The Bewitching Sahara Beck
Photographs by Eloise Beath
Critically-acclaimed singer songwriter Sahara Beck has graced audiences across Australia following the release of her sophomore album, All Attention On Your Emotions. The album is inspired by Plutchik’s ‘Wheel of Emotion’, each track taking a deep dive into a unique element of the human condition.
Fans cozied up inside iconic Newtown venue The Vanguard, for the intimate show. Support acts Sarah Belkner and Bonnie Grace Vargas warmed up the crowd with their angelic vocals. The walls are adorned with images of iconic musicians such as Paul Mccartney, Jimmy Hendricks and Bob Dylan, while the bar is lined with warm twinkling lights to set the mood.
Opening the set with ‘Like You’, the fourth track on the album, A synthy-pop journey, exploring that first big love feeling. Beck completely mesmerises her audience between crescendos. From there, the crowd remained captivated, holding on to every lyric for the rest of the set.
Despite fighting a cold, Beck’s vocals remain unparalleled. Floating seamlessly between her dreamy melodies in ‘Cigarettes’, to grittier, rock and roll-esque vocals like those in the track ‘Hard To Tell’. There is simply nothing Sahara Beck can’t make look easy.
The encore saw support act Sarah Belkner back on stage to join Beck for a cover of The Hollies 1974 hit single ‘The Air That I Breathe’. The pair somehow transcended the original track with their angelic harmonies and effortless vocals.
Rounding out the night, Beck farewelled her audience with ‘Compromise’. The opening track to the album speaks to the habit of constantly compromising on your beliefs, values and goals until there is nothing left, all in the name of love.
Sahara Beck is no doubt one to watch in the next coming months. Her completely magnetic stage presence and exceptional vocal dynamics make Beck a real cut above the rest. Her storytelling and emotional introspection leaves no stone unturned, guiding her listeners through a spectrum of human emotions.
With just a few shows left on her headline tour, you should definitely not compromise on seeing Sahara Beck in her element.