The Foundry was not its usual, grungy self on Thursday night, instead, looking closer to that of a scene from a fantasy film. Lights glistened off the disco balls hanging from the ceiling, silver foil art hung from the walls on the stage, and projected images of AVAXA, the main act of the night stared eerily into my soul, beckoning me to become immersed not only in the music I was about to hear, but to become entranced by the visual aspects as well.

Opening the night was Adelaide indie pop producer Joy & Sparks, who’s slow, reverby beats commanded the attention of the room. One lonely dancer was dancing to the side of the stage, and I was impressed by her dedication to enjoying herself. As she warmed into her set, her deep vocal timbre was amplified with complex vocal loops, and a seemingly never ending escalation that sent her into the avant garde realm. An almost unrecognisable cover of the Boyz II Men classic, If I Ever Fall In Love Again, and her main single You Were Not Enough elevated her set from great to incredible.

In between sets I went to the bathroom, to be greeted by signs signifying gender neutral bathrooms, which was incredibly appropriate, given the tour was in support of her Androgen single. Posters reading ‘Reflections in this mirror may be distorted by socially constructed ideas of beauty’ plastered the mirrors, and AVAXA herself wandered around the room handing out cups of sago and chia pudding.

As the lights dimmed and the house music disappeared, the crowd (which had grown considerably over the last hour), braced themselves in anticipation of the magic that was about to ensue. Gracing the stage in a shimmery cape and facepaint, AVAXA looked like an ethereal sorceress, casting an intoxicating spell over the crowd, who were eager for her every sound.

Brandishing a keytar, she filled the room with ambient, pulsing beats, alive with the sound of dreamlike adventure us mortals had not yet experienced. An interpretative dancer, costumed as dark as AVAXA was light, graced the front of the stage, creating a truly visual performance. Not letting some minor technical difficulties get her down, a spoken word piece on releasing your inner child and letting go of societal boundaries and a tuned back vocal and piano piece broke up the set before playing her newest track Androgen.

AVAXA was more than just a performer, she was living, breathing art in its truest sense, and I hope she keeps breaking all the boundaries, and gifting us with the magic she possesses. Her otherworldly aesthetic challenged my mind, ears and heart, and I want more.

 Olivia Shoesmith