Live Review: L-FRESH The LION, Dexter Seamus, Nicole Tania

With the eager revellers making their way upstairs to the Grace Darling bandroom, DJ Nicole Tania is already spinning a heady mix of old-school throwbacks and '00s rap favourites. Returning to the decks for the interlude between acts, Tania threads a perfect line of hip hop tunes throughout the evening.

Next up is up-and-coming local producer Dexter Seamus, who brings a surprising but welcome skip-hop vibe to the night. Working the stage like a seasoned pro, Seamus already has the trappings of a veteran performer in the limelight. With just a DJ on hand to back his staggered rapping style, Seamus is a masterclass in effective minimalism.

As the live band gears up with a shimmering overture of hip hop beats, a subdued L-FRESH The LION makes his way through the Grace Darling crowd and toward the stage. Then, like a switch being flicked, the Sydney artist explodes into his incredible blend of fast rhymes and Bollywood-inspired dance moves. When Village Boy comes to a close, Sukhdeep Singh Bhogal pokes his head out from behind the L-FRESH alter ego, welcoming everyone with a clear and genuine warmth. Bhogal explains the current tour isn’t exactly keeping in brand with his previous offerings. “We’re usually pretty crazy on stage, and we’re still gonna do that,” he laughs, before going on to offer a deep dive into the inspiration and creative process for some of his upcoming tunes. The show suddenly becomes like College Dropout-era Kanye giving a TED Talk in someone’s living room. How the hell does this work so well?

L-FRESH’s energy is somehow both immeasurable and totally contagious all at once, getting his crowd in the boogie zone from minute one. His beaming swagger – a smile from ear to ear while he spits jaw-dropping bars – is a welcome respite from the stoic stereotype of a pursed-lipped rapper. There’s no imaginary barricade between the stage and the floor tonight; everyone is here to have a damn good time, and by god is that mission a success. From the consistently relevant climate change anthem Mother to the more chilled down groove of Faithful, L-FRESH shows his malleability as an artist like no other. 

With the crowd a sweaty mess of grinning faces, L-FRESH The LION hits them with one more blast of energy with Born To Stand Out. The reason everyone is here tonight, the new single is launched into the stratosphere with more power and gusto than the entire night’s proceedings combined. His roar is mighty and his mane lustrous, L-FRESH is one mighty creature.

L-FRESH The LION is managed by Craig Treweek, who is a director of Handshake Media, owner of this website.