exclaims after asking her fans if they’d been down to the polls yet…then realising a good majority of her fanbase still isn’t old enough to vote. Gracefully, she thanks our Prime Minister: “I didn’t think I’d be able to perform concerts for a few years. So, thanks Cindy!” The crowd cheers as Benee continues to inspire teens to speak out and do their bit. Something she is well known for on her social media, Benee isn’t afraid to tackle hard topics such as mental health alongside cannabis reform and politics.
“This is a song I wrote about Family Bar. It’s great there!” says Benee, as she begins to sing her chart topper, ‘Glitter’. The vibe is fun and upbeat, leading into ‘Super Lonely’, the hit that started a Tik Tok phenomenon! Screams for an encore are met with Benee and her pianist returning to showcase another new song ‘Sheesh’ which features Canadian musician Grimes. It’s an absolute bop. A banger, a ripper, and other numerous synonyms that Gen Z tend to use.
Ending her show with her newest release, ‘Snail’, Benee leaves us wanting more. I and so many other kiwis are now eagerly awaiting her debut album. It’s no wonder this 20-year-old has captured the hearts of so many in Aotearoa and abroad. Don’t sleep on it, grab her new album as soon as it hits the shelves to experience her eclectic sound and exciting collaborations with Lily Allen, Mallrat, Grimes and more!
Were you there at Spark Arena in Auckland for this magnificent Pop gig? Or have you seen Benee perform live some other time? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Benee Set list:
- Intro
- Tough Guy
- Wishful Thinking
- Spaced Out
- Find An Island
- Afterlife
- If I Get To Meet You
- Monsta
- Happen To Me
- Soaked
- Drifting
- Same Effect
- Evil Spider
- Night Garden
- Glitter
- Kool
- Supalonely
- Sheesh [encore]
- Snail [encore]
Muroki Set list:
- Batskin Dims
- Simple Pleasures
- Open Up
- Wavy
- For Better Or Worse
- Light Me Up
- Drum And Bass
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