Live Review: Okenyo

A techno rave-up at the Gaso tonight is setting the place off with deep and heavy bass vibrations and mad beats. It kind of feels like we have arrived at the wrong venue, but are led past two large bluestone fireplaces lit with roaring fires, up a hidden staircase behind the main bar, through a red door and into the venue's small upstairs room. It's a cosy environment for an intimate show with about 60 or 70 people squeezed into the room. The place is packed with Okenyo fangirls and quite a few boys, too. Although the doors open at 8pm, it seems Price J's support slot happened at 7.30pm, which is disappointing as everyone in the room talks excitedly about her set.

Having made a name for herself as an actress and Play School presenter, Zindzi Okenyo is in town to celebrate the launch of her highly anticipated The Wave EP. FlexMami (aka Lillian Ahenkan), with her diamond-encrusted headphones, works the wheels of steel spinning instrumentals. Probs not real diamonds, but it's nice to dream. Meanwhile, Okenyo and her backing singers Bonnie Johnston and Emily Havea take us to the wordy rappinghood, dealing soulful R&B and hip-hop nuggets under an unflattering red spotlight. A born performer, Okenyo wins hearts as she works the room with a smile and choreographed dance moves. The arrangements play with abstract electronica wrapped around beats made to bounce, which get the crowd pulling shapes. There are a lot of words to Okenyo's flow and, while we wonder how she manages to remember them all, her lyrics spread a little consciousness and flex political muscle. When she calls out last year's plebiscite for the hate it actually bred, Okenyo quite rightly elicits a huge roar of approval from the audience. It's refreshing to see a queer woman of colour speak her mind, expose a little vulnerability and put the contents of her head out there. Woman's World is a beautiful and powerful sign of the times, which goes off spectacularly. Although Okenyo only performs a short set, she's one of the more exciting new voices on the Aussie scene and certainly lives up to the hype that's buzzing around her at the moment.