Tash Sultana
22nd November 2019
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Lauren Sanderson. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.
After a sold-out 2018 tour, beloved Aussie singer-songwriter Tash Sultana returned to kiwi shores last night as part of their ‘Flow State World Tour’, with an intrinsic show stopping set at Spark Arena. Doing what they do best, capturing a crowd with their musical wizardry, it’s fair to say that the one-person powerhouse that is Tash Sultana is a master of their trade in more ways than we know.
Warming up the crowd was rootsy dub rock six-piece Tunes of I. If you managed to catch these guys last year, where they played many of NZ’s top festivals including Rhythm & Vines, Homegrown and Soundsplash (they even had a set opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers) then you’ll know that their unique sound certainly leaves a mark and gets everyone pumped for the night ahead.
The crowd waited in anticipation between sets for what felt like a long time, but it gave us time to admire the shrine like set-up at the back of the stage, filled with funky neon lights in the shape of a cactus, a rainbow and a flamingo. Incense was burning and two large eyes appeared on the screen that watched us intently. The quirky set-up was almost like a little musical haven, in fact it felt like we were standing in Sultana’s bedroom.
Lost in this train of thought, we were awoken by the sweet hypnotic and harmonic symphonies of ‘Seed’ – the energy within the arena instantly picking up; soon we were all mesmerized by Sultana’s husky and signature roots-inspired guitar style – which have become part of their trademark, as they echoed around Spark Arena and left everybody in awe of what was to come.
Big Smoke was up next, to which one eager fan declared “They’re so fucking chill” and I couldn’t agree more. As I was watched Sultana work their magic on stage, playing a searing guitar set, I felt an overwhelming sense of tranquility.
We were only a few songs in and there was already a burst of confetti – which again emphasises the greatness of this one-person band. Sultana not only makes all the music on stage using over twenty instruments (there’s no backing track here), but they also hold such a strong presence and exude an energy that can only be described as contagious.
Each track rolled off the next, creating a mammoth reel of music, which isn’t a bad thing – it just highlights the immense talent that Sultana has. With their tracks being between five to nine minutes long each, and with them not even stopping for a breath or a sip of water, shows their passion, determination and a love for what they do.
‘Mystik’ was a definitive highlight, the funky upbeat rhythm bouncing through the amps and around the room; while the seductive riffs of ‘Free Mind’ focused purely on Sultana’s sweet vocals, demonstrating the depths that they can reach.
‘Cigarettes’ engulfed us and showcased Sultana’s epic guitar skills and as if that wasn’t enough, just when we thought they couldn’t do anymore, Tash Sultana began to beatbox in perfect sync to the loops they had created. Finally taking a moment to address the crowd, Tash enquired, “What the fuck is going on Auckland?” before going on to explain that every time they are in New Zealand, they get ill. This was a timely reminder that just last week Sultana had lost their voice and yet despite this was still able to produce a flawless performance.
Sultana then went on to say that they really needed this show as they were wrapping up their solo career at the end of the year to focus on different projects. A sense of sadness alongside boos from the crowd filled the arena but were broken by the good vibes of ‘Notion’. This just goes to show the power of music and how it not only consumes us but Sultana too.
I couldn’t help but notice an absence of any major banter from Sultana. Over the period of two hours they spoke very rarely – but then again do you really need much more. Sultana is a master of their trade and lets the music do the talking and it is extremely refreshing to see an artist be lost in the music just as much as the crowd.
It’s hard to pick a favourite but hit single ‘Jungle’ had to be up there as it was the perfect end to the night. Encore track ‘Blackbird’ showed a softer, stripped back version of Sultana, as she sat with an acoustic guitar and picked away for ten whole minutes, creating an unforgettable recital, as we sat back mouths open, in pure awe.
Sultana thanked us for letting them do their thing and stated, “Next time I’ll be back with a band.” While the promise of this is exciting, we want you to know that we love you just the way you are Tash.
Were you there at Spark Arena for this psychedelic rock multi-instrumentalist? Or have you seen Tash Sultana perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Seed (Intro)
- Big Smoke
- Mystik
- Free Mind
- Cigarettes
- Can’t Buy Happiness
- Notion
- Synergy
- Jungle
- Blackbird
If you enjoyed this content, please consider donating towards the running of Ambient Light, covering expenses and allowing us to expand the coverage you love by visiting our PressPatron page.