With the intimate venue of Auckland’s Sweatshop Brew Kitchen, the final night of Harper Finn’s Aotearoa tour kicked off with a bang. 19 year old Nelson native, Indya, opened the evening with a set of pop tunes mixed with relatable teenage angst, and clear synths against an eclectic yet almost conventional instrumental set. She’s clearly going somewhere, and her energy was captivating—a great start to the night, setting high standards for the following acts.
Next came the electrifying LA Women, who have been making their way up the ranks, collaborating on shows with artists like Laiika and the newly formed Spaces. They really know how to set the tone for a good set, mixing an exact recipe of enthusiasm and audience engagement around hits from their most recent release, the Changed My Name EP. Their set was the moment the venue came alive, and I don’t think anyone was complaining when they noted merch might be thrown into the crowd for lucky fans. Good friend of LA Women, Harper Finn himself burst onto the stage at 11:30, the crowd going wild as he launched into his latest single, “She Said”. Harper’s slightly robotic but vibrant and jagged dance moves were an interesting addition, brightening up the songs. Cycling through tunes like “Dance Away These Days”, “Conversations with the Moon”, and some unreleased work, Harper made the crowd go wild with his vocals and stage presence, even dedicating songs to personal friends. As his fanbase rises, it is easily noticeable why he is becoming a well known artist within the local music industry, and I guarantee he will only continue rising, so watch this space!
“Harper made the crowd go wild with his vocals and stage presence.”
