Live Review: Airling, Xavier Dunn

Standing alone on the stage, Xavier Dunn shows off his multi-instrumental skills as an impressive one-man-band. With every beat of his drum pads we feel a surge of pulsating energy build into his masterful production and arrangements that flow out to our ears. We easily connect with his creative layered sound full of emotional build up with powerful bursts guaranteed to get the audience bopping along. 

Dunn calls on Airling to help him out for a heavenly duet of his new single Give In and we instantly follow their command. Their smooth vocals compliment each other beautifully alongside a lively beat to create some feel-good vibes. We indulge in Dunn’s random nature with a special moment that he refers to as a “take up time song”. He begins to improvise with his keyboard whilst showcasing his impressive elongated falsettos and whatever else comes to him. 

Airling returns to the stage for her main act as she sparkles in a sequined crop-top with a prominent eye starting us down. She radiates before us and that’s not only because of the illuminating mirror balls reflecting onto her from every angle. Airling creates a warm, ethereal soundscape, glowing brighter with each and every soothing vocal. 

Starting off with some of her older tracks including The Runner and Wasted Pilots, she draws us into her imaginative and colourful world full of dreamy synth and keyboard beats. Airling then previews some new songs for us that we feel just as much as she does. We connect with her honest and personal lyrics that are expressed with deep emotion. Airling explains that one new song in particular was written with Emma Louise. As you’d expect it’s a beautifully written song that makes us feel as if we’re floating away with every light and airy falsetto to sweep us off our feet. 

Of course the set wouldn’t be complete without the sugary-sweet Japanese Wallpaper lullaby Forces. Airling’s angelic harmonies combined with the dreamy ambient sounds are pure magic. Airling tells us she feels exceptionally happy about making music right now with some of her best mates, including those on stage with her tonight. Her brand new track Move Me is a taste of what she’s been cooking up as she works away at her album. As Airling sings “I’ll borrow your body if only to see how it fits,” the slow and seductive grooves set our bodies in motion on the dance floor until the very end.