In patent leather shoes and a skirt and coat like a school girl’s, Sahara Beck took to the stage and enveloped the bar in warm tones and bright anthems. She might be relatively unknown, but seeing her sing makes you feel like you’ve found a hidden gem–the guy next to me nudged me and asked, “Is she famous? I think I know this song”. All Attention On Your Emotions is the indie pop artist’s third album, but there’s the distinct feeling of seeing something new– Sahara Beck has come into her own and something exciting is emerging.
That night at The Bird saw the shuffling of fans and locals into the intimacy of the hole-in-the-wall venue. Simone and Girlfunkle were the first to sing, smiling and strumming out sweet harmonies.
After their set, they joined the crowd, excited to see what came next. Ullah took the stage, wearing crocheted beanies that covered their ears. Their soft, pillowy vocals, bouncy drumming and their sherpa hats (or “chullos”) hinted at the transportative night that was ahead.
Sahara Beck might not be an international star (yet), but seeing her grin and her eyes glitter, seeing her singing into fans’ recording cameras, you believe that she will be. Last decade she was a brisbanian fan of Daughter and Violent Soho, but All Attention On Your Emotions has debuted Sahara Beck as a bolder, brighter singer more like Julia Jacklin, Angel Olson, or even Florence + The Machine.
The crown jewel of this transformation is “Mr Breezy”, a bouncy alt-pop anthem that isn’t just a fan favourite, it’s Sahara Beck’s favourite too. Watching her dancing around the stage, belting out the chorus, and making each crowd member a little eye contact made the little bar feel like a real stage, and a well-kept secret rolled into one.
Between “Mr Breezy” and the album’s other anthems like “Hunter” and “Thinking Twice”, Beck peppered in the moodier songs like the smokey synths of “Cigarettes” and a song I couldn’t find the name of, and can’t forget the refrain of– I want it all to happen. She was mercurial, slipping between songs unnoticeably. Beck has said that she aims to create a world that listeners can escape to, and the elegant transitions and flow between songs really capture the immersive power of a strong album.
And though the smooth tones and chill venue didn’t lend themselves to dancing– more people were dancing to The Veronicas playing over the sound system while the band set up– Sahara and her rocking guitarist inspired others to move and move with their infectious enthusiasm. They have the kind of presence you want to see on a bigger stage, and since the tour has been a success– Sahara was impressed by the number of people that packed into the small bar just to see her sing– we might just see that. So here’s to looking forward to the next Sahara Beck album, which promises to be another step towards stardom.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Sahara Beck played at The Bird, Perth on the 15th March, 2024
